Hey everyone! How’s your holiday weekend so far? Mine is pretty good so far and is memorable because of this fragrance. Close to two weeks ago, I received what I call an experience—Pure Crystal by Lattafa. I first encountered it on my Instagram feed, where the listed notes—cognac, clary sage, sandalwood, and vanilla—immediately caught my attention. I call it an experience because wearing it doesn’t just smell good; it does something. It creates a feeling. Before I go any further, I want to give you some background on Lattaffa: Lattafa was founded in the 1980s by Sheikh Shahid Ahmad and Shoaib Iqbal with a clear and deliberate aim: to create fragrances worthy of the depth, history, and elegance of Arabian heritage. What began as a local endeavor in the UAE did not remain local for long. Through consistency, craftsmanship, and an unyielding respect for authenticity, Lattafa grew into one of the region’s most respected fragrance houses. Today, its presence spans more than 120 countries, and its creations are trusted by millions around the world—an uncommon achievement built not on hype, but on quality, design, and staying true to where it all began. Now, to the fragrance itself. Pure Crystal came across my feed via a review by Daniel Rene. While the packaging and bottle were noted, they were secondary to the notes that initially drew me in. I followed the link on his page, found a solid deal through the U.S. sales site, and then did what I always do—I lived with it. Two wears in two weeks: the first day, and again yesterday. On the way to a friend’s birthday party, I stopped to pick up a few things. During checkout, I received a compliment I didn’t expect—from a 12-year-old, standing with his father, who asked what fragrance I was wearing. I pointed him to Amazon, asked how old he was, and how many fragrances he owned. He proudly said twenty—and this would be number twenty-one. I left my new young collector and his dad to make their decision and headed off to the party.