Shurooq Al Hind by Lattafa Perfumes

This Lattafa is the middle ground: it doesn’t repel me, but it doesn’t quite make my heart sing either; I’m indifferent. If I’d known before buying it blind, I might have passed, but since I already own it, I’ll keep it. Its name means ‘Dawn in India’, and if I’m brave enough to say it, it doesn’t smell like that. It starts strong with an acidic fruit note, like a berry compote, cherry and raspberry, but far from being a modern gourmand, it executes it in a classic style, reminiscent of Dior’s Poison with plums and wild berries—be careful! They have nothing to do with each other; only the execution is similar. For me, this opening is very feminine, which is why it doesn’t fully convince me. Then the fruit fades and vague floral notes emerge, all so blended it’s hard to distinguish; it seems like neroli, jasmine, or white flowers with a hint of musk, wood and warmth. From there, the scent stays the same, just losing intensity until it’s skin-scented. In short: spiced acidic cherries with florals over a warm musky base. It’s a good perfume, but more suited to women. I’m not sure what Fragrantica put in the description; it has nothing to do with what I smell. The opening is very feminine and clashes with me, making it hard to wear, so it’s not entirely to my liking, although it smells well and is high quality, better on a woman. Since I have it, I’ll continue using it. Decent performance, though not the best in the house. It lasts about 7 or 8 hours, with a marked sillage at the start that quickly fades to moderate and then to skin scent. It’s for autumn, winter and night; the strong fruit note I don’t think suits the heat, depending on the wearer. I recommend it to women seeking an Oriental Fruity scent without the cloyingness of current gourmands. For men, only if you’re open-minded and enjoy wearing scents like Poison, Opium, Shalimar or Black Orchid. Watch out! I’m not saying it resembles them, but if you enjoy wearing those perfumes.