Perfume Reviews by DesertTartan

Santal Majuscule by Serge Lutens

This is one of the best of Serge Lutens collections. The scents and notes really appeal to me. The sandalwood is clean. It’s light yet packs a punch. The rose is an accompaniment and not a feature, I feel.

Santal 33 by Le Labo

This is a very light fragrance that’s also pleasurable. Hints of cardamom and sandalwood permeate the air around one’s self. It’s one of every day kind of scents. Very easy to wear and versatile as it fits a wear for every occasion across seasons.

Tribute Attar by Amouage

It starts off with notes of roses, grapes, and saffron at the top. The middle gives way to Omani Frankincense which should make them Omani people proud of such a creation to come out of their country. The base is a vetiver and leathery smoky delicious tone. This is one the few attars that I’m in love with. Worth the buy.

Valentino Uomo Born In Roma Intense by Valentino

It opens with a sweet vanilla scent and florals. Then comes the heart of the scent with lavender. Honestly, this is one of the best fragrances around nowadays. I get compliments all the time whether I’m going to work or whether going to the beach. It feels fruity but overwhelming because of the vanilla present in the fragrance. I highly recommend it.

Emporio Armani Stronger With You Intensely by Giorgio Armani

Right off the bat I can smell the vanilla and chestnut. Its beautiful. The lavender shows up in the middle and the sage is muted. This is definitely a fragrance for any occasion. Work, occasion, pleasure. It’s different than most Armani’s in that it’s not citrusy. I haven’t used Armani fragrances in years so this concept is new to me. I’m ok adjusting to this new reality.

Le Sel d’Issey by Issey Miyake

This is a really nice marine saline-like citrusy fresh fragrance that’s good for all occasions. And I like that about my perfumes. When they’re versatile it’s extra points. I live in a desert climate and it’s very cooling.

Aventus by Creed

I love the opening, the heart, and the base. It’s refreshing for me as I live in a desert climate and it keeps me cool. The scent is unique and powerful. I love it.

Accento Overdose by Xerjoff

It is more fruity than floral. It’s strikingly a Xerjoff scent. I get notes of pineapple, citrus notes, green notes from the top. At the heart egyptian jasmine and bulgarian rose. At the base is eucalyptus, mediterranean pine. I’m wearing it for work. Which puts me in a good professional mood.

The Raven by Badr Harqan

It’s a hit and miss with this one. It came as an accompanying scent to red wine cigar. It’s dark. With notes of black ink, burned books, aged leather, smoked hazelnut.

From Russia with Love by Badr Harqan

From Russia with a love is a unique scent with notes of Melon, Fermented Honey, Kyrgyz Natural Rose, Russian Tulip, Ylang-Ylang. You can really smell the roses off this one.

The Founder by Badr Harqan

This one presents strong and unique scents stemming from Green Cardamom, Eastern Spices, Oakwood, Oud, Soft Smoke. It’s a beauty and unique fragrance.

Archavin by Badr Harqan

This one has notes of lemon and bergamot and is similar in profile to a mix between Jamaica and Hitman.

Badr Harqan by Badr Harqan

This one is similar to hit man but has some differences. It’s top is vetiver, heart is bergamot, with a base of fig and earthy notes.

Jamaica by Badr Harqan

It smells sweetly and close to Haitham and Archavin yet its difference is subtle. Cotton candy and cranberry feature here.

Hitman by Badr Harqan

One of my favorite and signature scents that I feel confident wearing. It smells masculine and is good for all seasons. One can really feel the bergamot, lemon and green tea.

Red Wine Cigar by Badr Harqan

An amazing mix opening of red wine and mandarin. Then the tobacco leave comes through. The red apple provides a nice bite to the scent. It’s really lovely.

Deified Tony Iommi by Xerjoff

It’s a beautiful fragrance. It’s fruity yet sophisticated. I’m picking up the leather. Not so much apple or cinnamon but berries. I preferred this over Monkey Special which was a little too smoky. Perfect for everyday/night wear.

Thebes G2 by Sultan Pasha

This is a really great attar. From the huge selection of stars that Sultan Pasha has I thought I would try this one out as a tester.

It opens with aldehydes and Lilly of the valley. The heart consists of a strong orris butter scent along with Bulgarian rose absolute and Jasmine grandiflora absolute .The base has a strong vetiver note. This is beautiful fougery, powdery and spicy attar. I love it.

Oudh Imperial by Henry Jacques

I’ve been lucky to get my hands on this beauty. It comes in 2nd behind HJ Bonjour for Men in terms of my taste. When first sprayed the scent is light with low sillage and projection. But something incredible happens and the scent starts to evolve revealing the beautiful ingredients like vanilla, amber, and Oud that form the crux of its powerful scent. From here on, the scent has strong sillage and longevity. This is one of my top scents of all time. I was only able to obtain 4x10ml bottles.

Valentino Uomo Born in Roma by Valentino

It opens with a sweet vanilla scent and florals. Then comes the heart of the scent with lavender. Honestly, this is one of the best fragrances around nowadays. I get compliments all the time whether I’m going to work or whether going to the beach. It feels fruity but overwhelming because of the vanilla present in the fragrance. I highly recommend it.

Tobacco Collection Intense Dark Exclusive by Zara

This is not a scent that I’m fond of. It seems really bland. No notes jump at me that I can identify immediately. But it feels like it has coffee, vanilla, tonka bean and fruit. That said, it really isn’t that bad for the price tag. It’s an off-the-shelf quick solution for when you need to buy a fragrance while shopping for clothes and happen to find that they sell fragrances as well.

For Him Solar Edition by Zara

It opens with a clean zesty ripened juicy mango scent. The heart features sandalwood and it accompanies it beautifully due to the similar olfactory nuances. This is good for wearing in the spring and the summer. The price tag is reasonable as well. Picture walking with your polo and cargo shorts sporting this scent. Really lovely.

Zara Rain No. 02 Bergamot & Leather Spritz by Zara

Right off the bat this fragrance is to die for! The composition is so complex and it’s an olfactory wonder. The top of bergamot is playing nice with the heart of lavender. The vanilla and oud act as an exotic play between the different notes. This is a unisex fragrance and would be good for summer and spring. It’s suitable for special occasions, work, and night time.

Legend by Montblanc

It has a similar profile to Vision by Ajmal. It’s fresh citrus with tops of bergamot and a hint of lavender. The heart cannot be defined as the tops take complete control but it’s supposed to be composed of jasmine. The base is make up of Tonia bean and sandalwood - which I really like. All in all it’s a fresh masculine scent that can be worn at work and in the evening.