AIUla

This is such a unique and gorgeous fragrance. It keeps morphing into something new every time you sniff. It starts out with a plum/cherry note and light citrus with spices you'd smell in Christmas desserts ‐‐ mainly cardamom. The plum/cherry, cardamom, and saffron scent is always there, but sometimes the tobacco comes to the forefront. I could swear that I smelled cedar for a moment at the beginning. Then, it was heavy on the vanilla and saffron. Even though I normally think of spicy fragrances as being most appropriate for cold weather, the sweet fruity notes in this one make it medium-weight rather than heavy. So, it was fine wearing it in 90-F-degree weatther today. The fruity note reminds me a lot of the cherry scent in YSL's Black Opium Over Red. I tried making a sauce from cherries, cardamom, and safron, and the scent it gave off was fairly close to the way this fragrance smells. I'm kind of obsessed.

Thank you Penhaligons for offering free samples on your website, i only had to pay shipping! This fragrance smells great, Penhaligons is my favorite house. I dont care if people say their fragrances smell like another/uninspired or if they smell designer. What Penhaligons is doing is releasing amazing, likeable, unique fragrances, that smell refined, quality, upscale! And this is another release that is all of those things. The opening has such a juicy plum, with such an aromatic depth, and the right amount of sweetness that is really unique to my nose. This to me is right down the middle unisex, however as a man i think on my skin the spice quality comes through enough to lean it masculine. I love the trade routes collection, and this one seems like a good choice for a signature scent to someone that like the sweet and spicy profile, you will definitely stand out from the crowd.

I bought this in Dubai a few years ago and we got off to a rough start. Back home it was still winter, and AlUla felt too dark on me. Too much incense ( not sure if its listed like that) too much tobacco, almost masculine. Into the cupboard it went, and a second try months later (still cold outside) didn’t change my mind. Then today, in the middle of summer, I revisited it on a whim. Completely different perfume. The warmth brings out the plum and vanilla and everything falls into place. Rich but glowing, and it makes sense for a scent born in the desert. If AlUla feels too heavy on you, wait for warm skin and a summer evening. That’s where it comes alive. A delightful evening perfume, and I’m so glad I didn’t let it go.

Al Ula is nice. You'll immediately recognize the plum at the opening. The spiciness of the opening with the sweet plum. The plum seems more prominent on the clothes than on the skin. On skin I get a prominent incense along with the spiciness too. As the scent and notes develop, there a creaminess to it which probably comes from the vanilla. I feel overall Al Ula is quite well done. It's projectivity on clothes is very good. Folks around you definitely smell it. You'll get very good whiffs of it everywhere you go. Longetivity is more than half a day. Quite impressed with this 2024 Penhaligon's release. 7.5/10

The first time I smelled AlUla, I let out an immediate “O hell no.” Trying it a second time a couple months later I wondered WHAT THE HELL WAS WRONG WITH ME. This fragrance is something. Opulent magnificence. A warm, permeating veil on the skin. A soft, resinous amber, expertly accented by plum, and perfected by sweet tobacco and spiky black pepper. A masterful spice blend. I’m obsessed with it presently. Just The Thing for this shivery New England cold snap. And a very good stand-in if Sana Jardin proves to have closed up shop and I can never smell my beloved Tiger By Her Side again.