SHADID by Tauer Perfumes

“Shadid” means strong and intense, and the fragrance delivers, yet without shouting, commanding respect from the very first second. Andy Tauer creates a dense, enveloping cloud of animalic and ambered resinous notes. Then, it retreats into an intimate, reflective journey where the resinous and ambered elements take centre stage, warm and sweet without being cloying. On my skin, the ambergris appears gradually: sharp, salty, and carnal. Some friends thought it smelled of oud, and I’m not surprised: it possesses that earthy, almost dirty quality of natural ambergris. The balance changes depending on the day; sometimes it’s sweet and vanilla-heavy (like Babycat or Rosendo Mateu 5), and other times wild and beastly (close to Oud Imperial). It’s not for everyday wear; it has an aura of being special, full of personality and pride. Ideal for cold weather or moments of confidence and elegance. Shadid doesn’t seek to impress, but to be understood. The commemorative 20th-anniversary bottle from Tauer is classic, though I would have wanted something more extravagant. The perfume, however, speaks for itself: complex, spiritual, and sensual.

Shadid is Arabic for ‘strong’, and this fragrance lives up to its name without shouting, instead commanding respect. Andy Tauer crafts it as a dense, enveloping cloud of animalic and resinous notes at first, before settling into an intimate, contemplative embrace on the skin. The resinous and ambered facets become warm and sweet without being cloying; on my skin, the ambergris emerges gradually, sharp, salty, and carnal. Some detect oud due to that earthy, balsamic, almost dirty quality inherent to natural ambergris. The balance shifts day to day: sometimes it’s sweet and vanilla-rich, akin to Babycat or Rosendo Mateu 5, and other times a wild beast reminiscent of Perris Monte Carlo’s Oud Imperial. It’s not for every occasion, but rather for cold climates or moments of confidence and elegance. A special, personality-driven fragrance made to be understood, not to impress. The commemorative 20th-anniversary bottle from Tauer is classic, though I’d have preferred something more extravagant; yet the perfume speaks for itself without needing extra packaging. A complex, spiritual, and sensual creation.