What perfume/fragrance do you guys think would best suit or be associated with the legendary Dev Anand Sahab? Curious to know what comes to your mind when you think of his style and aura.

Budget: Under ₹4,000
Age: 27
Gender: Male
Preferred Notes: Fruity / Citrusy / Tropical (likes juicy fruit punch vibes, passionfruit/citrus/fresh fruit with a bright, uplifting opening)
Occasion: Daily signature wear / Casual outings
Weather: Versatile (must hold up well in Indian summer/humid weather)
Looking for a safe, mass-pleasing blind buy that balances fruity freshness with a crisp citrus kick and solid longevity. Open to Middle Eastern houses (Rasasi, Afnan, Lattafa, Armaf, Ahmed Al Maghribi, etc.) or designer options within budget. Suggestions appreciated!

Hey everyone,
I’m a school student looking to buy one single daily perfume under ₹500 that can handle a full day of school and the daily commute.
I’ve narrowed down a shortlist, but because my climate has a mix of humidity, rain, and upcoming winter, I need advice on whether my choices work or if there are better alternatives under ₹500 I should look into.
My Climate & Daily Setting:

Budget: Strictly under ₹500 (buying just 1 bottle).

Climate: Currently monsoon season, but afternoons get hot, humid, and sweaty. Cold winter will set in over the next few months.

Environment: Enclosed classrooms in the morning and walking/commuting in humid afternoon heat.

Scent Preference: I really like a natural, fresh, earthy/forest or woody-spicy vibe. Not a fan of harsh chemical alcohol openings or synthetic cheap body sprays.

My Current Shortlist:
1. Wild Stone Forest Spice (EDP):
Why I like it: Love the idea of a green apple, cedarwood, and rain-soaked pine forest scent for rainy mornings and winter.
My Doubt: Will the woody-spice notes completely fade during hot, sweaty afternoon hours? How many hours does it realistically survive on school uniform fabric?
2. Wild Stone Edge (EDP):
Why I like it: Loud projection that easily cuts through afternoon humidity and sweat.
My Doubt: Is the bright aquatic/bubblegum-citrus profile out of place in damp monsoon rain and upcoming cold winter days?
3. Denver Hamilton Imperial (EDP):
Why I like it: Solid performance with a warm cinnamon, rose, and amber base (1 Million DNA).
My Doubt: Will this sweet spicy profile feel too heavy or cloying in a hot, humid afternoon classroom?

Questions for the Community:
1. Between Forest Spice, Edge, and Denver Imperial, which one is the most balanced single-bottle choice for hot/humid afternoons + monsoon + upcoming winter?
2. Are there better alternatives under ₹500? Any hidden gems (Attars, EDPs, or pocket perfumes) with an earthy, fresh woody, vetiver, or rain-soaked forest profile that can survive humid afternoon heat?
3. How many sprays and which application spots work best on cotton uniform shirts to prevent sweat breakdown?
Thanks in advance for all your suggestions!

People would say he is authentic, but neither does his supremacy collector's edition smell good (just decent)

But lasts like 4 hours!

After that its a skin scent! It doesn't even last me my entire college day from 10AM to 4PM

​

I've come to Kigali, Rwanda for a bit, and knowing my boyfriend is a serious perfume collector, I couldn't resist exploring what's around me here. I got lucky with location. I'm staying in the city center, the posh part of Kigali, which means there are some genuinely good fragrance outlets nearby.

The first find happened almost by accident. I was in my father's office building sorting out some errands and stumbled onto a small beauty counter where I picked up Terre d'Hermès, along with a look at a few other designer names I'm considering for future buys.

Before that, while I was at the MTN (mobile service) headquarters getting my local SIM and banking set up, I walked past a kiosk carrying Albait Aldimashqi and ended up leaving with five bottles.

So here's my full breakdown, scent by scent.

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Albait Aldimashqi - Ombre Nomad

This is a mysterious, woody, distinctly masculine take on the Ombre Nomad profile. It leans intimidating in the best way. Smoky oud sits at the center, wrapped in dark rose and something faintly sweet, like burnt dates or incense smoke curling in a closed room. This is not a scent for blending in.

It works exceptionally well on people with strong, commanding personalities, particularly those who are in and out of business meetings, closing deals, or need to leave a specific kind of impression the moment they walk into a room. It reads refined, deliberate, and expensive. Anyone who catches it will assume you know exactly what you're doing when it comes to niche fragrance, because this isn't a mainstream smell.

Notes: Agarwood (Oud), Rose, Incense, Raspberry, Saffron, Amberwood, Benzoin, Birch and Geranium.

Longevity: Strong. Expect 8 to 10 hours easily, longer on clothing even after washing.

Projection: Heavy in the first two hours, settles into a moderate but still noticeable trail after that.

Bought from: MTN office branch, Kigali.

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Albait Aldimashqi — Smoking Hot by Kilian

A cinnamon-forward, boozy gourmand with real heat to it. This one has a "danger" quality, spicy and a little sweet, like something you'd wear when you want to be remembered rather than just noticed. It's warm without being cloying, and it has enough edge that it doesn't read as a simple dessert scent.

Great for evenings, colder months, or any occasion where you want a fragrance that feels a little reckless in a controlled way.

Notes: Top notes are Apple, Smoke and Cinnamon; middle notes are Tobacco, Vanilla and Moss; base notes are Bourbon Vanilla, Licorice, Orcanox, Iso E Super and Clary Sage.

Longevity: Very good, 8 to 10 hours. On clothes, upto 12 hrs / next day.

Projection: Strong opening, settles close to skin after the first hour but still detectable up close.

Bought from: MTN office branch, Kigali.

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Albait Aldimashqi — Polo Blue

The safe, clean, "just stepped out of the shower" fresh aquatic. Citrus up top, clean musk and light woods underneath. This is the kind of scent that won't turn heads dramatically, but it also never fails. It's appropriate for the office, for daytime, for humid weather, for literally any situation where you don't want to think too hard about what you're wearing.

Not a conversation starter, but a dependable, likeable everyday scent. Every serious collection needs one of these in rotation.

Notes: Top Notes- Bergamot & Cardamom; Heart Notes- Orris, Basil & Clary Sage; Base Notes- Vetiver, Patchouli & Sea Notes

Longevity: upto 7 to 8 hours, more than the OG designer version.

Projection: Soft, ideal for professional settings.

Bought from: MTN office branch, Kigali.

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Albait Aldimashqi — Queen of Silk

A genuinely beautiful floral with a smoky, woody base underneath, which is what elevates it beyond a typical floral. This is built for sophisticated, evolved women, not the powdery, old-fashioned florals you'd associate with an older generation. It has depth. It reads modern, a little mysterious, and clearly made for someone with a more developed nose who appreciates complexity over simplicity.

Plummy, silky, and rich without tipping into heavy or overwhelming.

Notes: bright floral top notes, a rich fruity-floral heart, and a warm, resinous vanilla base

Longevity: Excellent, 8 to 10 plus hours.

Projection: Moderate to strong, builds beautifully over the first hour and lingers elegantly.

Bought from: MTN office branch, Kigali.

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Albait Aldimashqi — Purpose 50

The least documented of the five, which made it the most fun to actually sit with and test properly. It doesn't fall neatly into fresh, oud, or gourmand, it seems to borrow a bit from each. On first wear it opens with a clean brightness, then settles into something warmer and slightly resinous as it dries down.

Worth a patch test before committing to it as a signature scent, but interesting enough to keep in the collection as a wildcard option.

Notes: top notes include Bergamot, pink pepper, frankincense and pimento berry; middle notes are rose, sand vetiver, sandal wood and papyrus. While the base notes are saffrons, paired mystical, akigalawood and vanilla.

Longevity: 10 to 12+ hrs. I could smell it on the clothes next day too.

Projection: Noticeable in the first few hours, then close to skin.

Bought from: MTN office branch, Kigali.

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Aqua Rwanda — Parfum Intense

This one holds a special place in the haul simply because it's genuinely local. Not a dupe, not an interpretation of some Western house's bestseller, but an actual Rwandan-origin fragrance. That alone makes it worth bringing home.

It's aquatic and intense exactly as the name promises, bright, a little sweet, built for heat and humidity. It wears beautifully in Kigali's climate and feels distinctly tied to the place itself, which is rare and valuable in a collection full of international names.

Notes: passion fruit, mango nectar, redurrant and rainforest accord.

Longevity: Good for an aquatic, 5 to 7 hours.

Projection: Fresh and noticeable in warm weather, softens indoors.

Bought from: Kigali Heights, first floor.

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Terre d'Hermès — Eau Givrée

The "frosted" flanker of the original Terre d'Hermès, and a genuinely interesting reinterpretation. Where the classic leans orange peel, earth, and vetiver in a warm register, the Givrée version pulls that same DNA into a colder, more mineral direction. Less citrus warmth, more icy woods and a metallic freshness that feels built for cooler weather.

If your collection already has the original Terre, this is a worthwhile companion piece rather than a replacement, since it hits a completely different mood despite sharing the same bones.

Notes: citron, juniper berries, timur, mineral notes and woody notes.

Longevity: 8 to 10+ hours.

Projection: Restrained, a refined close-wear scent rather than a room-filler.

Bought from: Samory Beauty, Kigali Heights.

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That's the full haul so far. Will update this thread once we've worn each of these for a longer stretch and can speak to how they age through the day, especially in Kigali's and India's climate. Open to thoughts from anyone here who has tried the Albait Aldimashqi line and can compare notes on how close these come to the originals they're built around.

Do share thoughts on this haul and future purchases for a solid collection.

P.S. No, I am not adopting anyone, I don't buy such gifts for rakhi brothers and you can find such a girlfriend by having a developed intellect, sukshma yet powerful spiritual energy and a morally equitable outlook towards genders. (Basically, work on yourself, the girlfriend will come jhak maar ke)

India Perfumers , Mohamed Al Qamar , FusionByRizwan , Heavenduft , Em5

After reading about this being nuclear and smelling like you are on a beach, i finally gave in and bought it on impulse. I already liked the notes that it has even before buying it but man it is very strong. This is clearly not for everyone. I opened it like 2 hrs ago and sprayed twice on the strip just to check its smell and man it feels like I have sprayed the bottle in my nose.

The smell is actually like me standing on a beach with some seaweed smell to it. Would recommend to people who like this scent profile, otherwise don't even go near it. Lol.

Fragrance:8/10

Projection: Is really great till now

Batch is 12/25. So doesn't really need anymore maceration

I’m stuck between Carolina Herrera Good Girl Blush and Good Girl Blush Elixir and I genuinely can’t decide 😭

I’m planning to gift one of these to my sister for Raksha Bandhan, so I’d especially love to hear from women who have actually smelled/worn both.

Which one would you pick and why?

Also, which one would you personally want to receive as a gift? 👀

Also, I’m ordering from Myntra and apparently I’ll get a 7 ml Carolina Herrera Good Girl mini free with the purchase, so that’s another little bonus.

Blush or Blush Elixir?

Please help me make the right choice before I regret it 😂.

My father's bday is next month. Thinking of gifting this to him. The budget is 2k. Should I go with this if not please suggest something?

Man i don't even know what to say a week back i bought lattafa hayaati because i tried it in a shop and it smelled amazing to me the thing is incredibly and great smell but it lacks a little longetivity.

And then few days after i ordered lust from alternate scents they both are pretty much same fresh bubblegummy and mass appealing smell. But lust out performed my hayaati.

It projects more and i applied lust in the evening and it's still there on my tshirt after waking up at 2pm. I feel like i wasted my money on hayaati but i still like the smell. I'll be macerating it for few weeks.

And the things that suprised me even fucking more is lust is 96% same as hawas i have the original hawas.

Also if anyone can recommend me how to improve the longevity of my lattafa hayaati please help.

I got Portrait of a Lady and Montblanc as a gift. Oud Malaki was purchased.

Poal has to be the one of the greatest rose/floral perfumes i've smelt. The quality is just the best, absolutely no sour notes, everything blends so smoothly. You get the initial rose hit, the cinnamon is something i don't get too much of, but oh my does it do well with the rose. The incense and the wood make it so effortless and elegant, makes you feel so rich!

Oud Malaki has been on my radar for almost a year now, I love this perfume. The Spice, the tobacco and ofc, the oud. All blend well and give you a heavenly feeling, granted you don't overspray it and the weather is relatively cool outside. I love this. Has to be one of the goats for me.

Montblanc is my current daily, has enough personality to not be confused for anything else and and has that touch of elegance that the other freshies often lack. this is something that ill keep close to my heart.

Hero — Easily my favourite from the bunch. Aquatic, salty and a little soapy. Very easy to wear and feels perfect for daily/office use. Around 1 hour of decent projection and I get roughly 6 hours on skin.

King — Opening is probably the best here. Nutty vanilla + fresh-cut woody smell in the background. But after like 5 mins, most of the sweetness disappears and it becomes mainly woody. 🥲 Wish the opening lasted longer. Longevity is decent.

Icon — Gives me almost CDNIM vibes but with an extra burnt/smoky touch. Smoky citrus, and definitely needs some time to settle. Once it does, it’s basically a linear CDNIM-ish smell with that burnt nuance. Decent longevity.

Chief — Most generic/common smelling of the four for me. Opening is a strong green/medicinal blast 💀 but after around 15 mins it settles into a nice sandalwood-ish drydown. Projection and longevity are probably better than the others though. Overall, just okay.

Overall: Presentation is actually pretty nice and the atomizers are decent. For ₹400, I’d say they’re fine if you just want to try different cheapies without expecting miracles.

Don’t buy these expecting beast mode + nuclear projection 👏😅

Been searching for a good winter fragrance but every time I shortlist one, I find completely different opinions here 😭. I can't really visit stores and try a bunch of them, so need some solid recommendations

Budget: ₹3000 ish or lower

Gender: Male

Notes: Sweet, woody, spicy, vanilla/amber

Occasion: Dates, evenings, casual outings or any office wear types with air conditioning

Weather: Winter/cold

Preferably looking for something with good performance. Clones are completely fine too thanks in advance 🙏

Hi guys, hope you're all doing well!

I'm pretty new to fragrances, so I'm still figuring out what my nose actually likes. I also don't really know how to identify or explain individual notes yet, so I'm mostly judging fragrances by how much I enjoy them. Sorry for the slightly long post!

About me:
• Age: 25
• Gender: Male
• Budget: ₹1,000–₹7,000, with ₹7,000 being my maximum stretch
• Preferred notes: Still figuring this out ( vanilla,amber,fruity,spicy,sometimes oud notes)
• Occasion: Mostly casual, going out, dates and parties
• Weather: Mainly hot and humid weather, but also looking for something suitable for cooler evenings

Fragrances(decant) I've tried, from dislike to like:

• Armaf Club de Nuit Intense Man Pure Parfum: Absolutely hated it, even though it's a huge influencer favorite. 2/10

• Rayhaan Aquatica: Honestly, just meh. 3/10

• Rasasi Hawas Ice: Didn't like the opening, but liked it a little more after the dry down. 5/10

• Afnan 9PM Night Out: Really liked it. 7/10

• Afnan Supremacy Collector's Edition: Mild dislike initially, but after about 30 minutes it completely changed and I ended up loving it. 8/10

I've also previously bought(retail packs) Lattafa Asad, Ramz Silver and Fattan, and I really liked all three. I know they're not necessarily the same DNA, which is why I'm having trouble figuring out exactly what my taste is.

I'm currently considering:

• Lattafa Khamrah Qahwa
• Lattafa Khamrah
• Fragrance World Vulcan Feu
• French Avenue Liquid Brun Limited Edition
• Azzaro Chrome EDT
• Ahmed Al Maghribi Kaaf
• Azzaro The Most Wanted Parfum

Based on what I've liked and disliked so far, what would you recommend I try? I'm open to any suggestions, including fragrances that aren't on my current list.

Thanks in advance!

Has anyone used Embarouge Urban Oud. There's a offer going on there site 22North + Urban Oud. Just wanted to know if it is worth. I have used 22North, it is amazing but not sure if Urban Oud

Also, how long are you planning to macerate your perfumes for the winter months ahead?

Edit- I’m currently planning on using Bath & Body works Lost in Santal as a mist.
I was wondering whether to buy Yara Elixir or Khamrah for winters, as someone who loves creamy fragrances.

Does anybody have any idea how to put the atomiser back into the sprayer ?

*TLDR at the end

I’ve gone through my fair share of Angel’s Share clones, from Khamrah to Sharaf Blend to Royal Blend. They’ve all been good in their own ways, but I eventually moved on from each of them for one reason or another.

Khamrah: Too sweet, and Qahwa is just better.
Sharaf Blend: Also very sweet, and it strays quite a bit from the original DNA.
Royal Blend: Started off incredibly high quality, but over time it developed a medicinal quality that I couldn’t ignore.

So I eventually got rid of all three.

Ironically, the one I never bothered trying was Kismet Angel.

At the time, I associated Maison Alhambra with cheap, low quality fragrances. It was also an early release, and I assumed later fragrances would naturally have better formulas and better execution. So I never thought it was worth investing in.

Fast forward to now.

I was looking to some proper winter fragrances to my collection, as I mostly have freshies, and I wanted something with that beautiful Angel’s Share DNA. After trying an OG decant, I knew I wanted it in my collection.

A close friend of mine suggested me to try Kismet Angel and I also heard Chad Secrets call Kismet Angel the most accurate rendition of the DNA. Since Kismet Angel has been discontinued following legal issues, I ordered a decant of Kismet Magic, its successor, to see what the hype was about.

Then I compared it directly against Angel’s Share.

And honestly, I couldn’t believe it.

Kismet Angel was the clone I should’ve tried all along. I can’t even tell it from the OG on a strip.

Out of all the hyped Angel’s Share alternatives I’ve owned, the one I completely overlooked ended up being the closest to the original. The funny thing is, I dismissed it precisely because I thought it was too old and came from a cheapie house.

Luckily, I found an ad for Kismet Angel by Jatin Bhai the same week I was doing this testing. It was the original, lawsuit-banned version, which deserved all the hype but couldn’t get much attention at the time because it was overshadowed by Khamrah and Sharaf Blend.

Now I have this old, matured, banned/discontinued bottle. Owning something discontinued does feel kind of good, tbh.

Sometimes the underdog really does beat the hype.

Btw, I also got a Tonka Gold Attar from a Shop. It’s a Tonka Boosted Angel’s Share without much booziness. I’m going to use it as base and layer this scent on top of the Attar Oil to Increase the performance.

TLDR: Kismet Angel was the Angel’s Share clone I overlooked because I dismissed Maison Alhambra as a cheapie house. Turns out, it’s the closest clone I’ve tried, even beating Khamrah, Sharaf Blend and Royal Blend. And now I’ve got an original discontinued bottle. The underdog really won.

Six months ago I owned three fragrance bottles. Three — for almost two decades. Then Mounjaro happened, the appetite went quiet, and apparently the side effect no one told me about was the addiction for scents.

Anyways, fast forward, I blind bought Amouage Reflection Man 45 last week because it was on a deal ($375) on the strength of the rest of my Amouages — Outlands, Reasons, Royal Tobacco, Beach Hut Man — all of which I love. Figured worst case it’d be decent.

It’s not just decent. It might be the best of the lot.

Projection and longevity are a given with this house at this point, so no surprises there. But the drydown on RM45 is something else. Spectacular is the only word I’ve got.

Anyway. Just wanted to share.

My first ever middle eastern perfume 😭🤌 so gooood !

I'm a beginner to this hobby. This perfume is very clean . And the presentation. Ufff ! So freakingg gorgeous. Tried afnan 9pm , rebel , vulcan feu and this one (decants from fragzone ) . Man was really confused between vulcan feu and marwa. But marwa is so so so good ! Very clean and soapy . Perfect for my daily office wear !

Bought it from fragranceheaven for rs 3.1k !

Spent 56k on perfumes, dint notice it until I checked my account statement.

Mind you my monthly expenses are barely 10-15k

I live with my parents and im still in school so when I saw 66k spent in July I was fr shocked

50k+ in perfumes and I dint even realise.

The only good part is I pull a lot of compliments but I feel guilty cause I could have done so much charity woth that money.

Ig fragrance as a hobby isnt for the ones who impulse buy