Barq

A few months ago, I happily purchased a decant roll on from India, simply labeled 'Swiss Arabian Barq'. Review reading has convinced me that GIrlyScientist and I hold the same beauty - and her recommendation is well worth your consideration. Ever been a little hesitant to try a bargain attar, for fear of getting explosive, chemical oud or bombastic 'bakhour'? Do not fear - this is an expensive smelling and very quality blend. Barq is an outstanding place to start (or continue) your attar exploration. If you happen to enjoy warm, honeyed vanilla with wood and spices, read on. There's a little middle eastern flair from the type of wood and rose in the base notes, but for the most part this could simply be a niche gourmand. It feels very feminine, thanks to the sweetness from amber,caramel,vanilla, and cinnamon. As for performance, aside for the first few minutes I thought this golden elixir was a skin scent. But a few months in a warm room seems to have either concentrated or amplified my roll on into a much stronger intensity. The proof of this still makes me chuckle. I wore a generous application of Barq to a holiday concert the other night and was elated at how well it projected. Rare for me, I actually got a complement, it was so Powerfully Gorgeous. Normally I would have had ears only for the music, but my nose was also happily busy that evening. I smelled like Christmas personified! So, while I cannot promise whether your Barq will be shy or extroverted, she IS an absolute keeper with aphrodisiac quality, I am reliably informed. Vanilla, amber, cinnamon - YOU are to blame! FIVE stars - One of my best budget attars - ever.

So, this is called Barq. You can look at the box in the picture and google it. Mukhalat Barq is a different fragrance (also listed in the Fragrantica database as unisex). Promise. Now that we've gotten that out of the way, this is hands down my favorite Arabian oil. SO good. While I can see why it's listed as feminine, I don't think it would be weird on a man. It smells like warm spiced cookies presented to you in a basket made of sandalwood. And it's amazing, not too sweet. It has the smell of brown sugar without smelling cloying. Definitely oriental, but not very challenging to Western noses. No oud at all, though the dry down has more wood and amber then the first few hours. The orange/tangerine notes are very fleeting top notes, which is good because I don't think it works especially well with everything else. But, they're gone in a flash, leaving you with the sumptuous, spicy, amazingness that is Barq. You can get the decant bottles cheaply from India and it's very worth it.

When I first tried this I found it too spicy with the cardamom and cinnamon way too prominent and gave it away to my son who loves the bottle. I have now taken it back (and gave him another of my middle eastern perfume bottles) because this is an absolutely gorgeous vanilla oriental with a perfect amount of spices, wood and sparkling orange notes if just given some time. I do think I detect just a hint of oud, which give it a creamy fullness and some faint smoky feel. Or maybe it's just the cinnamon, I don't know. This is really, really close to L Lolita Lempicka in the drydown. This has a better longevity and is perfect for layering.

The bottle is gorgeous, I can't even believe the price of this very high quality fragrance. In the notes the Oud is not listed, but I can definitely smell it a lot. Depending on the weather, this fragrance changes, I believe it's meant better for a hot climate, then it opens beautifully, it plays on your skin but in the colder climate you pretty much smell a lot of oud and rose. I'm just starting out in my journey into arabian fragrance and so far I have to say I'm impressed.

Lovely bottle and very fairly priced. But, my chemistry will not allow this! The ingredients looked great and based on that I ordered it. This is so strong and very offensive, and I can't scrub it off. I have Kalemat, Al Kaaba, and many others which I love, but this one I can't wear. Sample first before buying!

@golden I think you are making a mistake saying that this smells almost identical to Mubakhar. It is its sister "Mukhalat Barq" by Swiss Arabian for Women and Men (this one is proposed for women only - you can see them both in the Swiss Arabian page) that is identical to Mubakhar, because it has exactly the same ingredients. I hope I've helped with this clarification. Now for this one, I smell cinnamon and cardamom and sandalwood at the begining, followed by vanilla, brown sugar, amber and a touch of oud and rose. I do not detect orange or tangerin. Overall, a very oriental/spicy, sweet perfume. Very feminine.

I do not detect any incense. But I do detect cinnamon, sandalwood, and vanilla - among other things, of course - which are my all-time favorite ingredients. This scent is woody, spicy abd sweet, but not cloying. Very exotic and delicious. I rub some drops of this all over my skin while it's still wet and warm from the shower. Great results! And I love the bottle. So exotic, too