La Yuqawam Orchid Prairie

CROP CIRCLE in a field of jasmine. A burst of licorice nuanced florals (violet, jasmine & rose) opens this musky-violet hidden gem that goes on for days, blooming with an after-the-rain earthiness. Imagine being in a twilight meadow filled with violets. Lying on sofly sueded meadow grasses, you watch fluffy violet clouds obscure the setting sun. After awhile you notice a fresh earthiness wafting up from the grass beneath you, like earthy carrots you've just picked from a garden. You stand up to realize you're in the middle of a crop circle... Contrast to Alien Mugler: For some people after the earthy, damp wood/barnyard aspect this scent turns into Alien on steroids. For me, I get Alien in the air, but on the skin there is a faint barnyard oud in the mix, but I have alot of oud based scents and this is minor imho. If you're sensitive to oud, try before you buy. Update 08/04/24: Tried this on today in search of an opulent jasmine, and this is smelling like jasmine leather to me. Like a soft nude leather jacket that's been grape-scented. I love that it's not overly powdery & vintage, and stays pretty consistently at a jasmine leather. and the jasmine vibe doesn't disappear into dry woods. Overall: this is a beast mode violet-jasmine with licorice-y nuances, it's a love for me. Enjoy!

Let me preface my review by stating that I love Black Orchid and I love A LOT of Rasasi's perfumes. Sadly, I don't wear Black Orchid often because, as a dude, it can only be worn to a formal evening event, and only during the Fall and Winter months. The last time I wore it was to the Kennedy Center to see a presentation of The King and I and received a compliment or two. The ladies do not have this limitation as a strong woman can wear it just about anywhere, and at anytime, from the Fall to the early Spring months. Since Rasasi La Yuqawam Femme was a very good Black Orchid interpretation, I decided to blind buy this one about a year ago hoping for an extreme Black Orchid experience - well, a Black Orchid monster on suppose, I supposed, with that added note of oud. What I got was a pinch of Black Orchid with a whole lot of BO. It's just pungent and annoying when it opens, and it continues to beat one about the neck & shoulders and exude various elements of repulsiveness during the heart and base. Performance is outstanding as just 1-spray will a room during the first two hours, will last on your skin 12+ hours, and even survive a shower or two. I love and/or appreciate most Rasasi fragrances, but this one is a major disappointment so try before you buy.

This perfume was made for my skin. I totally get how offended people are when they first spray it but the dirty/faecal /wet wood smell doesn't last long and actually, I don't find it repugnant at all.....and I'm not one for strong Oud. After about 10 min, I get the same DNA as Thierry Mugler Alien but on steroid! Very strong for about 2 or 3 hours. I really can't say it smells like black orchid at all and I have never smelt velvet Orchid but just take this as what it is. A winner for me and one smell I've been looking for, for years. Sheks (1st review at the bottom) is 100% correct in my opinion, this is the smell of opulence. It smells like those rich arab ladies I used to see on the shores of Lake Geneva in the summers of my youth. The dry down is when the magic happens. Its a fresh, clean smell which is so unexpected after the smell of petal decay you get at the beginning. Surprising, unpredictable and multi facetted. I'm seriously thinking of making it my signature scent but I still need to experiment with numbers of sprays and seasons to see if it's realistic.. I tried it from a coffret collection containing jasmin wisp and pour femme and ordered a full bottle straight away. Any one wanting to get rid of their bottle, DM me!

This is the Genre which says "wear me mate, otherwise I will wear you and make you my slave" lol. its a floral oud fragrance to my nose, totally middle eastern style, no apology, no polite welcome. this you love or hate. the florals kinda remind me of velvet orchid by Tom Ford, but its not a clone of that directly. if you love the very expensive Bouruzz line Asrar Indonesia, this one is a brother of that, beast mode longevity, authority in a bottle. many beginners and safe frag lovers will hate it. so definitely dont blind buy. i have reviewed them all except La Yuqawam Femme, so far my ranking is OG,tobacco blaze,this one, jasmine wisp and ambergris showers. none of them are for the faint of heart. but if you love quality smokey dark Oud and woody fragrances, this Orchid one is for you :) 9/10

This fragrance smells of luxury and commands attention. I smelt it on a friend and just couldn't it out of my head. On a recent trip to dubai, i picked up two bottes and asked my sis to get me an extra one. At the airport on my way back home, i was stopped by several people wanting to know what i was wearing. The top note of this perfume is awesome, the drydown is even better. All is can say is that this fragrance smells of middle east opulence.