Al Kaser

The top is very assertive, but entirely awesome. Everything some seem to hate about this fragrance is immediately apparent, but in an incredibly exhilarating, fascinating, and beautiful way that telegraphs an entirely different atmosphere. Upon spraying, wafts of lanolin enter your space on the breeze, as you sit on an animal skin rug, wearing a floral oud, rubbing camphor into your sore shoulders while your Bedouin friends cook a hearty and spicy lentil stew. This is not some impotently literate attempt at translating the transportive qualities of the opening in a way that satisfies the ego of a reviewer who wants to seem more worldly and traveled than he is. This world is created because these are the smells present in the opening. Slight, but raw lanolin funk. A fur rug. Camphor. Cuminescent cooking spices. And a floral oud. As it dries down, it remains powerful and perhaps alien, but it becomes more conventionally pleasant. All the notes of its pyramid balancing out, lasting long, but becoming relatively close to the skin after a few hours. An uneven scale between the satisfying longevity and the more moderate projection that compliments the fragrance very well and probably keeps the wearer from smelling too distracting to people more used to positively boring, but more approachable fragrances. It's gorgeous. My Afghan vet coworker said it reminded him of taking a plane from Chicago, full of Turkish men, one of whom he complimented on the man's aroma and was rewarded with an insistence he try the fragrance himself, as the man pulled the bottle from his own pocket and forcing it on him. This was a compliment and intended as such. The Maltese falcon bottle is a lot of fun and the lenticular animated falcon that flies at you as you slip the sleeve off the box is a really fantastic enhancement of the experience. Ten out of ten. Cheap enough to try even if you're scared of it. Maybe especially if you're scared of it.

Zimaya Al Kaser is a fragrance that caught me off guard, in the best possible way. From the first spray, the aromatic warmth pulls you in, a comforting embrace that feels both exotic and familiar. The opening is a blend of herbs and spices, creating a complex, almost meditative aura. It’s smooth and inviting, not sharp or overwhelming, making it perfect for any time you want to leave a refined impression. As the scent settles, the heart reveals a stunning, warm spicy accord. This is where the fragrance truly shines for me. It’s rich, luxurious, and layered, almost as if you’re walking through a bustling spice market at dusk. There’s depth, but it never feels too dense or heavy. My star of the show, though, is the slightly sweet incense note, resulting possibly from the lavender and cypress combination of notes. It rises slowly, weaving through the composition like a ghostly thread, adding a smoky mystique that feels almost sacred. It’s not a harsh, churchy incense but rather something softer and more sensual, like the memory of burning resins on a cool evening. Zimaya Al Kaser feels grounded yet elevated, an ideal balance between tradition and modernity. It’s a fragrance that leaves a lingering impression: aromatic, warm, and intriguingly smoky.

Is it Good? Yes Longevity? not bad (3-5 hours) Worth Collecting? No (Unless you don't have any Chopard Oud Malaki DNA) I really enjoy this scent, but I do agree with Just the facts man, its not something i think people will enjoy on you. I think you have to really enjoy the DNA where this comes from to get enjoyment from this, its a very specific type of oud smell with very specific fresh spicy smell. If You like any of the following you will probably like this, 1 Million Oud, Halfeti, Rayhan Tiger, Chopard Oud Malaki, Lataffa Natraul Oud. If you don't own any of the ones i mentioned I would highly recommend this one to get you started with the DNA as its price tends to be the most accessible. Its also the most accessible of the 4 In terms of that funkiness. For collectors: The best way i can describe this is a really modern fougere with some oud funkiness, I tend to really like this DNA but its not for everyone. Not worth collecting it unless you absolutely love the DNA or you dont any of the others.

Al Kaser by Zimaya is, for the price, an absolute gem. The presentation is outstanding, with an eye-catching box and a beautifully designed bottle that feels far more luxurious than its cost suggests. The fragrance itself quickly became one of my personal favorites—its composition promised a lot and truly delivered, offering a rich oriental-woody character with subtle sweet and spicy facets that give it depth and warmth. Projection and longevity are average to slightly above average, more than adequate for both day and evening wear. Overall it leaves a very strong positive impression, proving that top-tier style and scent don’t have to come at a premium price. Scent: 3.5/5 Longevity & Projection: 0.5/1 Presentation: 1/0 Quality/Price Ratio: 2/2 Compliment Factor: 0/1 Uniqueness: 1/1 Overall: 8/10 Office-friendly: Yes Blind buy: Yes Recommended age: 25+ Occasion: Formal, semi-formal, leisure Season: Fall, Winter, cool Spring evenings

7.5/10 I received both Zimaya's Al Kaser and Ghayath together after scooping them on sale. I can't single out all of the notes, but the two fragrances have some definite similarities, mainly the suade, oud, and wood. But the Kaser leans to more of a softer, more powdery performance while the Ghayath is more assertive with the leather and spices. The first time I wore the Kaser it required overspraying just to get projection out of it and it disappeared quickly within a couple of hours. The second time I really overapplied (15 skin sprays but wearing a shirt and sweater over top) and was able to get some projection and sillage. After a few months, it's a very nice male scent and a great sub-$20 addition to my collection.

#1621 in my "Tour de Fragrance" This was a blind buy for me. One of those scents where I think I like the scent, but I'm not sure anyone will like it on me. Primary culprit here is a nuclear dose of artemisia so strong I at first mistook it for incense. I have probably fifty or more scents with an artemisia note, but nothing approaching this. At first this seemed similar to Penhaligon's "Halfeti", Woods Collection "Essence", or even Zoologist "Rhinoceros" but this is not as complex as those scents and couldn't replace them. All have artemisia, but not on this level. I've been smelling this stuff all day and I'm still not sure how I feel about it. I'm gonna put this in storage for a few months and see how it develops.

Ok, this is the first time on fragrantica that i am re-editing my post, that was a negative review. After a few months this has now macerated into a beautiful spicy scent. Stronger and longer lasting. Smells like something Chopard or Cartier would release. Very nice.

Smells the way it looks, very pleasant. Drydown maybe even sophisticated pipe tobacco smoke. I was out walking with it and it doesn't last long though.

Really enjoy the dry down its sooo good

Al Kaser opens with a sharp, citrusy saffron note, led by a dominant, bold lavender presence, before settling into a woody oud and incense-infused leather. I can't understand why it's mostly recommended for winter wear — it leans more towards a typical woody, aromatic, spicy, and herbal profile, commonly found in drugstores, whose nature feels right at home in spring or early summer. The only distinction here is its Middle Eastern twist, slowly shifting from the prominent opening to tobacco, oud, and a slightly incense-like drydown. In general, it resembles a fresher take on Killer Oud Death and a less powdery, less suffocating Armaf Hunter Jungle. Death had zero longevity with piss poor projection, while Hunter's excessive powderiness made it unbearable for me — I got rid of both. It's like a middle-ground version of those two, much more balanced. From the very beginning, something feels missing. I can't quite pinpoint what, but an additional nuance could have elevated it significantly. As it stands, it's rather basic and lacks depth or warmth — it doesn't feel very 3D. It's still highly likable, even if not particularly groundbreaking. Performance is where Al Kaser struggles the most. Longevity is weak, though its projection in the first few hours is fair. After that initial burst, however, it fades too quickly. It leans fully masculine; I can't imagine it being remotely appealing to anyone seeking a unisex or feminine-leaning fragrance. The bottle is ugly and cheap-looking. The atomizer produces large, even clouds, but has one major flaw I absolutely hate — it sprays in a way that leaves residue everywhere. After application, I have to wash my hands because the fragrance ends up on the cap, the bottle, and my fingers. I managed to snag this one for next to nothing (€7, shipping included), half-used, and the seller even threw in some leftover knockoffs of well-known perfumes, which I have now repurposed as a stinky toilet freshener. Am I satisfied with the purchase? Only because it was dirt cheap. I'd never pay full price. Most reviews seem to focus on its poor performance, and unfortunately, in my case, maturation did nothing to fix its biggest flaws. Would I recommend it? Hard to say. It's decent, but it depends entirely on the price point. If I had paid two or three times as much, I'd be seriously disappointed. As it stands, with the bargain price, it's a nice, cheap, and quite unique addition to my super-extended collection. Just don't expect it to punch above its weight class. Opening note: 6+ Sillage/Projection: 5- Drydown: 5+ Longevity: 3 Blend/Composition: 6+ Versatility: 7+ Uniqueness: 6 Value for money: 4+ Bottle design/Aesthetics: 2+ Overall experience: 6 Blind-buy rating: 6

Got a tip about this perfume and that it's not an "entirely manly scent" but could be unisex and I have to agree with that. It's spicy and comforting, soft and cozy. The initial blast leans more masculine but after a few minutes it softens up. This gives almost a tobacco feeling although it not being listed as a note. Not Mancera Red Tobacco feeling but something softer. Definitely worth it's price. I'll keep wearing mine. Heads up though, it needs to macerate. Left mine for 3 months and now it's beautiful.

I just got this bottle in the mail today 6/14/24. I’ve never had the opportunity to smell the original Meydan but this scent is quite amazing! It’s my first experience with a fragrance from Zimaya. So I’m optimistic for it. The spices and the leather and our together smells wonderful!

just got this one and for the moment I'm not really impressed. It's smells good, that's not the issue, it's that I'd so weak and it's not me going noseblind. Maybe this needs to get some air in it to oxidize a bit so it get's more potent but for the moment it's a : Meh :-( I have perfumes from Zara that are stronger and more long lasting then this one

the smell is so nostalgic. the opening is something you'd smell from your southeast asian grandfather's wooden house on a rainy sunday. and i can smell booze. or maybe when you're in an abandoned room full with really dry books that neither smell good or bad. the dry down is just typical fresh spice and herbal (if you had a mom that cared youd know) but actually something i prefer more (im so basic). the scent is unique and for $8 this is a steal for me.

I've been tempted to try this one for a while after it's hype of smelling like The Spirit Of Dubai - Meydan which itself has had fleeting comparisons to Penhaligon's - The Blazing Mr Sam and Chopard - Oud Malaki. Anyway I pushed the button on a bottle from Notino UK which arrived today. Lovely big box and slotted sleeve with bird flapping it's wings optical illusion - a nice, novelty touch. The bottle is also elegant and alludes well to the scent inside. I have not experienced Meydan before but I can say that Al Kaser is not immediately comparable to either The Blazing Mr Sam nor Oud Malaki. Instead it sits in the same arena of scents (aromatic-Leather-Oud-Amber-spicy). Unfortunately, like one or two others have mentioned, though it smells great right out of the bottle it doesn't seem to last more than 1 hour either on paper, skin or clothing so I'm hoping that after pumping the atomiser a few times and getting some more oxygen in the bottle that it will gradually 'wake up' and become the singing beauty it promises to be......time will tell. 🤞🤞🤞

I purchased this about a year and a half ago. I sprayed on the day i got it, my Initial thoughts - it stank like sneeze and citrus spices. Id forgotten about it and It's been sitting in the back of my drawer for the last year and a half. I sprayed again to see if its changed and WOW. The 'sneeze' smell i had burned into my memory has disappeared and It's developed into a smoother, spicier, woody, halfeti-esque fragrance. A tiny bit animalic, and There's a slightly synthetic hint to it, but it's absolutely beautiful. Unsure about the projection/longevity of it, but it smells great.

Being a lover of bold masculine fragrances like Falcon Leather, I find this one to be right up my street. Moderately sweet, spicy Saffron, a green-floral (almost vegetal) accord, some slightly animalic Leather and a touch of dusty/spicy Oud. I would say though, if you're not a fan of slightly funky middle-eastern style scents this may not be your thing. That being said I think this works as one of the gentler introductions to this type of scent profile and for me personally it's a winner - low price, good quality and great performance. 👌

YOU WILL TURN HEADS ! - that is: heads will turn away from you in nausea.. Seriously smells like an unwashed desert dweller. Impressive and crafty in its own right but,,, it doesn't fit in, just like you can ́t live in New York and go to work riding on a camel

The top is delightful and not run of the mill. My bottle is new and this scent is by no means a powerhouse but I don't have the bad performance mentioned by the first reviewer. Time will tell.

@ Finistetle lol.. made me laugh 😂