Faïsa by Ramon Monegal

Saffron and oud, a risky blend… at first it’s very sharp and doesn’t convince me. Then the flowers emerge, none standing out, and it finishes with a subtle sweetness, but that initial astringency lingers. Not pleasant, I’m afraid.

What a wonder! It’s one of those rare perfumes that spark when you wear it. It’s not there to please everyone or be liquid reggaeton; it’s good blues, good soul, good funk. If you connect, it goes straight to your soul.

The first time I tried it, I almost cried. It is one of those special perfumes that touch the mind before the head starts to analyse. I imagine souls trying to shine despite their wounds and the dawn after a dark night. A work of art by the great master, Ramón Monegal.

For people with a marked personality, not for those wishing to go unnoticed. On me, it lasts over 12 hours like a goddess with incredible sillage. It’s an oud, saffron, and rose bomb; the cinnamon and anise are fleeting but balanced. It’s not a stable oud, nor does it smell like Amada Tonka (that one is creamier). It’s darker, with top-tier ingredients. I tested it alongside Charnel’s Gris and Faïsa, and my nose went for Faïsa, but this one has even more powdery sillage than the Gris. Perhaps in the style of Initio’s Oud For Greatness but more potent. A notable job! Don’t buy it blindly.

I rate it the same as Flamenco; both have me head over heels. In this one, the oud and saffron are noticeable quickly in the opening. The first time I used it, I got the impression of an old-fashioned perfume, but the second time I felt it was rich, sophisticated and delicious. The base is impressive with the amber, tonka bean and sandalwood, where the caramel ends up sweetening those notes. How did I feel? Sophisticated, sexy, very sexy, and it projects confidence. It leaves a trail that makes everyone turn to look at the person wearing it. It is worth the cost of this rich fragrance.

I am not a fan of gourmand perfumery; excessive sweetness honestly tires me… But there are exceptional cases where everything is forgiven, and this Faïsa by Ramón Monegal is one of them. It begins sweet, vivid and fruity; it is difficult to break down the fruits, but I would say they are red and fleshy with floral touches of jasmine and ylang. They say it has oud, but I don’t perceive it in the usual way. In the heart phase, the saffron with its spicy and smoky note is very welcome, appeasing the intense sweetness and giving a different nuance to that colourful and bold beginning; this is my favourite part. The drying down from the heart phase to the end extends the initial stage with a pleasant creamy tone, where I clearly detect sandalwood and tonka bean. To my fortune, not being a fan of extreme sweetness, the vanilla/caramel combo has a contained sweetness, away from the trendy ‘frutichuli’ pastry sweetness. As the hours pass, it becomes creamier. If I had to imagine it, it’s like a vanilla and raspberry milkshake with drops of lemon and whipped cream on top. The performance is surprising: it lasts more than 10 hours on skin and projects for about 3/4 hours. I recommend it for autumn/winter or cold days.

I’m not a fan of gourmand scents; excessive sweetness tires me out… but there are exceptions, and this Monegal Faïsa is one. It starts sweet, vivid, and fruity, hard to identify, but seems like fleshy red fruits with jasmine and ylang. It says it has oud, but I don’t notice it as I usually do. In the dry down, spicy and smoky saffron appears, tempering the sweetness with a different nuance. I love that phase. The dry down is creamy, with sandalwood and tonka bean. Fortunately, it’s not that sugary bakery vibe; the vanilla-caramel combo is restrained. Over time, it becomes creamier. Imagine a vanilla and raspberry milkshake with lemon and whipped cream. Surprising performance: over 10 hours on skin and 3-4 hours of projection. Ideal for autumn/winter.

What a surprise. Cheerful, sweet, and uplifting, it positively changes your mood. A ‘semi-hidden’ gem by Ramón Monegal. It’s worth trying.

One of Ramón Monegal’s best. Sweet, unisex, deep and addictive. Many sound similar to Initio’s Bacaratte Rouge, but this takes the gold medal. It has a floral touch, is sweeter, lasts for ages and doesn’t smell of burnt sugar. Despite the price, it’s worth every penny; the ingredients feel of the highest quality. It was love at first sniff.

I ordered a sample set of 7 Monegal fragrances and they gifted me this sample. The quality of the ingredients is beastly, as one would expect from a 3E/ml perfume. It opens with a sweet raspberry reminiscent of TF Leather and follows with a sweet but domesticated amber, nothing cloying. The oud is noticeable throughout, but nothing unpleasant, just to enhance that amber. As a whole, it reminded me of Gucci Guilty Oud, reducing the oud and increasing the amber, but very similar in style. The durability is eternal and the quality of the notes is extraordinary, although it doesn’t make you rush to pay that price. I understand that amber lovers will recognise these notes in many oriental Arab fragrances or Montale/Mancera types. 8/10.

I absolutely loved it! It has a fairly perceptible oud, but more woody than medicinal, reminiscent of Bois d’oud by Montecarlo, only here it is accompanied by sweeter notes. The opening is sweet with a fruity touch from the raspberry, dusted with saffron and with a resinous hint from the amber. As it dries down, the rose becomes more noticeable, softened by the other flowers, while vanilla and caramel come into play, taking it to a gourmand point, in the line of Francis Kurkdjian’s Oud Velvet Mood or Lattafa’s Oud Mood. The longevity is beastly, lasting 10 hours on skin and more on clothes. The projection is good, although not a beast mode. I see it as unisex and more for the evening. Scent: 9.5, Longevity: 9, Projection: 7, Value for money: 7, Originality: 9, Versatility: 7, Overall: 9.