Shaghaf Oud Aswad

To start, this is not blind buy safe, and this will not be for everyone. You will either love this in it's entirety, or you'll completely hate this. I would highly suggest trying to get a sample first. This is definitely an acquired taste. I would only recommend purchasing this fragrance if you're very expierenced when it comes to fragrances in general. Especially, the truly unique ones with a classic Middle Eastern scent profile. If you don't like rose, oud, smoke, incense, or leather, then you probably won't enjoy this. This is a dark, rosey, oud bomb! It does not smell western in anyway. Also, this is not a light fragrance by ANY means! If you're sensitive to fragrances, this probably won't be for you either. In my opinion, this is what an Arabian prince/princess would smell like. This just oozes luxury. It smells WAAAY more expensive than it actually is. The quality on this is outstanding. This is a dark, jammy rose. Without being green in anyway. In my opinion, this rose is right on the brink of the petals starting to die. This has a HUGE blast of Rose and Oud, and it lasts throughout the entirety of the fragrance. The oud in this is rather interesting. It feels a lil funky, but somehow fresh at the same time. Probably because the aromatic rose KEEPS it from going full blown wet, fermented woods. The rose and oud is the main star of the show. Those two notes are there throughout the entirety of the fragrance. This is then backed up by the beautiful leather, some smoke and then incense. I don't really get any of the spices. I mostly just get the big blast of rose, oud, smoke and leather. This is dark, intoxicating, unique, bold, daring, and completely unforgiving. In my opinion, (This is the dominatrix of the shaghaf line🤣). She is here, and she's making a statement! She WILL force you to pay attention to her, and only her! She will leave you weak in the knees and begging for more. This is very polarizing, distinct, and aromatic. This projects very hard! And this will last on clothing for daaaays. It projects much more than it lasts on skin. Also, this is better suited for fall/winter only because of how strong this is. You will choke people out in the warmer months. I wouldn't recommend wearing this if you're around a lot of people in a confined space. (A little goes a very long way) I can't express enough how gorgeous this fragrance truly is. It's an absolute beauty, and unlike anything I've ever smelled. If you like unique fragrances that are bold, dark, daring and that make a statement, then this is right up your alley. It's a masterpiece in my opinion. Absolute ten/ten!

The overwhelming intensity of Shaghaf Oud Aswad is apparent from the very first spray. For a split second, it reveals an oudy note reminiscent of rubber tires, similar to that of Al Haramain Khulasat al Oudh. Within minutes, it evolves into a bold, challenging blend of saffron and herbal rose. Shortly after, the fragrance takes on the character of a vintage, jammy rose pastry (like one from a grandmother's kitchen) with a non-barnyard oud. This rich rose layer is beautifully balanced by a warm and deep woody backbone. The drydown, which I believe is the best part of the experience, as it balances all the ingredients so well, leaves a smooth amber trail, subtly infused with incense and vanilla. The entire experience evokes the imagery of a dark, gothic-style lounge filled with nearly black roses, incense, and velvet drapes. This fragrance captures a striking contrast between Eastern and Western olfactory cultures. While most Western perfumes lean minimalist, Aswad in contrary feels unapologetically 'maximalist'. Its projection needs little explanation — upon application, it was detectable from the farthest corner of my apartment. Longevity is phenomenal, truly beast mode, making it a perfect mixture for winter evenings. Though it leans slightly toward the feminine side of unisex, I enjoy experimenting with fragrances and find it a pleasure to wear. The bottle itself is a stunning black matte block, exuding luxury, and it features an excellent atomizer that ensures an even application. While undeniably luxurious, this fragrance is not a crowd-pleaser due to its bold and heavy profile. It is not recommended for blind buys. As someone who isn't particularly fond of overly sugary, rose-centric oud combinations (since many tend to smell almost identical and lack quality), I find this one stands out as a unique creation. Alongside Lattafa's Bade'e al Oud Amethyst and Oud Mood, it ranks as one of the best. The rose here is far from sugary — it's more like the smoky, dark roses found in a shadowy greenhouse under a Turkish sultan's castle. Aswad is a complex, challenging fragrance. It's not easy to wear, but for those who dare, it carves a lasting mark on the senses. Opening note: 7 Sillage/Projection: 9+ Drydown: 8+ Longevity: 10- Blend/Composition: 8+ Versatility: 5 Uniqueness: 9 Value for money: 8 Bottle design/Aesthetics: 8+ Overall experience: 8 Blind-buy rating: 2+

What an absolutely stunning scent! In recent times I’ve been on the lookout for a rose/musk scent that I could wear as a guy, and this is it! My most immediate impression when I first sprayed this on was that it reminded me very much of David Yurman Limited Edition which is also a rose centric oud scent that’s very musky. The commonality especially being the type of the rose in both scents. The difference however being that the David Yurman scent is very smokey, where as this is not - which is perfect for my most immediate tastes! I also detected a slight amount of bubblegum in the top of this. It fades off quickly though, thank goodness as I can’t help but think that had it remained it would have narrowed the scents wearability of the broader market of potential partakers. I think the votes for the rose are bang on, this is extremely rose forward. However I’m baffled as to why there is so much allocation for oud in the note presentation. To my nose the oud is extremely backed out and sits as a very soft and perfectly balanced undercurrent which adds just enough masculinity that it makes it comfortably wearable for a guy. That said, this is entirely unisex and you must both appreciate and hold affection for florals to appreciate this scent, since it is well and truely rose forward. There is also a somewhat fresh vibe to the floral, almost wet. Despite being oud based, the scent is actually very clean smelling, and not because the oud is medicinal, it isn’t, but more because of the opulence and forthrightness of the floral. I also detect a good dose of musk in this which also makes it somewhat powdery. And with that comment I point out that in the manufactures description above, the first notes mentioned after the description of the oud is a ‘Sultry Musk’ which is exactly what I perceive as a notable undercurrent in this scent aside from the gorgeous rose and oud. An immediate love for me that holds its character beautifully for the full duration of the wear. It also lasts fantastically and maintains solid projection throughout. Super impressed and so glad I tried it. It will be getting a lot of use as spring arrives here.

Got this one as a present and mmh beautiful... it seems I've just found my next favorite rose-oud combo for the late autumn-winter season. I was very skeptical at the beginning, because I really didn’t like the OG Shaghaf Oud or the Azraq and Ahmar flankers although I’m a oud girlie. THIS ONE THO. Had to get a backup bottle. On first sniff It's sort of your typical middle eastern rosy mukhallat, but give it time and if fans out with some added spice, gorgeous incense and dark mystery! The perfume seems to me very well blended, gives an air of expensive niche quality. The rose in the beginning is punchy and somewhat cold but calms down after the first 15-20 minutes. The oud has an animatic dirty note especially at the beginning, but I wouldn't classify it as full-on fecal/barnyard. Compared this to Oud Ispahan and the oud there is way more skanky, offputtingly so. So don't worry too much if you're not a particular fan of fecal ouds - it is nearly undetectable by the coming through of the middle notes. Also compared to Kayali Oudgasm Rose Oud....they could be layered if you want a bit more sweetness and less churchy-ness. The longevity of this one is average on me with 5-6 hours, develops beautifully even in warmer days but I'd say it'll really come through during the scarf and tea weather. On my clothes I can easily smell it in the next day too, with some projection too. Spicy woody goodness! True unisex imho, family members are divided wether it’s more feminine or more masculine, but then again that’s personal preference - everyone should wear whatever they like. Both women and men can pull it off with confidence. But warning! Not a safe blind buy for people who dislike rose notes or those who aren't used to middle eastern fragrances.

This is a beautiful fragrance. I recently found and loved Shaghaf Oud, so I decided to give this one a try as well. First and foremost I do see some comparisons in the reviews between this and Shaghaf Oud, and I must say that apart from being from the same house, they are absolutely different to my nose. There is some crossover in notes, but they are completely different fragrances. The oud in SO is sharper, the rose is not so prominent. The oud in this one is softer (it's agarwood that's been sanded down to smoothness). The rose in this one is centre stage. SO is an oud fragrance with a touch of rose; Aswad is a rose fragrance with a touch of oud. The opening of Aswad is a bit loud- a bit jammy. Within about 2 mins it settles to a much softer rose as the leather note comes into play. The drydown is an elegant, soft, powdery roses on smooth leather. This leans feminine but can also work as unisex - it's sophisticated and clean. I see this one a well put-together classy woman on a cold day. If I had to draw comparables to this one, I would say that the opening is a bit like Rose D'Arabie. The drydown is 65% FM's Une Rose (the musky woody powdery rose vibes) and 35% MFK's Oud Satin Mood. So far I'm careful of when I wear my Middle Eastern scents because they can be strong - this one can easily be used every day and even amongst people who don't want to be slapped in the face with perfume (ie those who haven't been enlightened to the joys of fragrance yet 😁). I'd comfortably wear this to the office.

Wow what a beautiful perfume! If I would describe this in one sentence.. you will be a walking oud incense burner. Those who love the smell of incense in general will immediately love this perfume. It's not the same as Shaghaf oud, it's less on that artificial sweetness and it smells as if the strong oud note is enveloped/tamed by the roses in this one, not as loud as in Shaghaf oud. To my nose, it's even superior and perfectly blended (and much cheaper) than Montale black oud and black oud intense, which are very close in smell. The dry down is where the magic happens, and it leaves a beautiful scent trail. It is an ever changing fragrance, starts with a sweet dark rose accord with some smokiness, then during the dry drown you get the ambery saffron mixed with some vanilla sweetness, then finally the beautiful smokey oud. The immediate opening is bad with too many notes fighting to get out, so let it settle for just a couple of minutes, then enjoy. Also don't smell it up close or you will get that strong smokey oud smell, and don't spray on the neck under your face, but rather spray on arms, back of the neck, shoulders, etc. I believe these fragrances work much better when they are smelled in the air around you. The Sillage is excellent! you get this "almost holy" scent bubble around you. Longevity is excellent and stays for days on clothes. Certainly a steal for the price/quality, and recommended for fall and winter or cooler summer nights.

Velvety & mysterious rose-oud-patchouli blend with thyme & cumin... Opens with a burst of saffron-rose-oud & thyme with metallic, velvety, powdery, spicy & herbaceous nuances, which deepens into a rose-oud-patchouli & cumin heart with velvety, rich, rosy, woody, earthy, animalic & spicy touches, all resting on a oud & leather base with rich, resinous, creamy, woody & musky facets. Overall I get a rich saffron & rose-oud-patchouli blend that's distinguished by powdery, herbaceous thyme in the opening, animalic cumin in the heart, and leather in the base. The rose here comes out more in the air, while on the skin I get a raunchy animalic oud with cumin & leather. Way into the drydown, I start to get near-benzoin and near-violet-jasmine tones. Well above average performance. Captivatingly non-linear - I keep sniffing my wrist to see where it's going next. It's a love for me. 10/10 for a rose-oud. Enjoy! Update 04/24/25: Sprayed this on this morning after reading Eddie's article, and I'm noticing how beautifully this has aged - so smooth and gotten a little sweeter. I've always thought of this scent as a good quality rose-oud: creamy, velvety, leathery. So good. The oud is almost chocolate-y creamy. But now I'm getting the ink and blueberry jam part-way through that Eddie mentioned. Left an oily sheen on the back of my hand which I rubbed in. Love it.

I love this perfume - especially after the first hour but I've learned to enjoy the beginning as well. Opening is strong and a bit harsh - dry rose with some leather and herbs and probably oud - it might be too much for some people and it's projecting strongly during this 1st hour. However, later on it becomes a bit sweeter (it's never too sweet) , closer to the skin and these herbal/leather notes go to the background - from this moment it's a very cosy, warm and mysterious rose with the oud as a base note (but nothing fecal, just warm wood). The projection is rather subtle (aferr this 1st hour) but I can smell myself even the next day and when I spray it on my hair then I can smell it even after I wash it. I am not a fan of roses in perfumes but this is perfection - it's not a girly rose, it's a dark and mature rose, mysterious and warm at the same time. I think it's unisex - I'm a woman but I guess it's probably more targeted towards men. I just don't like fragrances that are too female oriented (all of these flirty delicate florals and sweet gourmants) Don't blind buy it as it's not for everyone. And I guess it requires some maceration/maturation - because in the decant I can clearly smell a rose and in the new bottle there is just a hint of rose. I hope till the moment I finish the decant my full bottle will be ready.

I really like this scent. It's not a safe blind buy though. It is a heavy fragrance, but that shouldn't be a surprised since the fragrance literally translates to "Black Oud". Everyone's taste is different, so not sure why there's so much hate directed towards people who like this fragrance. For reference, I personally do not like Shaghaf Oud (the gold bottle) and think Shaghaf Oud Aswad smells nothing like it. Aswad has a very strong rose and oud combo in the beginning. It needs about 15 minutes to settle on the skin, as I have experienced with most Swiss Arabian perfumes. But once it starts to settle, the rose and oud open up to a beautiful soft, smooth leather with a musk and (neutral) vanilla base. It dries more masculine on my skin. It does have a synthetic smell, which I even find strong at times...but it hasn't caused a problem if I'm not constantly sticking my nose into it. I also pick up on this synthetic note in Montale perfumes so....again...not really the biggest problem for me. The oud can come off as what people are describing as "incense" which I actually enjoy in a perfume but find it to be less incensey than "Oud Mood" by Lattafa, which I also love. Overall, it's a very Middle Eastern scent. It's not a safe blind buy even for people who even enjoy Middle Eastern scents. It's a great perfume for the price.

This smelled so different on my skin to how I thought it would. The wood was there but the rose just seemed to bound off me like my skin had become some sort of scented trampoline! In terms of development this was fairly linear for me, but with a scent like this I'm alright with that. Eventually it did become a skin scent and then there was a sweet vanilla with a hint of woody rose, but the projection on this was still going six hours after I applied it and I could still smell it on the skin over twelve hours from first application. Is it the most fabulous scent in the world? No, but that doesn't mean its not lovely in its own right Is it expensive smelling? Not really no, although it doesn't smell cheap and nasty to me Is it my favourite? It's up there with them, but no Is it a good fragrance? God yes! Especially considering the price, this for me is an absolute steal and will become a permanent fixture of my collection That said, if you're not a fan of slightly spicy woody rose, this probably isn't for you, especially given how long lasting it can be, and if you're looking for a really animalic barbyard type oud, your search may have to continue. If your looking for a really decent spicy rose-oud combo that is ultra-affordable however, you may have just met your match.....

This is one of my top three reaches when the weather is cool and I want to smell and feel luxurious without using up the precious last of my Le Baiser du Dragon and the rose note of Sehr al Sheila is too much. I loooove Oud Aswad. This is my second of three in the Shaghaf series, including the original gold bar- and the white one (which is more or less the clone of Interlude). For comparison, Narciso Rodriguez' For Her, the original black bottle, was my winter signature scent for ages. As I was running out, I was also getting into oud and picked up Oud Aswad to have something similar but more woody. It quickly replaced the Narciso in my regular rotation. I love that it's got rose but not TOO rosey, a tinge of powder but not TOO powdery, lots of oud (no such thing as TOO oudy), a shot of incense but not TOO incensy, a handful of dark berries, and cedarwood to anchor it with some dry woods. I think it is feminine, classy, smooth, well-blended, dark, and jammy. Like the Narciso Rodriguez but better. Haters gonna hate, but I get complimented on this one all the time, and I love the scent bubble it creates. Fall and winter nights are perfect for this. I'm not as fond of it in warm weather.

This is the IT fragrance for me. I can see this being a signature scent for me. This is def a middle eastern scent. I close my eyes and I am right back in the Emirates. This is the Emirate scent that I been searching for so hard to find. I can see me being frantic, if I were running out of this and didn't have a back up. I am in love with the combination of the florals and spices, patchouli, cumin, coriander, and then all of my favorites, vanilla, and most of all JASMINE. This is DEFINITELY UAE HOUSE of Fragrances. I am soooooooo in love with this fragrance. Swiss Arabian is IT for me. I am so happy I have a pic of the corporate building in the Emirates, lol. I am so home with this. Very middle eastern, rich beautiful fragrance with an affordable price. LOVE IT 🥰 . It is marketed "unisex". I can see it being unisex but I think is leans waaaaay towards feminine. But maybe people from the west would see it being masculine. As someone living in the middle east many years, I smell this and it puts me in mind of a very classy, well dressed, Emirati woman. Def middle eastern Fem. I give Shaghaf Oud Aswad 5 outta 5 stars

WOW. Very impressed with this juice from Swiss Arabian, especially because I don't find most of their line to be very impressive. The rose dominates, and it's a lovely, if synthetic note. I don't mind synthetic smelling because let's be real, 99.9% of the aroma chemicals in any perfume are synthetic and it's idiotic to be snobby about it. But it is a lush, beautiful, blooming strong and sweet rose, reminiscent of classic French style perfumes. I am getting a slight note of bubblegum but strangely it doesn't bother me. There is depth beneath it, cumin, patchouli, leather, and sandalwood, singing in harmony. I don't doubt that there is oud too but it's actually not jumping out at me-- which is fine because this is beautiful enough that a quieter oud is not a bad thing. The redness of the rose note is transporting too, it's reminding me of Velvet Rose and Oud from Jo Malone. I love it so much. Strangely, I can't smell it as strongly close to my skin as I can in the air around me. Big fan of this, and I may need to try the original as well as Abyad too.

Blind bought Shaghaf oud, aswad and azraq (even though many warned against that) and I don't regret a thing haha :'D What I get most is a nice deep red rose (not dusty or stuffy/"mature") and some kind of dark, slightly sweet background (oud+incense?). To me the sweetness doesn't come from a rose, but comes from something in the background, like a sweet incense stick? Not a _sweet_ fragrance per se, but it has some sweetness. A little bit sour also? I'm not getting any straight up smokiness or harsh leather, or dirtiness. The oud doesn't jump out at me, It just brings some depth and it's in a supporting background role. Nothing is off putting to me, or harsh, and no one note sticks out too much. Not as challenging as I expected, whew! Unisex, but I think that roses and the slight sweetness might make it fem leaning to some, but not girly. More unisex in the dry down. Edit: Man, every day is a struggle so I don't end up always wearing this :'D I really like that it's super middle-eastern but more of a "cold" scent profile (and not warm spicy).

Shaghaf Oud Aswad is such a beautifully smooth and luxurious oud fragrance, that from the beginning, it opens not too heavy or cloying; with no nasty alcohol or chemicals. It goes through various stages in its development which I find quite intriguing and each one is just as splendid, as the last. The rose and the oud do not fight or compete to be the strongest or loudest notes..Instead they exist in perfect harmony; accentuating and enhancing each others best features. The Rose featured feels and smells like a dark rose, and is in both the middle and top notes, which I adore. I would also say that the oud is probably commercial, as it has no barnyard elements, which makes it perfect for me. The leather, cumin, woody notes and spices give the fragrance a spicy sultriness that gives it something very, very special and It makes me feel like a million dollars. And the ultimate bonus is that Aswad lasts all day. Like every good fragrance should. Thank you Swiss Arabian.

This starts off with the smell of creosote and I love it, I was one of those kids that loved the smell of marker pens and I guess I havent changed much. The creosote-like smell mellows out and I get this glorious, blood red, thick, velvety rose which melts perfectly into the oud which, whilst being synthetic, is very well done. The leather wraps all this gorgeousness up with a light sprinkle of vanilla. On the dry down there is a slight soapy note but it is only slight (on me) with just the right amount of sweetness that stops everything from turning into a bitter, tar-like floral - the rose is front and centre for me. I'm in love with Swiss Arabian - I'm enjoying dipping my toe into my perceived idea of Arabian fragrances and whilst there are so so many different ones to try long may my love affair last. This is a big love for me!

Very nice fragrance. Absolutely nuclear as well so be careful on the amount of sprays you do because it’s got a prominent oud note so people will stay away from you if you overspray this. This is the smell of a dubai prince it just takes me back to the Middle East. I’m getting a lot of similarities to oud satin mood. absolute banger of a fragrance. This should only be worn in colder weather due to how strong this is. This is like an upgraded more masculine and Middle Eastern version of the OG shagaf oud. People who are familiar with oud will recognise this smell because it’s just a traditional blend. I’ve been told I smell like oud and Arabs when wearing this so it’s very traditional. Western noses don’t really like this DNA it just screams rich arab sheikhs. Longevity is all day without any problem. Incredible.

Oh I really like this one. It’s quite moderate for a middle eastern fragrance, though I know that may be hard to believe given how powerfully it performs, but Arab perfumes typically can be a lot louder. It’s nuanced and takes you on a real journey as it dries. It really reminds me of a burning perfumed oud and especially bakhoor, something that isn’t quite the typical “incense” note that one might think of in the West. It’s deep and dark but at the same time would also be appealing to a feminine nose because it's so rosey. I definitely get the burning tire smell underneath, but again that's tied with bakhoor because you can get a burnt coal smell mixed in with the perfume and smoke. So somehow it doesn't bother me too much. A like, not a love for me, but still very enjoyable.

I first tested it at the shop. Just one spray the smell was so strong and loud that it gave me a headache. But i also kept getting whiffs of it and it's beautiful. At the end of the day I wanted to smell more of it. So I purchased a whole bottle. Unfortunately or maybe fortunately the smell is not as strong, maybe it needs to macerate. This smells NOTHING AT ALL like shaghaf oud. I actually put off buying it because of that one review below that wrote it's like shaghaf oud. @silthril described this perfectly. This perfume is very rose forward. Its soft rose and soft, sweet wood, incensy. This is very middle eastern. I typically smell this at mosques, Muslim gatherings. This is so gorgeous nevertheless. An absolute love.

I loved this oud, it reminds me of Armani Privé Royal Oud, and I really liked the floral note in it — I feel like it’s a gorgeous perfume. I tried it more than once, and it lasts a long time, sometimes for days on clothes. I layered it with Hermès Eau intense Vetiver, and it gave me this rainy, oud-y vibe — like basil, oud, bakhoor, and roses all together. It was really beautiful, reminded me of old Sana’a, my hometown, where the mosques have that same vibe of luxury from the basil, oud, incense, and the smell of rain. Personally, I love that kind of atmosphere, and it’s really beautiful — but it can be pretty heavy, so you really need to think about when you wear it. It’s not for everyone.