Swiss Arabian Shaghaf Oud EDP (1/3) · Brotherhood Of Scent

Swiss Arabian Shaghaf Oud EDP (1/3)

Today it was sub 8°C, so I thought I’d use the opportunity to crack open a winter sample I’ve been wanting to try before the seasons changed. I got three Shaghafs (Oud, Oud Elixir and Oud Tonka) and went with Shaghaf Oud today.

A relatively linear fragrance that starts off with warm saffron, jammy rose, decadent praline and what I assume is “oud”. Once it fully dries down, the saffron disappears and the vanilla pops up. The rest remains largely unchanged.

It’s a lovely rose oud gourmand with a youthful Middle Eastern touch. It has that jammy rose vibe similar to Satin Mood that pairs well with the “oud”. The quality at this price is very surprising, almost shocking.

Performance is good. People online claim 12+ hours, but that is supposedly the older batches. The one I tried projected nicely for the first 2 to 3 hours at around 1.5 to 2 feet, then slowly settled closer to the skin by hour 6. I’m expecting around 9 to 11 hours before it disappears. I also get whiffs of the fragrance every time I twist and turn, which is quite nice.

I always hear good things about Swiss Arabian, but I thought it was exaggerated. I understand the hype now. Super justified love and respect for the brand. Worth gatekeeping for some.

Overall, I’d give it a solid 8.5/10. A very easy to like, high quality and beginner friendly rose oud fragrance. Nothing revolutionary, but at this price it’s a no brainer. I could pick it up for £23, but I’m going to try the other two and make a decision. I’m expecting a little more complexity from this DNA, and Elixir seems to have it.

2 comments