II

When I first tried this perfume, I just thought "ugh, too sweet"... and switched to Black IV, trying this, also very luscious smell... but somehow not what I wanted, without being able to pinpoint, why not. This process went on for several days (people in the store already knew me when I came in AGAIN without buying anything... ;)), until one day I sat on train during my daily commute and found myself sniffing at my hand with Black II during the whole travel (40 minutes), while listening to a song ("Once upon a dream" / Lana del Rey) and watching a pink sunset with a fire red sun.... next day I bought it. The scent has a mysterious quality which makes it difficult to describe for me... it opens with juicy mouthwatering plums, even a little syrupy and boozy... paired with something very warm and comforting, I guess this could already be the Sandalwood emerging... I DON'T get any sharp citrus at all, but the plums might be interlaced masterfully with the mandarin and the vanilla as mentioned in the notes. It's not candy-floss sweet like Lâncome's "La vie est belle" or the new "Tenue de Soirée" by Annick Goutal, which is a little similar to Black II but dries down to strong powder (which I don't like). Mysterious indeed, I can't really distinguish those single notes in Black II, it rather evokes feelings. The strength of Black II is that it doesn't transform much from Top to Heart to Base Notes. You get an incredibly pleasant scent which just gets weaker and weaker and melts into your skin to a comforting shell of scent. It's a dreamlike mixture with moderate sillage but enormous longevity, composed by perfumer Jean-Claude Astier into a masterpiece I searched for during the last decades. The most interesting phenomenon for me is that after wearing it for weeks, I finally read the perfume description and it just made so much sense: "Black II sings a song of allure, an Arabian Sweet Seduction. Fresh and energizing, it’s a walk through a secret garden; guarded by a wall of memories. It is a safe haven created for endless exploration and poetry." I always feel protected, consoled and confident while I'm wearing it, especially when I have a hard and difficult office day before me... when I get hints of it wafting around me... with its sweetness, its softness and sensuality, reminding me of the beauty of life and that everything will be alright, even if times get rough and work is just so exhausting with all of its fights every day. It has such a comforting, sensual, alluring quality which transports you immediately to a happier place. This perfume is indeed a safe haven for the sweet and comforting things in life - and the belief that all roads lead home. I'm totally in love with this masterpiece and deeply thankful for its creation. P.S.: Even though I'm wearing it in office, I wouldn't describe this perfume as "office-safe". It's full and deep, so be careful applying it, don't nauseate people around you. I just spritz several times onto a cotton ball and dab with it where I want to smell it

I purchased WIDIAN "Black II" and several 5ml decants of various smoky incensed plum perfumes. "Black II" turned out to be a nice surprise. Black II opens with an extremely powdery-dusty-dry note, in which I definitely detect an orange and plum accord. The opening is not aldehydic, or spritzy-fruity in any way, shape, or form. I enjoy how the opening is very powdery and dry, yet a bit floral and fruity at the same time. Black II is dense but not thick. It's heady but not cloying. Despite its notes, the perfume wears in an ethereal and ephemeral way. The florals. Soon after applying to skin, the perfume unfolds with a lovely, musky, woody rose. The rose isn't juicy, lush, or big...just perfectly dusty. The rose smells like peonies to me, a fragrance I adore. The base presents some vanilla, along with a bit of dry oak moss. Black II definitely screams "Middle Eastern perfume," a genre I love (Amouage, I'm looking at you). I cannot see Black II appealing to a younger demographic. But I'm old and I really like the perfume a lot.

In love again. I'm so pleased with this fragrance. No, what am I saying? Pleased? Uff, pleased is too polite. I'm in rapture - I can't stop smelling my wrists. This smells like plums, raisins and orange marmalade, weighted with sandalwood, vanilla and a hint of musk. An orange marmalade wearing heels. And perhaps a big floppy hat. With nude lipstick. And long long long dark brown hair. There. What I must have been meaning to say is that it's so incredibly pleasant and beautiful; if I could wear one fragrance for the rest of my life, this would probably be it.

Beautiful fragrance - sweet, creamy, and very smooth, in line with the remaining fragrances from the "Black" collection. This one is more feminine than the others, and it is exceptional. II was my first purchase from the house based on reviews alone, and I was pleased. I didn't originally see fragrantica reviews because the fragrance is listed under the new name "Widian" but continues to be marketed under "AJ Arabia". I tried searching that latter name and figured there was no entry for it. Glad I eventually found it. I can't to try the Gold collection.

True appreciation is shown repetitively, when you love something, you don't just love it once, you love it over and over again. So for me to purchase a fragrance a second time, like I just did with Black II,, says more than what words can about how I feel towards this magnificent blend. I will keep my review simple, and I will assign you with a homework to try this jewel out for yourself. But to conclude, if you want to experience one of the sexiest vanilla plum combinations on the planet, get your hands on Black II and you can thank me later.

"Well blended. Powdery sweet" A well blended fragrance just plays with my dopamine receptors, and WIDIAN II just did that. Although the vanilla is prominent at initial spray, it does not make the fragrance overbearingly sweet. The plum & rose create a balanced, powdery-sweet, yet feminine-leaning fragrance. I can easily wear it but I find it more suitable on a confident woman, making her more confident and desirable. Longevity and projection are very high. ******* 8/10

This is an oriental beauty and even though the price tag can’t really be justified in my opinion, I had to get myself a bottle. It has a beautiful deep sweet plum note, not overly sweet thankfully, it is creamy and woody without being overwhelming. I detect some leather or suede in the base as well but very creamy and softly blended. It doesn’t project much but the longevity I have to admit it is great.

I don’t mean to offend, because I think Widian makes the most under-rated fragrances. Every single one is a gem! I think as a very over-simplified description, this is like the ultra-refined version of Sol de Janeiro Bum Dia cream. I am betting that layering them, the longevity will be much better. They are both plum, vanilla, woods in a lactonic powder. This one is amazing!

Sweet, powdery, fruity, sandalwoody, musky, oriental fragrance that is very well blended. It smells expensive and sexy but not too sexy, still very wearable and not too sweet. Blends in well with my skin. Leans totally unisex, can see this on both genders. Love it! Hidden gem :)

Really pleasant and good longevity but not the most powerful fragrance. Rather light as I sprayed 8-10 sprays and didn’t feel like it was too much at all. Probably could have done a couple more..

Dry down musky and sandalwood? I only smell vanilla, with fruity opening. Thats all. Long lasting, good projection, very creamy.Very good fragrance, love it.

Magnificent. Blended to perfection. Can’t see anyone not enjoying this. Signature scent worthy and one of my recent favorite discoveries.

Spiriteuse double vanille like vanilla with sweet plum and creamy sandalwood, really nice, not that heavy on the sweetness

This is so beautiful! Widian is my favorite house and Black II Is one of my absolute favourite scents! A masterpiece! 🥰

I found an almost-copy of it - - Thameen Patiala. Would love to read your comments if you sense the same.

If you want a cheaper dupe, Father figure by Phlur is pretty much the same smell. You’re welcome.

Heaven in a bottle, truly a masterpiece. 10/10

This is the most angelic, comforting scent. Just utterly beautiful. I was ecstatic when I first discovered this, thinking I had finally found a beautiful gourmand that's not too sweet. However, I'm pretty disappointed in the performance. Even after 3 sprays on my wrist, it's gone completely after 3-4 hours, all the while having very weak sillage. I have to put my nose veeery close to my wrist to be able to smell it. If this perfume had just a little bit better sillage or better longevity, I would have gone for a full bottle. For now, I'll stick to my soie malaquais, which has similar cozy vibes and better performance. Edit: never mind. I bought a full bottle. I just adore this scent and HAVE to have it despite the poor longevity. Now I’m in heaven.

Pretty feminine but not totally unwearable as a man. From the few ive smelled from this house this was my fave. But I like sweet scents so... I didnt find it very synthetic at least not enough that I felt it warrants mentioning in reviews as others have. Its pretty smooth to me and enjoyable. It reminds me of something else that I cant put my finger on... I might wear this randomly if bored since I like the scent even if it is pretty girly, but at the end of the day the performance like the others from this house is pretty meh~ for the big price tag.

This is a well balanced vanilla fragrance to me. Not too sweet, not too woodsy, not too dry, it’s a little soapy and fruity as well. It’s really well blended. It has an almost but not quite very slightly boozy quality to it that lends this scent a certain kind of mood. Melancholy, maybe? I don’t know, it’s something I’d wear when the weather is gray and a little sad... It is a beautiful fragrance but I am not sure I’d go for a full bottle of it as I know I would not reach for it. I’ll just keep my sample and revisit from time to time...