Afro Leather by Maison Alhambra

I have both the Memo and the Alhambra at hand. At first, it smells different from the Memo’s African Leather, softer with cardamom and leather, but within minutes it becomes identical. It is a wild scent, real leather on skin, not from objects. It is elegant but potent; it can be overwhelming. The Alhambra lasts about 12 hours, whereas the Memo reaches 4 days and becomes oppressive. It is not for daily wear or for the young. Out of 10, 7 run away because of the intensity. It is animalic, with enormous projection, attempting to recreate the smell of a leopard in the jungle.

I have both Memo and Alhambra on hand. At first, it smells different from Memo’s African Leather, softer with cardamom and leather, but within minutes it becomes identical. It’s a wild scent, real leather on skin, not objects. It’s elegant yet potent; it can be overwhelming. Alhambra lasts around 12 hours, while Memo reaches four days and becomes oppressive. It’s not for daily wear or young people. Out of 10, seven flee by force. It’s animalistic, with immense projection, attempting to recreate the smell of a leopard in the jungle.

The option that is more akin to African Leather. The cardamom is softer or of lesser quality than in the great Memo, which is more than just a leather note: it is cardamom with spices, very good. The projection and longevity are lower than the Memo, which is more luminous; the Alhambra is rougher and more opaque. It is a good option to get the vibe, but it is not a one-to-one copy. It smells good with decent quality. Emulating that finesse at this price would be asking too much.

I’d say it’s 75% similar to African Leather, but we’re talking over £20 for 80ml versus £150 for 75ml of Memo. Here the leather is more elevated, perhaps due to the cumin, noticeable without smelling like sweat. In longevity, it gives the original a good lesson, a victim of reformulations: eight hours easily, whereas the Memo version reaches a very weakened six hours.

Opening reminiscent of a Blem-style furniture polisher: leather, earth, patchouli and vetiver. Reminds me of a dirtier, darker version of Terre d’Hermès. Smells very elegant, though I still need to evaluate its longevity.

When I bought this, I was tested on African Leather in-store. There is a similarity, but it’s slight. Nevertheless, Alhambra is an exquisite perfume, very elegant and totally recommended for its price.