Malik Al Tayoor

How it Smells

Malik Al Tayoor announces itself with a candied apple blast, think green Jolly Rancher dipped in ginger ale. The bergamot is a fleeting citrus whisper, immediately overshadowed by the sweet and spicy accord. The heart attempts to ground the sweetness with sage, but it's a losing battle. Instead, the juniper adds a gin-like sharpness that clashes with the underlying candy. Geranium struggles to be noticed. The drydown is where this deviates significantly. Amberwood takes center stage, creating a scratchy, synthetic woodiness. The tonka is dialed way back, preventing any real creaminess. Cedar is detectable, but has a pencil shavings rawness, rather than a smooth woodiness. It’s not a bad scent, per se, but the original’s refined sweetness is replaced by a coarser interpretation.

To Buy or Not to Buy?

If this scent were a character in a movie, it would be the overly enthusiastic, slightly awkward new intern who tries way too hard to impress, but ultimately misses the mark.

Longevity & Projection

I got about 5 hours of noticeable wear. Projection is moderate, extending maybe an arm's length for the first two hours, then settling closer to the skin. I wore it to the grocery store and received no compliments. I wore it on a walk and didn't find it cloying, but also didn't find it invigorating.