Momento by Riiffs Perfumes

I’ve tried both Momento de Riifs and Arabians Tonka. The opening has distinct nuances, with Arabians being superior. Once dried, they are 95% identical. Both project incredibly, though Arabians is stronger; Momento doesn’t fall short. The longevity is insane: I woke up 18 hours after atomising Momento (including hand hygiene) and could still detect that sugared rose note. Considering the price, they’ve created an incredible dupe of a fragrance that is notoriously difficult to clone in terms of power and performance.

A very well-structured Arabic fragrance, very oriental and spicy (logically), and one of the few that does it well; it smells great and is very balanced. This Arabic scent is a 10. Riifs, you really are worth it.

It’s time to highlight this fragrance. I had a decant of Arabians Tonka by Montale a while ago and fell in love with the scent. I decided to take a risk on an Arabic dupe, and the Riifs house didn’t disappoint. I’d say it’s 95% similar, but it leans slightly more towards the masculine side, which I like; additionally, I feel it’s more wearable, not as invasive as Arabians Tonka. You should avoid enclosed spaces if you just applied it because the projection is excellent for the first two hours. Ideal for cool and cold climates, and it shines brightest at night. Longevity reaches a perfect seven hours, projecting well at the start. The bottle is a jewel and the atomiser is beautiful. Adding it all up, it’s incredible that this masterpiece costs only around $25.

I picked it up for £20 and after trying Dubai Night by Al Haramain, I was floored by that blend of notes. The saffroned rose with that touch of oud seduced me. I looked for info and saw that Momento by Riiifs was identical but with better reviews, so I went for this (plus, it’s half the price). On skin: it’s identical to Dubai Night, but as it dries down, Momento leans towards the oud while Dubai Night leans towards the rose with citrus touches. Momento is darker and Dubai Night is more balanced between fresh and sweet. In the air, it’s impossible to distinguish one from the other. If you bring your nose close, Momento smells better, deeper and darker. If you’re unsure, buy whichever is cheaper; you won’t go wrong with either. For now, nothing to say about the longevity.

Well, here’s my take on this perfume jewel. After wearing it all day at work, I confirm it’s an absolute olfactory marvel. I love this DNA; I also own Dubai Night with that Arabians Tonka profile, and while I adore both, they are distinct. This one is denser, based on oud loaded with roses and caramel, exquisite when dried down. Dubai Night is less heavy as they toned down those notes, placing more emphasis on the citrus, which is more wearable and versatile for the day, though still very delicious. I conclude that this Momento by Riiifs deserves all the hype, it’s worth every penny, because here you have the definitive scent of mysterious and attractive sensuality. I don’t know what about this smell has me so enamoured; it seems complicated but it isn’t, it gives the impression of being difficult to wear, but that’s just bad imagination. Women love it. If you don’t have it yet, what are you waiting for? Get it sooner rather than later, do yourself a favour and buy it, you won’t regret it.

Pure sensuality. I had Momento de Riifs in my cart for six months and by delaying, it sold out; it wasn’t available in Chile for nearly six months until the restock arrived at a good price, around $18. This is fabulous; I have no words to explain how a perfume so cheap can smell so expensive: an exotic mix of spicy notes, something oriental, but with a sweet base that makes it totally wearable, sensual, nocturnal, and for encounters. This is for people with personality who want to smell different; it calls for dressing entirely in black with a shirt or t-shirt tucked in and well-groomed; don’t even think about using it for daily wear or the gym. Details: the only downside is the opening, which initially seemed a bit plastic-y (a slight new plastic smell that lasts about three minutes). Additionally, I feel it doesn’t have a brutal projection, like the one Arabians Tonka by Montale must have, which I haven’t tried yet, but it is clear that the longevity is very good, easily surpassing eight hours with a pleasant sweet scent close to the skin. In summary, a great purchase. WARNING: do not buy blind; at least you should have experience with slightly more challenging scents.

If you’re looking for decent performance, forget this Riiffs one; any cheap clone will outlast it. I bought it due to the hype for a more ‘domestically friendly’ version of the original, and while they seem like twins in the air, this one fades on the skin. Warning: it’s not worth it.

Have they changed the formula since September 2025? As I see on Fragrantica, there are two extremes: either it’s super long-lasting and projects insanely, or it doesn’t last more than two hours and smells like nothing. I say this because I bought mine on the Black Friday of 2025 and it barely smells. I thought perhaps I had bought a fake, but the quality of the box, bottle, and atomiser tells me otherwise. More recent reviews say it doesn’t last at all. Perhaps I should buy another dupe from a different house, like Karus by Khadlaj, as the one from Riiifs no longer seems to be the best. Note: I’ve put it to macerate, but I’ve read comments from people who macerated it for three months and it served no purpose.

I fell in love with the DNA of Arabians Tonka due to all the hype, but left it for next year given the price. Then I heard about this Riiffs clone and didn’t hesitate. I’ve had it for a week and it’s already hooked me. It has nothing to envy the original; it smells identical and the longevity is top-notch, although Montale’s is in a different league. Proof that you don’t need to spend much to smell good. It will be my signature for autumn/winter, and perhaps when it runs out, I’ll buy the original. Scent: 10/10, rose, caramel and wood. Longevity: 9.5/10, lasts all day on skin and longer on clothes. Atomiser: 1000/10, long and powerful. Price: 1000/10, around 35 euros in Spain and it’s a bargain. Versatility: 8/10, brilliant for cold weather but also for mild days, day or night, though not for the gym. Blind buy: yes, anyone would like it. P.S. I spray 5 times (neck, nape and arms) and it smells beastly; today at work they told me to tone it down, so 3 or mini-sprays is more than enough.

I owned the Taraf Black by Zimaya and couldn’t get away from it, until I managed to pick up this Momento at a used clearance without a box for 24 dollars. What a rich thing, the sweetness is much more noticeable with that smoky and tonka bean powder base; the wood is more restrained and the citrus is only at the start. It lasts all day, people smell it from a distance and I’ve received compliments, whereas with the Zimaya I got none. Go for this a thousand times if you’re looking for a Montale clone; it’s worth every penny and is the best on my shelf. Ideal for dates, day, night and parties.

I tried Arabians Tonka and found it very feminine, but this Momento by Riiffs, with that more subdued rose, feels more unisex and masculine. The longevity is similar, but the projection is a bit less potent (though still beastly). For the price, there’s nowhere to lose.

Very good and potent, much better than the Zimaya clone. This one is more caramelised, with more projection and longevity.

Momento by Riiffs is a sensual scent for going out with friends. A spiced oriental rose with saffron and a subtle touch of oud. Excellent quality, moderate trail and fantastic longevity. I see it as very similar to Montale’s Arabians Tonka; it’s a wonderful budget alternative.

Total surprise with Riiifs Momento, still keeping me on my toes! It’s an intense scent, definitely not for the shy. It’s unisex, though guys who aren’t keen on roses or florals might find it leans feminine. It starts with a sparkling opening that can be a bit overwhelming at first, but the rose blooms quickly, giving way to the floral notes. Even though it doesn’t list saffron, I definitely detect it—a slightly spicy and warm touch. Yes, it reminds me a lot of Montale’s Arabians Tonka, but that rose also brings to mind Mancera Roses Vanille, that rose sweetened with an Arab air. As it dries down, it’s sweet, slightly resinous, ambered, and musky; the rose remains the queen, though over time it cedes the spotlight to the vanilla. In short: a sweetened rose with amber and spicy nuances. Projection and longevity are around 10 hours on my skin, and the best part is it’s affordable with excellent value for money.