Athoor Al Alam Ishqat Al Lail

Scent Breakdown

Athoor Al Alam Ishqat Al Lail attempts to replicate Jo Malone's Scarlet Poppy Intense. The opening delivers a recognizable ambrette seed note, though with a slightly sharper, more synthetic edge compared to the original's smoother presentation. The heart aims for the scarlet poppy accord, intertwined with fig and orris. The fig is more pronounced here, adding a sweetness that slightly deviates from Jo Malone’s drier poppy. Orris provides a powdery counterpoint. Base notes of tonka bean and heliotrope offer a comforting vanillic warmth. The barley note, subtle in the inspiration, is almost undetectable here. It achieves approximately 88% similarity. The most significant divergence lies in the opening's initial harshness and a slightly amplified fig sweetness in the mid.

The Performance Stats

Longevity is moderate. I get about 5-6 hours on skin. Projection is initially moderate for the first hour, settling closer to the skin thereafter. One might expect better projection considering the "Intense" namesake of the original. This clone is office-friendly due to its tame projection. The synthetic edge in the opening is noticeable but dissipates. The increased fig sweetness is a point of difference. If you prefer a drier, less sweet poppy, stick with the original. However, given the price difference – the original is easily 10x more expensive – this clone offers reasonable value. For casual wearers or those new to the scarlet poppy profile, it's a worthwhile exploration.