This is Oriental Spicy / Woody Aromatic men’s release from Dubai‑based Khadlaj, launched in 2025 from their Special Edition line. No single perfumer is credited, which is typical for the ME houses. I went in expecting a decent budget clone, but it surprised me: it’s smooth & balanced, sitting somewhere between fresh office wear & subtle evening presence without ever feeling generic or cheap. The closest fragrance I can compare it too is probably Bad Boy Cobalt, but this has its own cleaner, woodier identity that stands up on its own. The note progression is straightforward but well‑blended. Up top a bitter Grapefruit, pink pepper, lavender for a bright, zesty citrus that cuts through a soft spice kick, with lavender adding that clean aromatic edge so it never feels sharp or metallic. At the core, Cashmere wood, amber & cedarwood . This is where it settles into comfort; cashmere gives a soft, velvety warmth, amber adds resinous depth, while cedar keeps it structured and masculine. The Base has Moss, patchouli & musk for an earthy, grounded finish. The moss and patchouli stop it turning too sweet, while white musk wraps it in a skin‑close smoothness that lasts. It evolves slowly, no sudden shifts, just a gentle slide from fresh opening to woody‑earthy drydown. Performance is solid for the price: 6 hours on skin, with moderate‑strong projection for the first 2 hours then a soft, noticeable trail. I get a comfortable scent bubble that you can pick up without it being overpowering, and it holds even in mild heat. This wears really well, versatile enough for office, casual days, or cooler evenings; it leans fresh enough for spring/summer but has enough depth for autumn/winter. Compared to Bad Boy Cobalt, it’s less metallic and fruity, more woody and grounded; this is a reliable workhorse, great value if you want presence without spending big money. My Rating 6/10 Scent 2 Longevity 1.5 Sillage 1.5 Y/N 1

I'm working my way through the five-scent discovery set from Afnan, the one that contains 9pm Elixir, Turathi Electric, Rare Reef, Historic Sahara and Historic Olmada. Today, it's 9pm Elixir. I already own the original 9pm... does this scratch a different itch? It's deeper and spicier than the fruity-synthetic original, that's for sure, although there's a definite DNA connection between the two. I find the original to present as powdery early, and the same can be said for its Elixir counterpart. Both these 9pms lean into the JPG Le Male fragrance line, and while they are grand dupes in that regard, I'm not a particular fan of that corner of Designerville. I mean, it's fine, but it's not something I actively crave. So while I do like the smoother and more spice-forward Elixir, preferring a skosh over the OG, I don't think it deserves a slot on the shelf. Other metrics are fine, 8 hours on skin, big cloud that projects, yada yada yada. It's just... meh, I guess. If you're a fan of Le Male and its offshoots, this is a good purchase. But honestly, you're likely best just socking away the cents and picking up the Real Deal from a discounter, as that line does get deep cuts on the regular. Tomorrow, I think I'll go Historic Olmeda, as it's Bleu de Chanel EDP / Dylan Blue EDT adjacent, both scents I enjoy a lot. I'm saving Turathi Electric until I'm more experienced with my new 10ml of Blue Talisman.