Desert Leather by Nabeel

Hello everyone! I know it sounds like hyperbole, but this bottle isn’t quite so. In my opinion, it’s the improved version of Tom Ford’s Ombré Leather; I love its opening and longevity even more. The sense of quality has nothing to envy from TF. A huge discovery from this house. This definitely plays in a different league within Arabic perfumery. The bottle does absolutely no justice to the contents.

Greetings, essence lovers! This fragrance has genuinely surprised me. A year ago, on a trip to the USA, I almost accidentally visited a small shop distributing brands I’d never heard of: Swiss Arabian, Nabeel, French Avenue, Dumont Paris, Zimaya, among others. That’s when I realised my Western consumption world was a little limited… And just this perfume made me rethink my modest collection. I now own four pieces of Tom Ford, including Ombré Leather Parfum, one of my favourites. The similarity between OLP (and perhaps Tuscan, also by TF) and Desert Leather (though with a ‘twist’) left me a little bewildered. I won’t mention the price, which is well known. Now, my experience (subjective!) with DL. It opens with a semi-acidic red fruit, barely sweet (more of a ‘dry’ fruity aroma), to which thyme (so familiar in our kitchens for many) integrates, creating an unexpectedly pleasant ensemble. There’s also a touch of subtle vanilla that provides counterpoint from the start. This accord lasts a while before some clean floral notes appear. Later, the ‘dry’ fruity accord fades to give way to a soft leather base with smoky and woody touches. The thyme persists throughout the life of the perfume, softening and weaving with the base notes. This evolution is balanced. It doesn’t seem like a jumble of a thousand things fighting to stand out; each has its place. I can distinguish the notes well, which surprises me to this day for a perfume at this price point. Longevity of 10 hours or more on skin (knowing it varies per person). My shirt continued to carry this fragrance for a couple of days afterwards, so I recommend wearing it on clothes. It’s not a ‘beast mode’ (the favourite catchphrase on the internet). But it performs very, very well. Excellent value for money.

A good inspiration of TF Ombre Leather, with a small twist that gives it the thyme. Longevity of over 10 hours. Compared to Lattafa’s Amber&Leather, this Desert Leather feels a little more natural, though one must keep in mind that the central note is isobutylquinoline (in both the original TF and all its clones), so mainly the scent of the fragrance will feel very synthetic to us.