Masha

I recently found four of these ( Misq Begum, Misqaal, Anbar, & Masha ) in Harvey Nicholls for less than half-price. It seems people had just been saying "what's these!?" & not been buying them. And they didn't have testers. So - what do I do in that circumstance? Look them up on here - obviously!. I read between the lines, clock the credentials of the writers, note the variety of reviews (including two from a incorrigable joker who loves to leave it ambiguous whether he actually likes the fragrance under consideration), and find that these have made quite a stir! The reviews for these fragrances make a very different shape from those of say Boss fragrances, the reviews for which seem to be almost entirely people figuring to themselves that they have just broken even, despite having paid very much less than the nominal price for the stuff. No the reviews for these are interesting , to say the least. And that is a good sign on here - so I get all four of them completely blind. And, quite frankly, it's a direct hit! These are four gems. The parts of the reviews I agree with least are those in which some reservation is expressed. At first I thought "not original particularly, though"; but even that idea has been dispelled as I have worn them and distinctions have begun to emerge. And there is the matter of the apparantly very large number of notes in all but one of them ... but doesn't Clive Christian boast that some of theirs contain over two hundred? I agree with the previous reviewer that this is very much a lime-bomb ... and also sour in a good way. I would say it is also heavy on the salty -type musk. The upshot of it all is that it is a salty-musky fougère ... and complex, as the maniness of the notes would lead one to expect. There's no disintegration though - full integrity and harmony of the constituents is maintained throughout. I wouldn't say this is as oudy as Misqaal is - I think the oud is in about the right place in the voting scale ... even though this also has castoreum to conflate with it. It isn't as balsamic overall though, leaning more to fougère - so that's probably why I'm not perceiving it so acutely here.

"Masha" is full of surprises. Opening fruity and green. I get so much lime it's almost eye watering! Then I get hit with the ashy, sour smell of leather and animalic notes. It's so freaking SOUR! But only in the best kind of way - like a bowl of those addictive sour candy. Tremendous lasting power and excellent silage! Not a floral fruity.

Masha goes on like a bubble bursting, an iridescent, resinous green pop! that turns leathery and smoky, with a smell of fruity ashes that lasts for several hours before settling in to a big 80's floriental. A dashing and exciting perfume, but try before you buy.

Ummm.....this is a present, that you might wanna unwrap. A well decorated fragrance dressed to the 9's. For those that have tried Masha would agree that this is Mardi Gras in a bottle. A fragrance that speaks every language due to the cacophony of accords. Here are some notes not listed that i seemingly detect: Cedar Vetiver and Tonka; I also encounter something slightly soapy. I don't know about you guys but I'm getting a predominantly plum fragrance with soap and smoke. That combination sounds weird and beautiful right?!!.....and it is! One of my favorites in my collection and one I love to show off.

The core cardamom/incense/floral and plum combo calls to mind Dia Man, but this has a watercolor pastel effect going on in the background and is just more colorful and playful than the staid, taciturn Dia Man. In some ways, I feel like this is the scent that Dia Woman should have been - it would definitely make a better partner to Dia Man than the actual Dia Woman. But this scent should not be designated for women only. There are enough woods, spice, and incense to keep this comfortably unisex. Very enjoyable, even if it sometimes feels like there's too much going on.