Folklory Al Ward Pink

Here it is...my favorite hyper-feminine, frilly oud. I was so desperate to get my hands on this fragrance once again (I had gotten it as a gift about 3 years ago). I live in the Middle East and have not been able to find it anywhere. I got lucky (or atleast I thought I did) when I found it on Amazon, and it was discounted too! I ordered 3 bottles without hesitation, and they arrived today. I excitedly unpacked it, and sprayed it on, ah yes, that familiar peachy-rose-oud aroma...but...why is it so weak? I remember the initial spray to be a lot sharper and barnyard-funky, but the oud in my new bottle seems to have been dialed down considerably. I did 5 sprays and it only began to project. Ugh. This feels more like a everyday female peachy-rose scent now, with just a touch of oud...not the attention-commanding desert siren I knew. The bottle I used to own had more projection and longevity than Kalemat Black (and KB is a strong one, atleast in terms of projection). What is happening here? The bottle looks identical to my old bottle though. Same heavy, beautiful antique looking bottle (and omg, it’s easily the prettiest perfume bottle I own, very ‘shabby chic’). So is the box it came in. It’s 100% original. I’m hoping it’s just my nose that’s not working today! Although (off-topic), earlier today I grabbed my unwashed coat where I had sprayed ‘Moschino’s Cheap & Chic I Love Love’ the last time I wore it (almost a week ago!) and I could still very much smell it (note: must buy back up bottles of that one...super impressed with the longevity! Totally unexpected). Update: It’s been 8 hours since I sprayed it on. The good: I can still smell it without having to smash my nose where I sprayed it. The bad: it’s a small scent bubble I’m in (this is a good thing if you want a moderate scent rather than a sillage-bomb). This new (and softer, less oud-y) formulation is definitely more of an everyday or casual evening scent. I’ll use up all my 3 bottles because I do really love the scent, I have not yet found a more feminine, refined, frilly oud than this, the sweet peach note works incredibly in this composition, makes it different and a lot more sophisticated from the typical amber+rose+praline in other sweet ouds. Not sure if I’ll repurchase, I guess I can appreciate it being more of a romantic (but still distinctive) moderate oud scent, but I am disappointed that she’s not the intense sex kitten she used to be. Update x2: So I’m wearing it again today, and the scent is stronger than it was yesterday...not a room-filling beast, but the projection is a solid arms length with 3 sprays. I have been in its soft cloud of scent for over 5 hours now. I am okay with that 👍🏻

It starts off smelling cloyingly sweet (I got peaches, raisins, florals and vanilla right off the bat) with a dirty oud undertone...but half an hour later it gets deeper, woodier, smokier, and the luxurious quality of the scent comes through. From there it just gets better and better. The oud note here smells leathery and smoky. Yes, I can swear there’s incense and leather in there! Here’s what I smell: Peach, Vanilla, Flowers (Rose mostly), Leather, Oud, Incense, Amber, Patchouli. Woody sweet. It’s incredibly feminine, regal, and mysterious. It smells like a beautiful woman who is as captivating as she is complex. Remember Angelina Jolie as Olympias in ‘Alexander’ (2004)? All goddess-like, in draped fabrics, jewelry, cascading dark locks, kohl rimmed eyes and golden cheekbones? She was one heck of a character in the film, and this is what she must have smelled like. I would only wear this on special evenings (I’d give it 30-40mins before I leave home). I recommend spraying it on fabric (like a scarf), and behind your knees. Avoid spraying close to your face if you’re sensitive to strong scents. It would be overwhelming for day to day use. The sillage is huge and it lasts till your next shower, it will definitely turn heads and get you noticed. This is probably the most feminine woody perfume I’ve ever come across. Oh, and the bottle is just adorable, like something from a bygone era (tbh it was the bottle that attracted me first, fortunately the scent did not disappoint).

This is a stunningly beautiful fragrance, blind buy worthy if your penchant is for (woody?) orientals; I wouldn't describe this as a floral woody musk. This is also the most expensive Arabic fragrance I own. I am testing this in the cool damp of an English January and suspect it would bloom and be even more gorgeous in the heat. However, at the moment the principle notes are amber, oud, patchouli, fruit and vanilla (in that order) with florals bringing up the rear. The oud is not medicinal or in your face, but creamy and woody - just delightful. I don't find this perfume particularly sweet. The fragrance is only available as 30ml EDP and the bottle is huge, belying the volume of its content, but simply gorgeous and begging to be on display. My 22 year old daughter was immediately smitten, describing it as something a mermaid would have - and she is right. I bought from Arab Fragrance Shop on UK eBay for £39 (free p&p), who included a perfumed card with the (again huge and beautiful) cellophane covered box, so that I could smell the perfume. They emailed me, confirming they would accept a return of the perfume providing I hadn't opened the packaging. This is the best value I could find anywhere.

I was hesitant to order it because I couldn't buy any sample and it's only available in one webshop in my country, and i found it too expensive, but i got a great mark on an exam and I decided to buy this as a gift for myself :)) I can't describe how much I love it!! First i smelled some cow skin , but after half an hour it disappeared. My friends told me when i sprayed myself freshly: you have a stable smell :) After a time I learned to love even this first phase and I don't mind it at all. Today it was 40 C degree and I'm sad that summer will end soon, but there is one reason why I love colder seasons: IT's THIS perfume <3

@Agnesca, the Western perfume you had negative associations with (that smells similar to this and has cheap dupes everywhere) might be Gucci Rush. Funny, I was reminded of Gucci Rush the first half hour of spraying it on (but with a tarred oud instead of Gucci’s melted plastic). Gucci Rush was extremely popular and beloved in the Middle East throughout the 00s, so the nose behind this scent might have been inspired by it. I lost the association to Rush after an hour of letting it develop though...this one smells more luxurious and elegant once the darker base notes come out to play.