Sheikha

Notes & Nuances

Sheikha opens with a blast of syrupy black currant, more akin to a black currant hard candy than the juicy fruit itself. There's a fleeting impression of bergamot, quickly overshadowed by a grassy, almost weedy green note that lingers a bit too long. The heart is where this diverges significantly; the jasmine sambac leans indolic, a touch animalic, while the lily-of-the-valley smells like crisp, freshly laundered linen. The drydown is a comforting blanket of powdery vanilla and creamy sandalwood, yet there is a lingering synthetic sweetness, like spun sugar left out in humid weather that remains somewhat cloying. It lacks the complex warmth of its inspiration.

Final Thoughts

Wearing Sheikha is akin to admiring a beautifully staged photograph of the original, rather than experiencing it in person. You capture a sense of the composition, but the nuances and emotional depth are absent. One gains a fleeting familiarity, yet loses the refined elegance and sophisticated blend that made the initial fragrance so remarkable.

Projection Power

Sheikha boasts solid longevity, clinging to the skin for about 6-7 hours. Projection is moderate, extending about an arm's length for the first two hours, then settling closer. I wore it during a busy workday and while running errands. It performs adequately, but the synthetic sweetness can become tiresome in enclosed spaces.