Laban Arruz by nBitor

Laban Arruz is nBitor’s latest challenge, a brand seeking inspiration from Spanish history to create its fragrances. Here, Miguel Matos and his team surprise us with an innovative gourmand made with first-quality ingredients that define the house. Laban Arruz means ‘rice pudding’ in Arabic, and that is exactly what it smells like. It begins with a soft, realistic cinnamon, mixed with rice, lemon peel, and a milky touch of sugar. As it dries down, nuts, tonka bean, and vanilla emerge, settling over a base of dark chocolate with a subtle animal touch of civet, discreet yet present. It projects strongly and is noticeable, versatile, and easy to wear without leaving anyone indifferent. It is totally unisex and has the grace of evoking beautiful memories. In short, an incredible job by nBitor and Miguel Matos that once again demonstrates their talent and creativity in perfumery.

What can I say about Laban Arruz? I arrived eager to smell this new release from nBitor by Miguel Matos. It’s not only the brand’s first gourmand but also Matos’ debut. I love his work, and since it’s inspired by rice pudding, my favourite dessert, my anticipation was huge. I saw the post on Instagram, and as The Perfumery already had it, I jumped in the car and headed straight there to try it. I had faith, and it didn’t disappoint in the slightest. The moment I smelled it, I knew I was taking it home that very morning. Matos and his creators have made a true gourmand jewel. Its protagonist, as the name suggests, is rice pudding, but not just any version another perfumer might make; this is rice pudding with Matos DNA and a challenging twist. It’s easy to enjoy yet complex and unique. In the foreground, there’s cinnamon, rice, and lemon zest with that milky note, which holds throughout its development. Beneath it lies a warm touch of nuts and vanilla. The interesting part is that it contains civet. Although I like animal notes, I lean more towards castoreum than civet, though when well-balanced, I absolutely love it. Here, the civet isn’t noticeable; if they didn’t mention it, you wouldn’t detect it. Yet, it’s present! It doesn’t overpower; it plays a nuanced role alongside patchouli and carrot seeds, adding depth and complexity. This gives it a darker side without making the perfume dark. These nuances gain presence as it evolves without overshadowing the rice pudding. That makes it so interesting and unique. It’s not a gourmand of ‘I’ve just had a dessert on me’, although I enjoy those too. Here we have simply a PERFUME of rice pudding. A creative composition, planned and executed magnificently, beautifully and differently. The performance is excellent. It’s not nuclear, but it has high longevity lasting between 8 and 9 hours with perfect projection. It’s neither invasive nor cloying. Alongside Ocaña, this is my favourite nBitor perfume, and like that one, it will be a top pick in my collection.