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.

I bought this as a blind buy, im a huge fan of Penhaligons, my absolute favourites being Halfetti and Changing Constance. Having read the reviews I was expecting something very subtle, but wow, it has all the traits I love about Halfetti but much milder in comparison and lighter which is perfect for the summer months as a great alternative. It settles to something more powdery and vanilla, with the plumb lingering. Love this!

Is it just me, or does Penhaligon's not get the love it deserves? They put out some amazing, well crafted fragrances and AlUla is no exception. Probably my favorite combination of plum + tobacco-- A common fragrance marriage that my nose has a tendency to struggle with. I find they are either too spicy or too sweet. AlUla finds the common ground. Such a beautiful and intoxicating fragrance.

One of the best. I visit Al-Ula frequently and it is really Al-Ula ish. If a local invites you to drink arabian coffee in their home you’d relate! I couldn’t notice the plum and tobacco. Charming and generous. Spicy to the bone and aromatic like a real journey in Arabia. Bold and peaceful simultaneously.

I dont think the plum will be for everyone, but it's not too much in my opinion. The vanilla dry down however is the best I have smelled on any perfume, I got a sample and immediately bought a full bottle. You can often get samples straight from penhaligon for free. My signature scent.

Gorgeous, gorgeous scent. Opens up with a sharp note, cutting through the spiciness, developing on the skin into a mouthwatering, juicy plum. Sweet, juicy and captivating - in my opinion, this was made to perform in the warmth of summer!

Absolutely stunning scent - the plum is tart and spicy, dries down beautifully. After getting through my sample I've had to treat myself to a full bottle. Another beautiful creation from Penhaligon's.

This is absolutely stunning plum vanilla saffron, I’m completely addicted and quite frankly this is a masterpiece of the highest order.

Thought it was nice at first, but after few months testing, I’m getting to know more about the beauty and love this for sure now!

I was expecting this to be shit like The Dandy but it’s actually a pretty nice plum and tobacco fragrance, 7/10

Really beautiful sent, reminds me of a gentler and rounder version of Costum National's Soul.

10/10 - very unique Absolutely my favorite from Penhaligon’s

Very on the nose fragrance from Penhaligons, definitely smelled this combination before in a couple of guises. Although the fruity accord is immediately apparent the shining olibanum in this fragrance is so prominent throughout it's basically a massive incense accord,flanked by a heavy plummy, jammy, cherry syrup. While the woody aspect gets more prominent in the drydown it's at it's core a sweet, spicy, peppery incense and personally I love that. Comparisons here to Plum Japonais are obvious but for me it doesn't smell like that despite being able to describe both perfumes in an almost identical way. For me the instant reminders came in the for of Harry Sherwood's Cosmic Incense and Homme by Costume National. Yes I like this but the fruity accord kinda cheapens it or seems a bit naive, childlike almost as if my oh so serious fragrance sensibilities can't quite take it seriously because it's not quite incensey enough to be a serious perfume. That's my hang up though, it's fun, powerful and smells nice.

1.5 ml sample As most of the others have said, somewhere between Cairo with plum and Plum Japonais. As part of the dry down the plum turned a bit more winey. That being said my biggest qualm was the longevity, barely lasted an hour. Overall money would be better spent on Cairo IMO Update: Gave it a second chance and Wow what a difference. It appears that this is one that you need to apply more liberally (5-6 spritzes in my case); Its longer lasting than Juniper Sling or Endymion but not as potent as say Halfeti or one of the Portraits scents. In addition to the plum/winey notes before, the incense notes are coming off as more "clean" which might be the metallic notes and im definitely identifiny the smell of tumeric in the "cat pee" now. However I've managed to get compliments from several girls at the office with this one. Definitely gonna have to keep this on the radar and maybe score a few more samples.

I had my doubts coming into this, as I am not so big on fruity/vanilla notes in scents, but AlUla proved me wrong! The Frankincense and Tobacco add that church back-of-house incense room impression that I am nostalgic for. The pepper adds a nice kick to the vanilla and plum. It’s sweet and warm, not cloying, genuinely something I would wear if I didn’t take its price point and amount into account. Honestly, I think it works as a summer fragrance too, something to really shimmer and bake under the sun as the scent melts harmoniously into the surrounding heat.

Very comforting. You can feel the spicy, dry incense in the back of the throat and sweet, dried plum complements the amber bitterness. Cardamom adds spice and the saffron is warm and realistic. I also get a soapy osmanthus. An aromatic aspect from light vetiver and a hint of earthy patchouli balance the smoky vanilla. Yes, this can be nice for summer eves too - when in mood for warmth with warmth as there is the fresh spicy/aromatic touch, I prefer it for cooler months tho. Moderate sillage, strong longevity, a little goes a long way.

I am mostly picking up on the black pepper and cardamom, sweet saffron and the fruitiness of the plum with hints of tobacco every now and then. I also get the vanilla and turmeric but these notes stick a bit closer to the skin where the aforementioned accords project quite nicely from about an arm's length. I would agree that this is one of Penhaligon’s better releases in recent years along with The Omniscient Mr. Thompson in my opinion.

Sweet dried fruits with cold (almost metallic) opening. I guess these are spices (especially saffron) and olibanum that give that kind of effect. To be honest, it smells a bit imbalanced, because it has some earthy (almost dusty) note that doesn’t go well with the whole composition (might be turmeric??). Sooo it’s okay, but not groundbreaking for sure. Follow me on IG: scent.guide

Fra tutti i penhaligon's che ho provato ultimamente,questo è quello che preferisco. Nonostante non brilli per originalità ,trovo che sia molto portabile e carino. Evoca immagini marroncine ocra,forse sabbia, polvere di spezie in oriente, una bella atmosfera dorata e tiepida.

It's spicy and sweet but noooot too sweet. Just a tiny bit. The spices dry down is delicious. It reminds me of Nubica (Jean Claude Ellena, Le Couvent) and I think they have the same DNA. A scent I could wear on a quiet Sunday, comforting.

Realising I can't really fill in the 'when to wear' thing because I'd wear something I liked whenever I wanted. Anyway. This is nice. Not full bottle nice, especially at that price, but it's pleasant. Sherry liqueur chocolate cherries.

I really nice tobacco and juicy plum with a frankincense backbone. The tobacco comes off like a Tobacco Vanille. But the similarities end there. Not bad and probably my favorite from the samples I have so far.

Liked the spice on initial spray not so sure on the drydown, felt it started to lean more feminine as the plum kicked in. I'd probably give it a second try but I'm not sure I'd choose it over Halfeti.

On the top notes, it smells very similar to Rosa Sublime by Granado, an oriental, syrupy rose, and then, the rest of the time, as Apotecario, by Granado as well, a spiced, peppery, black tea.

Whilst this is a pleasant perfume, it is deeply underwhelming especially coming from Penhaligon's trade routes collection where I am expecting big, bold, spicy notes with real punch and projection. Although subtlety and finesse definitely have their place, in Alula this is misjudged, in my opinion. The dry, spicy opening is beautiful, albeit far too subdued. As the scent begins to dry down I am left wondering where it has gone. There is a little sweetness of plum with the earthy, dry, richness of tobacco but I feel like I a working quite hard to find it. In musical terms, the chords and notes are a wonderful harmonious blend, but I wish I could crank up the volume on this one. After the incredible, intoxifying and all-engulfing experience of Halfeti I was, perhaps wrongly, expecting a different but the same intensity. This is not one that will make it from the sample to the full bottle for me.

AlUla is the newest release from Penhaligon’s, and unfortunately yet another disappointment for me. When I got my sample in and saw the note breakdown I was excited, I’m a sucker for a good plum fragrance, unfortunately this is not. It doesn’t smell bad, it simply doesn’t excite or wow me. This scent tries to make the plum (prunol I imagine) the star of the show, but inadvertently overdoes it to the point where it becomes a bit too sweet, too cloying and somewhat synthetic. The then dry, spicy and scratchy combination of black pepper, tobacco, frankincense and cardamom is just too much - it’s not a good mix. Overall it’s pleasant, I don’t hold any profound dislike towards it, it’s just simply not for me. I’m sure there will be those that love this as it seems easy to wear, but there are much better plum fragrances out there.

Timid. Soft. Someone at Penhaligon's must keep getting complaints that all their "silk road" Trade Routes stuff is too brash and gaudy, so they brought out this stuff. It's safe and muted and acceptable. At least that's what I'm getting after several squirts out of this little (packaged by Penhaligon's) sample. Maybe a huge gush from a big bottle on the sales counter would produce a better ambiance. As it stands right now, no way would I drop $275 or whatever upwards from that they're pricing this. And I like this series from Penhaligon's too. I bought the full bottles of Babylon and Constantinople, and the 10ml of Cairo. I think Cairo is the best of them. My Petra sample wasn't bad, but I'm still smarting at full retail.

It hit me with spice on the first spray— black pepper, sharp, then turmeric shortly thereafter. Then it dried down, and the frankincense and vanilla swaddled some threads of saffron (the spices remained floating throughout, if not to become a bit gentler towards the end as the cardamom came out). I was surprised to see there’s no Cypress! I also did not get plum, but it’s not a very familiar note to me, and I’ve never smelled Plum Japonais. Overall, it’s okay, but the spice tincture was a bit too much for me. Reminds me of an Orthodox Church censer in some ways.

Spicy, sweet plum that reminds me strongly of one of ELDO’s offerings, but I can’t recall which for certain (possibly Frustration). Became barely a skin scent in less than two hours. Between that and its similarity to less expensive scents, I’d rather spend my money on a different fragrance from this house (Luna was a recent one I enjoyed).

Nothing new just a beautiful name, the city of Al-Ula in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia I hoped it would be more beautiful than that :(

Smells like cherry cough syrup as the opening, gets better from there.

A very strong balsamic, spiced plum scent!

Huuh, I bought this sample because i like plum and tobacco. I feel no plum and no tobacco.... The opening is all about the same disgusting saffron as in BR 540 and Widian Liwa. And the drydown smells just like some classic "old man perfume" I don't like this at all..

Not my cup of tea. Very spicy and animalic with not very nice dry down. Penhalighon has better offerings.

Sharp and medicinal oriental opening. Reminds me of leather, though the note isn’t listed. I get leather, pepper, and plum. People list tobacco frequently in the reviews, but I don’t get smoke (hence why I put pepper instead). I feel like I smell like an old drawer filled with ground pepper, dust, some moth balls, and some very old dried plums. Nope, nope, nope. This is definitely not for me, sadly. Sorry, Alula fans! Quite unisex and fabulous performance to be fair.

First off, one spray on each wrist from an authentic bottle and approximately 12 hours later, I’m still getting solid wafts on occasion with my arms resting in my lap. And if I scratch my face or rub my beard or something, Alula is highly detectable. I really don’t know how far this projects at first spray but I am assuming arm’s length at a minimum topping out at maybe 3 to 5 feet. It is not a room filler but I think the sillage is decent. Alula is a high quality but basic fruity tobacco fragrance with the slightest touch of smoke. My curiosity for this fragrance was brought about because I was looking for an alternative to Plum Japonais. The notes of Alula gave me hope despite the reviews not seeming to point in a similar direction. Well, my search for a high quality replacement for Plum Japonais continues; however, Alula, to me, is a brighter less smoky version. And by brighter, I mean if Plum Japonais is a night time sexy, date night type of fragrance, Alula is the daytime counterpart. For the office, or a Saturday afternoon lunch date. I got a great holiday deal on a 100ml bottle, but $290 is pushing it and I would not have purchased at this price. I was prepared to get the 30ml based on it being enough for my purposes given the size of my collection. But the 100ml was too good to pass up. That being said, “value” to me is more about my perception of quality of smell and what I’m willing to spend as opposed to sillage, longevity (although there are limits) or how “unique” it might be. I just like to smell good and have my fragrance fit a mood or event. IMHO, this is a great fragrance that I’m happy to own. When I run out, I don’t think I would repurchase in favor of requiring certain other fragrances in my collection. But I’m certainly going to enjoy this at least thru the winter with high curiosity on how it will perform during spring and cooler summer evenings. I feel like it’s safe to blind buy as there is nothing off putting here but it’s best to sample first.

Not bad when you give it a chance. Same DNA as Diptyque Volutes when the smoke clears. A bit sweeter and longer lasting though. Better yet, It is an animalic, woody incense version of Emporio Armani Diamonds mixed with Diptyque Volutes. Strange example I know, but it’s true to my nose. Trust me. It matches a very mysterious, confident and well established woman. Or a sexy charming man who smokes cigars and drinks sweet brown liquor at 12pm lunch meetings in dimly lit restaurants. Well...the opening scent is definitely very medicinal, old fashioned Middle Eastern fragrance, almost like how a Dubai souk’s products & fabrics would smell like after years of incense smoke (bakhoor) and other fragrances filling every fibre. Like the inside of a rich Egyptian tradesman’s jaguar or Mercedes Benz in the 90’s. Now now now, when it drys down, I’m loving the mysteriously subtle energy it gives off. It’s quietly powerful, very crushed up, it doesn’t have a loud sillage. Almost like if it were a moisturiser. There’s a plummy sweetness coming from the vanilla & plum. There’s a powdery, dusty smell like your mother’s old foundations and lipsticks (in a good way). There’s a woody, smoky almost damp scent that is tolerable and not overdone, mixed with a lil incense and medicinal. The dry down is the part that reminds me of Armani Diamonds and I really think layering the two would bring the best out of this understated fragrance. I think layering Diamonds would make it a little more loveable for everyone. The vanilla smoky spiciness is identical to Diptyque Volutes, but it gives off less old-lady smell than Volutes. Al Ulla’s vanilla is more prominent, much like Diptyque Eau Duelle. I still have the package wrapping paper and the scent still fills the room on the paper. Not sure how far it projects and lasts when others smell you, but it can’t be missed. Lucky 7/10

I’ve seen quite a bit of criticism about Penhaligon's AlUla, but honestly, I think it all comes down to personal preference. For me, this perfume is absolutely stunning, and I can’t get enough of it. AlUla has an incredibly elegant aroma that feels refined and sophisticated. What really stands out to me is the incense note—it’s not the typical smoky incense that overwhelms your senses. Instead, it’s subtle, smooth, and perfectly balanced, adding depth without being overpowering. What’s even more impressive is its longevity. It lasts more than 12 hours on my shirts and stays on my skin for over 8 hours. The gorgeous smell lingers beautifully. I’ve received so many compliments while wearing this perfume! It’s unique, captivating, and leaves a beautiful trail that catches people’s attention in the best way. For anyone who appreciates understated luxury in a fragrance, I highly recommend giving AlUla a try.

Picking up my Penhaligons sample again after being on a binge of other houses made me appreciate their DNA all over again and this one does not disappoint. I know they have Cairo (which I also have a sample for) but this one specifically is the scent i imagine Evie in The Mummy (1999) would wear. The vanilla, saffron and plum makes AlUla softer than most of the other fragrances in the TR line. It also has a romanticised 1920's feel, like a vintage exotic perfume but made to be completely wearable for our times. I find it more feminine than some of the others in that line but with enough punch (haha, iykyk) that this just scream Evie. It is for someone who wants to envelope themselves in exotic lands and its history/culture and who wants people to know that about them too. An absolutely charming fragrance 🥰

The plum is very prominent initially, but overall this is very similar to Cairo on the dry down - so similar in fact, if you have a bottle of Cairo already, you don't need a bottle of this. It's Cairo plus opening plum. Along with the same mid/base tones as Cairo, it shares a couple of it's other less nice characteristics. It's very powdery in a 'your grans bedroom' kind of way and has the very pungent 'cat pee' middle of Cairo. I can't put my finger on what that note is, but it literally smells like a moggy relieved themselves on your shirt. Overall, leave it long enough and it dries down to a spicy vanilla that's pretty long lasting. You'll have to suffer through the cat pee first though and that stage lasts a pretty long time.

I recently picked this up at the airport and one first sniff I loved that it was warm, inviting and very Middle Eastern. Spraying it again today, I could see why one may not like this and immediately I started to regret my purchase. However, like I have to do with most fragrances, I started creating some layering combos to see where I could take this pretty scent. After pairing with Sweet Vanilla by Montale and another combination with Burberry Goddess and Sultan Al Oud by Al Rehab, my love for AlUla has reignited. I am someone who attributes colour to things and this event is gold, with reds and oranges - very very warm and rich. Not a safe blind buy I would say. I’m glad I held onto this and decided to experiment further.

Fruity plum and leathery saffron over a sweet tobacco incense amber. What AIUla lacks in coherent naming (what does a dried up oasis have to do with plums?) it makes up for with an addictive date syrup meets plum accord set against cardamom and leathery saffron. Unfortunately it soon becomes unrecognisably sweet tobacco ambery incense encountered pretty much ubiquitously in the current market. While I like it, AIUla feels 5 years late to the market, particularly after the release of Amouage‘s Boundless which simply exists on a completely different level of artistry and luxury.

Dry & spicy scent. Opens up in a cloud of pepper and incense and then develop into a faint syrupy plum. Not your typical oriental scent, great choice if you want something sweet and oriental during hot summerdays. Update: Second time wearing the perfume. After 4 hours drydown, a bitter frankincense appears.

I found it quite animalic and dry. I was quite sure that I would find out oud in it, but it has none apparently. Plus, the sweetness comes from plum, which feels like this is a rose-oud composition. I tried this one on paper, so my impressions may be corrupted. I would definitely visit it later.

Amazing fragrance! Very aromatic, feminine and spicy. It reminds me a lot of Tobacolor from Dior, but the tobacco is not as strong, and personally, I like it better, as it can be easily worn all seasons and the persistence is around 6/8 hours. I will definitely recommend it!

Smells nearly identical to Bond No 9’s Andy Warhol, of which Alexandria Fragrances sells an affordable dupe for £39. The plum note is the same, tart and delightful. I’ve smelled Plum Japonais though and that one smells like spiced cardboard to me, no comparison at all.