Lamar Noir by Kajal

From the first spray until it dries, the leather and oud dominate everything, with a trail and projection that never stop. It lasts several days on clothes and over eight hours on the skin; it’s pure beast mode. The opening is fruity, citrusy and floral, fresh before evolving into a musky floral that softens the leather without masking the fruit or the rose. It blends so well that the heart’s roughness doesn’t detract from the fruit or the rose. It’s a dark, smoky rose paired with a fruit I can’t quite identify, perhaps plum, even though it’s not listed in the notes. As it dries, vanilla and sandalwood take the lead in the trail. It smells very much like Fugazzi’s Passionfruit, Maison Crivelli’s Oud Maracujá or Montale’s Arabians Tonka, but with a less synthetic oud than the latter two. Ideal for cold weather, not for enclosed spaces, full of class and presence. Unisex, but it leans masculine. For me, a truly magnificent perfume.

It is clearly the dark, mature version of Kajal’s Lamar, taking those fruity notes to another level, slightly darkened by caramel, but with a well-crafted masculine leather, nothing dirty, and an oud that smells more of wet wood than animalic notes. It’s quite potent, ideal for the office, but the best is to wear it outdoors; in my case, I’ve used it day and night, even above 35 degrees, but it definitely shines more at night or in temperate to freezing temperatures. It’s a perfume that makes itself noticed and dominates. I understand people compare it to Oud Maracujá, but I think the dried fruity part resembles Kajal’s Lamar more.

The easiest way to describe it is as if Ombre Leather and YSL’s Y had collaborated. The leather is very dark and refined, the fresh part delicious, and the two complement each other perfectly for wearing with dark clothing, perhaps leather. I detect plenty of violet and resines beneath the leather; it’s extremely masculine, perfect for going out at night for dinner, a drink and perhaps a little dancing. It’s not for parties; it’s serious and full of personality.

At first, it smells like LV’s Ombre Nomade, but it changes as it dries. We shall test it further.