Shaghaf Oud Azraq

I was looking for a nice scent for the holidays when I heard about this one, seeing reviews on YouTube. I really loved the idea of a honey fragrance, and oud might be where my love for perfume had really started, so this really did seem to be one that would be great for me. Mind you, oud is not one of my favorite notes anymore, but it’s a fact that the very first perfume that made me get into this hobby was an oud perfume. This one is definitely nicely balanced: the oud is very prominent, but the honey definitely is the star of the show, and wow, it’s a sweet, delicious, warm and raw combination. I can imagine it’s not the only fragrance that is a honey and oud fragrance, but it’s definitely an unexpected, but successful combination. The opening is nice but didn’t completely blow me away. It was in the dry down where it really shone in the best possible way! Honey, oud and cinnamon is mostly what I get. It’s lovely, and a good performer. When I went outside in the cold air, I could notice the wafts of the fragrance even more and it’s absolutely glorious. There is a certain kind of ‘scented candle’ vibe that I get from it, but wow, do I smell like the best, most expensive scented candle ever. I think it’s the cinnamon that kind of gives me the fragrance of a scented candle, and the honey makes it kind of waxy. To me, this is not a downside. Also, can we talk about the presentation? Wow! The box that it comes in, complete with the way the box opens and you can literally keep it open like that, and the bottle itself are really, really nice. It feels so luxurious, you’d never know that this fragrance is, all things considered, is kind of on the budget friendly side. The only other fragrances that I save the box for is the Tom Ford private scents – and those are so expensive, but the packaging doesn’t hold a candle to this one. I’ve never seen anything like it. The one confusing part on the presentation – and the name of the fragrance – is the blue theme with this particular fragrance. Blue might be the last color that I associate with this fragrance. I much prefer the ambery orange color that Honey Aoud by Montale comes in, as a match for this scent profile.

Azraq opens as a rich, dense explosion of honey. It feels thick, resinous, and heavily textured, yet patchouli keeps it from becoming completely stagnant by adding a certain freshness. Even so, the first phase can feel a little rugged. The oud reads less like a featured material here than like a sharpening agent running through the composition. I do not actually find it especially oudy, except perhaps in a medicinal sense. It is definitely not skanky. To my only partially trained nose, it does not resemble the 'more real' oud or actual oud oils I have tried. As it develops, it starts to feel more like a tobacco-cinnamon amber fragrance without the tobacco itself. From time to time, hints of leather, booze, and a slightly musty warmth drift in and out, which keeps the scent from feeling one-dimensional. In the drydown, it hovers right on the edge of gourmand. There is something here that suggests sticky dates and baked goods, but it never turns easygoing or conventionally crowd-pleasing. Even at its sweetest, it keeps a dense, mature, slightly challenging character. A strong fragrance, though not quite the unbearable powerhouse it is sometimes made out to be. It projects well, has presence, and is very clearly built for cold weather. Autumn and winter suit it best, especially in the evening or in settings where a heavier, more assertive scent makes sense. From what I remember, it is basically identical to Honey Aoud. I don't think I could smell any meaningful difference between them. If I were only buying one bottle in this lane, I would probably hunt down a used bottle of the Montale, assuming it comes with at least a slight margin in overall finish. Azraq is rewarding if you enjoy heavy, spicy-sweet medicinal-tinted orientals, but it is not especially safe. It works well as a show-off fragrance too because it smells expensive with a challenging bite. Opening note: 8+ Sillage/Projection: 9- Drydown: 9- Longevity: 8+ Blend/Composition: 9 Versatility: 5 Uniqueness: 8 Value for money: 7+ Bottle design/Aesthetics: 8+ Overall experience: 9- Blind-buy rating: 4

I have been waiting for this to be added here so I can finally write this review. The first time I experienced this perfume, I wasn’t fully convinced. To my nose, it did not smell anything like its sisters in Oud Aswad (which is a super strong rosy oud perfume), and the like. The opening is a very strong burst of sweet, warm cinnamon. This may not appeal to all the nurses of the world, however, give it a little more time and perfume evolves into a beautiful sweet honey and cinnamon mix that is just elegant. I cannot imagine wearing this with anything, but the best clothes that I have. This scent oozes luxury, period. It reminds me a little bit of all the classic, spicy fragrances like the Cartier Declaration, for example. But unlike the the complex mix of spices that characterise the Cartier, this fragrance find its strength in its simplicity. It it never really bombs your nose with intense spices. No, no no no no, it doesn’t. Rather, it takes you on a journey through sweet cinnamon, honey and leather, accompanied by a subtle noticeable Oud base. It is decidedly a unisex perfume that works for most seasons, except for extreme heat, which rules out summer and beach. To be perfectly honest, I cannot imagine wearing this every day. In fact, it feels very much like a fragrance built for special occasions. This makes me feel richer then I am. I feel like one of those Sheikhs walking out of their Rolls-Royces wearing the impressively white Kandoras on a Boulevard in Jumeira. Despite its rich and spicy nature, I find a rare is a surprisingly popular pick. Every single person that I have shown it to who moderately enjoy perfumes, they end up loving this. I fully recommend you try this out. And if you are confident that you like cinnamon, and honey in your fragrances, I actually believe that this is a safe blind buy. It lasts upwards of six hours as a sweet leather scent on my skin. The projection is one of the best I have ever experienced and can easily fill a room. And for such a rich fragrance, it is immensely cheap by my reckoning.

Got this as a blind buy for an amazing 30 Euros the other day. Never heard of it before. My only regret is I didn't buy 10! The opening (I see how some people interpret it as medicinal) to me it is absolutely beautiful! I actually love it even more than the dry down itself! It's an oud bomb. Yes, it is very sweet but I wouldn't call it a "honey-bomb" like some do, it is masterfully blended with the rest of the notes - sweetness reminiscent of honey/dates. It also has a considerable amount of spice to it, it might seem like cinnamon due to the sweetness, but I could also see someone say cardamom or even black pepper. It also has a nice cozy, comforting dimension - it is not Tonka (thank you for that, I feel like every winter fragrance today uses it, this is different!) but a slightly floral (?) vanilla -- I see how one could interpret it as powdery/ambery, but to me it seems a little more floral - might be their vanilla, might be some secret ingredient like rose. In the same vein; does anyone else perceive some Tobacco notes? I could swear there is a little bit added... If you amp up the floralness with some more rose (e.g. as another flanker or by layering with some pure rose fragrance) this would be a great women's fragrance -- this one is a slightly masculine-leaning UNISEX fragrance, which works perfectly well for both genders! Sillage and longevity are great but not absolute beast mode. The fragrance is cozy and fun but not club-level fun. I think it might work in some more formal setting if it's cold outside too. Not for the summer or daytime during spring. One spray will probably be enough. 9.5/10 from me!

Having watched many a review the general consensus is that the opening is very oud driven and particularly skanky, dense and fecal. This put me off as I'm not a huge fan of that rich oud and frankly a bit bored of it. However, I managed to pick up a bottle to get my nose on at a very good price, thinking if it was too 'oudy' I'd resale or give away.... The latter comments won't be happening!! The opening does have a very oud forward blast but is so evenly mellowed by the honey which is wonderful. The cinnamon appears after around fifteen minutes along with the amber and the vanilla, but is actually quite powdery, warm and rich at the same time. The patchouli does come through in the dry down but it's not dirty or heavy. The leather is subtle but apparent, does not steal the show. I wore it to work (office based), which is not the ideal setting but so keen was I to wear it, I did not care. The complements shortly followed even from a colleague who sits around 10 feet away. Now bearing in mind I used this in the morning around 7am, when I was home at 5pm my wife said you smell delicious. I could even smell it at 8pm when I took a shower. It still projects long after the initial spray and while I felt it sat close to the skin it clearly doesn't. This is a fantastic scent and I am so glad to have it in my collection. It smells Niche quality and if I paid Niche price I'd not complain. It calls itself a limited edition, so will definitely get a back up. It is fast becoming a favourite. I'd say if you're worried about the oud opening, as I was, then don't be put off. It is a beautiful fragrance period.