Enigma by Wajid Farah

I’ve gathered some data to expand the Fragantica profile, and it fits perfectly. Top: raspberry, thyme, leather and pepper. Heart: rose, saffron and incense. Base: suede and jasmine. At first, the sweet acidity of the raspberry clashes brilliantly with the leather and suede, balancing the sweetness. A few minutes in, the rose, jasmine and a soft pepper kick in, making it floral and vibrant. Then, woody musky notes emerge, but the rose, jasmine, raspberry, leather and pepper remain dominant. As it dries, it stops being floral and clings to the skin like a beautiful woody incense. A classic Dubai Arab tone: if you like it, you’ll fall in love; if you’re more of a Lalique or Chanel person, it will overwhelm you. I’m into everything, even daring to try supermarket scents and almost niche ones if I could afford them. I almost like fruity choulis… shh, keep that quiet. The trail and longevity surpass Western perfumes, and the quality-price ratio is top-notch. I hope Dubai brands stay affordable before multinationals reformulate and drive up prices. It leans slightly feminine thanks to the rose and raspberry, but it’s not cloying; it’s warm, sensual, velvety—a crimson kaftan, candlelit amber and shadows of Qurtuba. It’s the gaze of enigmatic black eyes shining from the shadows.

The opening is powerful, with that fruity, spiced leather that hooks you immediately; the cumin passes quickly to reveal elegant leather. Then comes the incense, adding a smoky touch, while saffron and wood emerge in the background. I love the warmth of the amber that unfolds. In the end, it’s a sweet, woody leather with an almost imperceptible floral note, incredibly harmonious. Longevity and sillage are top-notch, and the value for money is unbeatable. Ideal for evening wear or cold weather, but be careful not to overapply as it’s strong on its own. Fragrantica says the opening recalls Rasasi Tobacco Blaze (less saffron, more raspberry) and dries down to Tom Ford Tuscan Leather, though I haven’t tried those so I can’t confirm, but it could serve as a reference. By the way, I own the Sport version, which isn’t yet in Fragrantica’s database, and I reviewed it on the forum: the box is standard but the bottle is gorgeous, with that elegant red glass. It smells identical to Alfred Dunhill Desire, and it turns out they share 99% of the notes: apple, neroli, bergamot, lemon, patchouli, teak, rose, musk, and vanilla. The only difference is labdanum in the base. In practice, the Sport smells more balsamic at the start and becomes more resinous and warm in the heart. I love both, but in the Sport I notice new nuances that make me fall in love with it again, projecting something refreshed and modern. Longevity is unsurpassable, over 10 hours on skin with notable sillage for at least 3 hours. Quality, longevity, and sillage rival high-end perfumes; highly recommended.