Kemi

Interesting Arabic oud type blend with sweetness and vanilla. Huge fecal punch at the intro (the synthetic castoreum) that settles into a deep, rich black leather accord, with vanilla sweet cream in the mid and throughout wear. The full drydown reveals cedar wood, balsams, and animal musk. It reminds me of the framework of Sarah Baker fras, from her Gold line. I actually do like it. It'll layer beautifully with any and all fall season type frags. Tobacco Vanille and this will be an insanely good combo. Babylon. Rouge Sarây as well! 🦫🪵🍦🦌 Update... OK, so this is my favorite out of the Xerjoff Universe Kemi line. It just melts into something magical on my skin. I got 3 compliments on it today; from a woman in her 50s, a young guy about 19-21 who described it as "cinnamon rolls" 😊, and a woman of about 60 said "something smells so good, like vanilla". I know I enjoy it- but the effect it has on others is a pleasant surprise, because the beginning of Kemi is so challenging. I'm likely going in on a full bottle (even though I literally just got a FB of "Iommi", gorgeous 🥰). It's that beautiful.

Be very careful with Kemi. The first 20m can be quite challenging. There is some Cherry, Vanilla and Caramel sweetness here. But also the Oud is animalic. Under no circumstances should you blind buy this, unless you are used to Bortnikoff Lao Oud or Areej Le Dore scents. This will be sweeter than those, but just as potent. After about 20m Kemi is much more pleasant. I am not sure why Caramel and Cherry are not listed here. They should be. This is an Intermediate level of animalic. For those that want more than Rogue Perfumery Derviche,Chanel Antaeus, Caron Yatagan , Andy Tauer Sundowner,Papillon Salome or Zoologist Moth. This is the next level after those. I love this scent. It is polarizing at first. Certainly unique. For $135 /50ml it is a good buy. If you do not like the sweetness then try Aaron Terence Hughes Tabac or Bortnikoff Tabac Dore/Lao Oud. Or really anything by Areej Le Dore. YOu can also try Beaufort London Iron Duke as well. After about one hour it is quite nice. A woman smelled my arm and she said it smells sweet.

I have wanted to buy this perfume for a long time, but hesitated due to the high price and 100ml volume (previous bottle) The new Xerjoff version is an extrait compared to the EdP (Kemi Blending magic version) but it is essentially the same perfume. The small differences I can detect is a slightly less skanky opening and also slightly more sweet and rounded, compared to the previous version, but I probably wouldn’t be able to tell the difference if not side-by-side. There is skank, bit not as prominent perhaps. Longevity is amazing, a solid 24 hrs, I could still smell it on my arm the next day. I did smell my arm many times during the day, with a happy smile on my face every time :) The projection is very reasonable, not loud but definately present. Will not offend anyone (I think, love Oud so I’m biased) I really love this perfume and I’m so glad to finally have this beautiful scent and bottle in my collection.

Kind of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, distilled in a bottle. Kemi's animalic opening is a statement. Is it challenging?. Yes, although I've tested more challenging scents. Does it smell like refuse?. No. Once the opening begins to take a back seat (roughly 30 minutes after application), you will experience the perfume's spicy, woody and resinous drydown. The Gurjan Balsam and Vanilla accords give it a sweet (but not cloying) touch. The animalic notes never go away completely during the drydown. They support and boost the rest of the composition, giving it extra oomph. Great longevity and moderate to strong projection, which is fine for this tipe of perfume. Kemi is not for everyone, so I advise to test it on a paper strip, and to take said strip home, so you will get an idea of how this fragrance evolves.

Kemi is a warm, sweet and delicate fragrance with intriguing trail and a personality of it's own. It has a hint of oud that makes Kemi not only spicy and deliciously gourmand but also slightly animalic. It's an elegant and unusual fragrance which can't be called 'dirty' in any way. Those who state this just don't have enough experience in oud-inspired fragrances. I like it very much, the scent and the presentation, except longevity. Kemi sits close enough to the skin and disappears just in few hours, needing reapplication. I hoped it was more long pasting. Anyway when you put it on the sillage is mysterious and very unusual. I have both versions, from Kemi and Xerjoff, the latter one is simpler, less gourmand and more woody.