Shiyaaka Silver

The Verdict

This fragrance suits an individual who appreciates robustly aromatic compositions, but is not overly concerned with nuanced blending. The ideal wearer might be someone with a confident presence who favors classic masculine scents with a touch of floral eccentricity; picture a real estate agent making bold deals, unconcerned with the subtleties.

First Impressions & Dry Down

Shiyaaka Silver opens with a bracing, almost medicinal rosemary. The pink peppercorn adds a sharper, more astringent bite than the refined spice I expected; think crushed peppercorns rather than a milled powder. The petitgrain struggles to contribute vibrancy, instead adding a slightly bitter, green undercurrent. The heart emerges with a dominant jasmine, indolic and bordering on overripe banana, fighting for space with a powdery, almost chalky orris root. The neroli here feels thin, lacking the expected citrus blossom sweetness. As it dries down, a rather pedestrian sandalwood emerges, stripped of its creaminess, sitting alongside a slightly muddy vetiver and cedar combination. It deviates from its inspiration in that the creamy, almost lactonic quality is replaced with a starchy dryness.

Projection Power

On my skin, Shiyaaka Silver lasted approximately six hours. The projection is moderate for the first two hours, extending to about an arm's length, before settling closer to the skin. I tested it in an office environment and found it borderline cloying in the initial hour due to the jasmine's intensity.