Kashaf

How it Smells

Kashaf opens with a candied strawberry blast, reminiscent of those hard strawberry candies found at your grandmother's house. It’s immediately followed by a heavy caramel note, bordering on burnt sugar, and a muted peach that barely peeks through. The heart struggles to balance the sweetness. A thin, almost papery leather emerges, quickly swallowed by a cloying saffron and a syrupy amber. The base of Bourbon vanilla lends a boozy warmth, but the benzoin introduces a slightly plasticky edge, making the drydown veer into synthetic territory. It tries for the opulence of its inspiration, but lacks the depth and complexity, coming off a bit muddled.

To Buy or Not to Buy?

If Kashaf were a character, it would be a meticulously dressed socialite, always perfectly coiffed and accessorized, but harboring a deep-seated insecurity that manifests as an excessive need for attention. Someone who tries too hard to be sophisticated and winds up broadcasting a desperate desire to impress.

Projection Power

On my skin, Kashaf lasts a respectable 6-7 hours. The projection is initially quite strong, easily filling a room within the first hour. It quickly settles to within an arm's length, becoming a more intimate scent for the remainder of its lifespan. I tested it during a rainy day, and the humidity amplified the sweeter notes, making it almost too much.