Liwa

This is a stunning scent. Firstly, the presentation is outstanding, with a truly beautiful presentation box and bottle that exudes pure class. It really does look and feel quite special and possibly my favourite flacon out of all the fragrances I own. As for this smelling like BR540, I remember smelling BR540 when it very first came out and I really didn’t like it so either my tastes have changed or this is different enough for me to like it (probably a combination of both). In fact, I get some similarities to CC Matsukita, which I also own. They both have a burnt floral sweetness and woody base although the CC also has a very dominant mate tea note that adds a contrasting bitterness, which this doesn’t have at all. I do find it quite sweet, a little too much at the start with it’s jammy sweetness, although this eventually subsides slightly once the woodier base notes shine through and it’s the drydown that I prefer. There’s a sharpness in the top notes that gives some fresh definition against the sweeter and more floral aspects of the fragrance. A fragrance that really is the sum of its parts. The only way I can describe this fragrance is amber rich burnt sticky sweetness with a floral heart, resting on a bed of smokey wood. It is quite opulent, rich and intense but not in a cloying way because the notes are so delicately balanced. I would imagine it’s even better smelt from the silage than the skin. This won’t be for everyone but there’s no denying that this is classy perfumery and quite an experience, combined with excellent performance. Definitely unisex, perhaps tipping ever so slightly on the feminine side in the top notes, due to the sweetness and florals but slightly more masculine in the bass with the smoky wood. In fact, it makes a great masculine floral. It really is quite beguiling and an exciting find amongst so much mediocracy. Great job Widian, I can see why it gets so many good comments. Edit: personally, I’ve found a lighter spray works best for this fragrance to really bloom. Spraying lighter allows the sweet jasminess to die down and the spicy, woodier aspects to flourish.

Every frag from this house is stunning. It has this gorgeous aura it creates around you that if you're within it, then you smell the fragrance pretty potent, and if you're not, then you can barely smell the fragrance, it hardly leaves a trail. I call that aura the saint authority of Widian, which I've not found any other house to be able to re-create and it's awesome. The fragrance starts off with a nice lovely fresh burst of Bergamot, followed by a hint of jasmine, and all the while the remaining top notes and heart notes start to mingle together and you feel the gorgeous saffron make it's appearance, which lives through the life of the fragrance with the amber and a hint of rose. I don’t really get incense nor oud, I think they are what create the backbone of the fragrance, kinda cushioning it, with the saffron, vetiver and amber being the sort of main players. I say 'sort of' because the fragrance is so well blended and the notes and accords seem to shift from one to the next seamlessly, creating this perfect orchestra of notes and accords. The fragrance is a 100% yes. It is extremely versatile, can be worn anywhere by anyone at any time, although in my books, leans a tiny bit into masculine territory, just a hint. Enjoy and God bless :)

AMAZING scent! Worried about the reviews that say masculine leaning, spicy, and a noticeable strong patchouli, I paused for a while on this one....Until I got my nose to this scent. Fabulous. Very well blended. First this is not BR540. Yes, there are dry down facets of a similar note profile in BR540 and Liwa, but this is a different scent. Yes, BR540 has more sweetness, but don't let that deter you from testing Liwa. The patchouli is actually very nice, almost minty, and it does not overwhelm, and it is a quality patchouli note. Nothing here is dirty/hippie/sweaty whatsoever. I am very impressed. I don't find this scent leaning masculine or feminine. Very balanced. Really like the combo of notes. The artemisia is nice, gives a lovely facet to this fragrance, adds to the blend so nicely. This scent is SEXY, date night, gorgeous well made fragrance. In a world where everyone is wearing BR540 or a clone of....this is stands out. This is a scent to try if you don't like BR540.

I did not buy Widian Liwa because of the comparison to BR540. I have not even smelt Br540 yet. I got Liwa with samples from another fragrance i bought, but i remember really liking it and having smelt nothing like it! I'm not the best at explaining notes, but to me it has a special, somewhat piercing, note that i really like! Overall the frangrance has a sweet undertone without being too sweet! It has an oriental vibe without being too oriental. It's definitely a fragrance that's more suited for nighttime use.. Performance is great with massive longivity and good projection the first few hours. You will smell this on your clothes for at least 24h! It's not cheap, but if your looking for a frangrance that smells of quality, is very intoxicating and has a mysterious seductive vibe about it.. go sample it :-)

I love this. It is like the darker, more mysterious and mature version of Baccarat Rouge 540. BR540 is a lot sweeter and more mainstream. I love them both. I agree with other reviewers that this is not a copy of BC540, but I do find it very similar. EDIT: @ayalew - Liwa is similar to 540 extrait (imo). However the incense and patchouli are really noticeable (at least on me), so this is like a darker/dirtier version of 540 extrait. It almost smells like 540 mixed with rubber?... but in a good way?... maybe i'm crazy but does anyone else get this (at least in the opening). I have not yet smelled OFG or Bakhoor tho so I cannot comment on that.