Bakhoor Al Arais

Bakhoor Al Arais is quite a puzzling scent for me. It smells as quite unique, and with some soapy, clean and rétro, fairly pleasant overall. It’s a bit old styled, but in a good and fascinating way. Out of the notes listed, I actually get a citrusy amber (the powdery, quite intoxicating sweet vanilla note featured in hundreds of cheap or low-class arab scents are framed by an untamed harsh soapiness, that fades away when frag dries down): rosewood for sure, some really undefined crisp woods (“cedramber” and the likes), some citrus, a really faint white flowers accord, and most of all, a lot of a really peculiar accord of, basically, spicy musk and ambery imbued woods (which then turns into “spicy vanilla-infused amber”). This accord, which is basically the main structure of Bakhoor first and mid phases, smells subdued and discreet and I’m surprised of the staying power, that is, on the contrary, quite impressive. More than 7 hrs.

I'm a crazed fan of the SA Al Arais entire range.. ESPECIALLY the Mukhallat. This is a related frag in that trio range and Fragrantica doesn't have the Mukhlat in its database which is why I'll review on this. This is vanilla, honey and sweet sweet amber all the way. I have nascent nose in Arabic oils so not too sure about the notes trajectory, but boy this lasts for at least 12 hours, and has immense projection.. to the extent that post 12 hours, it had dried to a vanilla-enhanced skin scent. LOVE THIS, but its not for men, and its not a hot weather day wear. Date evenings, yes ;)

This is a truly beautiful fragrance! It smells like fresh flowers on fire. It has a light vintage soapy touch that brings back old memories. I wish the soapy note was a bit stronger. I wear many perfumes, but I have never loved one as much as Bakhoor Al Arees. On my skin it lasts 8 hours. The sillage is extremely powerful - one spray equals 3 sprays. One spray fills the whole room. It performs best in winter, not suitable for summer. For me 9/10.

Absolutely adore this perfume. Dangerously feminine and reminiscent of the better quality 80's perfumes. Its not aggressive, but its there and its noticeable. I just ordered another bottle! I could see this working on some men, but its definitely (in my opinion) more feminine.

I have the perfume oil which I bought on eBay from a reputable seller and I really like it. I was expecting something strong and almost overwhelming but it's soft, warm but still holds some freshness. Very elegant and discreet, definitely unisex.

I LOVE Bakhoor Al Arais!! It's gorgeous on me!!! A heavenly smooth creamy mix of spices, a lovely rosy smell, beautiful wood, vanilla and amber. Really scrumptious!

Love it . One of my absolute favourites

A very sweet and powdery fragrance. I didn't get any spice in it other than saffron, which is not generally one expects when hearing "spice". Opens up with a very sweet feminine smell of saffron, honey and rosewood. I was a bit disappointed to not get any notes of vanilla, which was the main reason for me to buy this. After 20-30 minutes, it settles down as a powdery floral sweet saffron, which stays for another 2-3 hours. This definitely doesn't seem like a unisex perfume unless layered with something smoky and masculine (like hacivat or aventus). A same blind buy for women, but not for men, i wouldn't have bought it if I knew that it was gonna be like this (powdery with no vanilla), but it's fine as it's very cheap. I'll probably layer it with something or gift it to someone.

I bought this perfume from Swiss Arabian retailer based on notes that don’t match Fragrantica notes. Price is good and this perfume lasts in extreme heat well. Projection is intense with a trail of perfume scenting the air around you for hours! At first all I smelled was jasmine overwhelming me for 20 minutes then it changed to a soft powdery rose for about an hour then a pretty powdery rosewood scent stayed with me for hours and it was not obnoxious or cloying like in the beginning. I like this scent only after suffering with a headache for first 20 minutes of it. No rice, incense, vanilla, amber, or orange blossom ever showed up on my skin. Overall it was worth blind buying it because I wear it.

Quite a big fan. Not a universal perfume and suits middle eastern women, would make no sense outside of the realm of the desert. the notes on here are incorrect. Opens with peach and pineapple to a gentle woody but sophisticated dry down. Nice, suits the evening and fresh but spicy-woods. The opening fruit is the note you would pick up the most. Sillage and longevity are good. Wouldn't make it to the next day or survive the shower but definetly pleasant.

Attar Bakhoor: Definitely a gourmand- musky, sweet, fruity, powdery, and woody. Lasts on skin and clothing for hours. These are the notes I found on the net: Top Notes: Peach, Praline, Green, Herbaceous Elements. Middle Notes: Rose, Jasmine, Pineapple, Cyclamen, White Floral. Bottom Notes: Insence, Caramel, Moss, Cedarwood, Orris, Musk, Balsamic Elements Too cloying to wear in summer, reserved for cooler weather only.

I have four scents from the SA Al Arais line, all glass spray bottles. Bakhoor is strong, sweet, incense, amber, and wood. Wearing this opened a new fragrance world to me. The sweet is not sugar. It's like baked dates. Long lasting, something heady in the center of it. Don't overspray, and you'll be fine.

Incorrect notes on here, this is fruity floral with some woods, I found no darkness because the woods are transparent and playful. Also I don't get any spice?

I find it just okay for my daily wear but i only use it on my clothes. It's a good scent overall.

The notes here are definitely wrong because it's a sweet and fruity floral scent rather than a spicy scent. I smell jammy rose, jasmine, orange blossom, well-ripened pineapple, and caramel. Orange blossom, super ripe pineapple, and caramel are at the forefront for sure. It has an old-fashioned scent profile. It also leaves a scent trail behind, so wear with caution. A favorite Saudi student gifted this one to me, so it will always have a place in my heart even if the old-fashioned profile isn't quite me. The official website lists these main accords: musk, floral, fruity, woody, green. And these are the correct notes listed on the Swiss Arabian website: TOP: peach, praline, green, herbaceous elements MID: pineapple, cyclamen, white floral, rose, jasmine BASE: moss, cedarwood, orris, musk, balsamic elements, incense, caramel

I think the pages are mixed up here, because the Bakhoor Al Arais oil I got has notes more like those currently on the page for Sahret Al Arais. This is a white floral and woods combination, very light and wearable on cool spring days. A little pungent and indolic for my liking, but considering it was a truly blind buy (and cheap!) I can’t say I regret trying this.

This is a strange one for me. A gourmand woody fragrance. Headachingly oversweet. I think it the praline in here that is bothering me, well that and the smoke like woods. It is really all too much. If you want a very strong gourmand wood fragrance w/ an almost raisin like sweetness, then this is for you. It is a scrubber for me. Wowzah this is strong!

Roseau has done a fine job of reviewing this quite complex and well blended scent. Long lasting and interesting and quite noticeably related to the Mukhallat al Arais not on the database. I enjoy, enjoy, enjoy! A tad soapy, yes, but also traditionally smelling of 'bakhoor' oil style. Mukahallat, it's more woody sister, is also more of a bakhoor smell than anything, but less floral and more woody. All of these are sweet in an interesting, mature way rather than a young or western way. The notes here are somewhat misleading, though no doubt precisely what Swiss Arabian lists. If you love wood, choose Mukhallat and if you like florals choose Bakhoor. I do think the Bakhoor smells more elegant and the Mukhallat is more of a punch in the nose, but in a good way. ;) As Bakhoor dries down there is far less sweetness and more of an aldehyde or soapy note, which comes off as quintessentially feminine and classic. To me it is Expensive smelling - recommended!

‘Bakhoor al Arais’ bears a strong resemblance to ‘Attar Bakhoor’ by the same house, but it is far “creamier” and smoother with increased vanilla, an underlying "nuttiness" like roasted almonds or cashews, milky lactones, and the faint, powdery sparkle of orris. It is so smooth, and devoid of any “peaks” of notes, that it smells to me like a very fine, artisan-milled soap or expensive body-cream. Absolutely beautiful, and a pleasure to wear. 5/5

I ALMOST like this, but there's something in it that reads too bitter -- maybe the smoke? -- in spite of the sweetness. There's something artificial about it that reminds me of hair products for perming hair. This is just NOT something I would reach for, so I'll be moving it out of my collection.