Valhalla by Rayhaan

At first, it smells of liquor and raspberry, though the fruit fades a little over time. Despite that, it’s a fragrance that lasts for ages.

Completely agree with the first review: straight out of the bottle it smells strongly of raspberry and cognac, a nicely boozy aroma. Over time, the creamy and gourmand notes gain intensity; it’s slightly cloying but not overwhelming thanks to the moss and oak, which, along with the cognac, make it unisex with a masculine touch. It’s that gourmand essence that lingers until the very end. Lasts 8 hours on skin and more than 12 on clothes. It doesn’t project as much as I expected, but it’s fine. I’d wear it in temperate or cold climates, at most five sprays. I don’t find it elegant or formal, but rather casual and intimate. My rating: 8/10, good quality; I’m not a huge fan of gourmand scents but this one I like. PS: The packaging is very poor compared to competitors; the bottle is pretty but the cap opens too easily and they should include anti-cloning security measures, as Rayhaan has really stepped up its game.

Exquisite fragrance, good longevity and projection. In my case, I notice more of the rose and raspberry, an addictive and seductive combination. QUALITY/PRICE 9/10 LONGEVITY 8/10 PROJECTION 5/10 Sillage 7/10

When a Dubai house touches on Norse mythology, my first instinct is scepticism. But from the first spray, any doubt went straight to hell. This isn’t a perfume; it’s a declaration of power. On my skin, it’s an act of cultural warfare. The opening is an explosion of cognac and raspberry, but watch out: the fruit isn’t natural; it’s the soul of those red childhood sweets, a synthetic and sinful memory. The liquor, however, is pure luxury: the warmth of an expensive cognac swirling in a balloon glass. The heart is a French bakery at dawn, a toasted vanilla that wraps around you. And when the sweetness threatens to dominate, the fragrance reveals its anchor: an earthy base, the scent of trampled moss in a wet forest after a storm. And that moss has a secret. As natural oak moss is restricted by law (IFRA), the industry uses substitutes. What we probably smell here is the power of Evernyl, a molecule that recreates that earthy magic without the allergens. It’s chemistry that allows a Sheikh’s Valhalla to smell like a Viking’s forest. My verdict: an emphatic YES. It’s a scent for cold climates, for night, for seduction. For the person over 25 who isn’t afraid to leave a trail of power. For a price that’s almost a joke, Rayhaan hasn’t made a copy (of Angel’s Share Paradis). They’ve listened to the legend of an expensive niche and shouted their own version with a Dubai accent. A conquest.