Afshan by Rasasi

It’s the epitome of classic white bar soap scent. I only detect faint musky floral notes, maybe a hint of pink, but it’s not purely floral. I’m not sure if they reformulated it, but on my skin it works great; in winter it smells spectacular and everyone compliments it. Later in the day, it smells like a luxury body cream. I bought it comparing it to Chanel No. 5, but they don’t smell alike. It’s comforting and a safe haven for aldehyde lovers (ironically, undeclared).

I bought it out of curiosity about its reputation for smelling like a drugstore soap, that ‘grandma perfume’ so many hate, and what a wonder. I don’t see anything oriental; it seems more like an aldehydic floral. It reminds me of Santa Maria Novella’s Melograno, halfway between Fresia and Calèche. The opening is strong and strident, typical of cheap Arab fragrances, but then it settles into a soapy floral that smells like a bar of yellow flowers. Excellent longevity (I put it on at 9 and it was still there at midnight) and good projection for the first two hours. PD: Almost identical to Isa by Ulric de Varens.

I also bought it blind because of its reputation for being potent. On my skin, that wasn’t the case. It has good performance, but nothing spectacular. I imagine they’ve already tweaked the formula. As for the fragrance, yes, it smells like soap, even reminiscent of Dove with a bit of imagination. I don’t know why, but it hasn’t won me over.

This smells exactly like Deliplús fabric softener from Mercadona, the blue one. No more, no less.

Two requirements to enjoy this: you must like the smell of soap, and you must like projecting a lot. The note pyramid is useless; it smells exactly like that. Tending towards classic, saving distance, the comparison to a chypre like Arabian Woods isn’t far-fetched. The price helps, but it hasn’t fully convinced me; I doubt many people will dislike it, but there’s something missing. Scent: 5.4, Projection: 8.5, Longevity: 8, Originality: 3.6, Recommended: Low.

This perfume is quirky and has made me smile. Anyone who was a child in the 70s or early 80s remembers the home shower that was trendy out of necessity. Mom would set a pot of water, take out a white enamel bathtub, and use a perfumed soap for special occasions, not the strong yellow one for clothes. I’d lather up as if there was no tomorrow until the water cooled, a spa-like experience, clean and perfumed. Afshan is a hymn to soap; someone who went through that childhood created it. It’s monolithic, uncompromising, as if you were showering without taking off your clothes, leaving a trail of exaggerated cleanliness. Looking at the notes and smelling it, I don’t think they’re all there, but I love cleaning scents. The soapy note is very thick, mitigated only by flowers in the background, projecting massively for about two hours. I don’t know if I’d wear it to work, maybe at a spice shop without colleagues. Not at the gym either, unless you’re a champion of desert excavation. In enclosed spaces, it could cause mass walkouts if people don’t like it. A love-it-or-hate-it perfume, but if you’re looking for something powerful that combines flowers, soap, and spices, try it carefully.

Well… I must say it’s probably the discordant note. I don’t smell the Dove soap scent, which is my body wash and blows my mind. I do smell soap, but old-fashioned, from many years ago, maybe with a slightly rancid touch. The sensation is like when a grandfather hugs you: clean but old. My experience has been catastrophic; if anyone wants it, I’ll sell it cheap; it lasts exactly two sprays. Longevity is over 12 hours on my skin and projection is beastly for at least 4-6 hours minimum, overwhelming even after showering and applying another fresh fragrance; my wife said it was still noticeable. Incredible price for 100ml. Let no one misunderstand, it’s a good fragrance; Rasasi does things well, it just doesn’t suit me at all. If you like smelling like your grandfather or the geriatric garden, it’s your fragrance.

This is a masterpiece. If it came in a different bottle and cost €150 as a niche brand, everyone would be talking about its genius. Smells like clean laundry soap all day, the longevity is top-notch, and the scent never gets tiring.

Bought it blindly based on reviews, and it’s exactly as described: pure liquid soap. The opening is strong, but after 20 minutes it softens and stops being harsh. Smells just like the rose bar soap I used in Egypt. It’s linear, maybe a bit boring, but has great sillage and longevity. Perfect for the bank, the office, or taking the kids to school.

I completely agree with the previous reviews: it’s unisex, linear, and very soapy, similar to Dove. It reminds me a lot of Yves Rocher’s Clea, but with more style and wearability, mixed with Chanel No. 5. The sillage is moderate-to-notable and lasts about 8-9 hours. It’s an all-rounder with excellent value. Scent: 6.5/10, Longevity: 8.5/10, Sillage: 7/10, Value: 8/10, Packaging: 3/10, Versatility: 7.5/10. I’d buy it again, probably.

80s and 90s bar soap. At €10, it’s worth having in your collection. Lasts a long time, you can tell, and creates a rich aura. If you like soapy fragrances, don’t hesitate.

After wearing it on a winter afternoon walk, I’d say it’s for ‘giving the impression’ of being clean, with all that implies. It has an aura of approachability, of knowing how to be present without being loud, yet with presence. It’s cheap and extremely long-lasting. Wearing it gives the comfort of knowing you’re well-groomed. I’m convinced that anyone who smells it is looking for the presence of that wearer (I’m not saying anything sexual or sentimental, though it could be).

Agree that it smells like Dove soap at maximum expression (nothing like a drugstore). I’d say it’s mixed with a body cream like Nivea. A strong mix of both. For smelling clean and freshly showered! Soap in a tube! But don’t mix it with citrus or menthol scents; it’s soap and more soap, just as is. Hope this helps.

I gave it another try and noticed that if I mist it into the air and walk underneath, it smells less suffocating and is a pleasant bar soap. My husband says I smell like a drugstore, which I didn’t like, but it could be. Anyway, for smelling like a little soap, it’s not bad.

Bought it based on the reviews, and upon smelling it, I thought it was identical to Rasasi’s Arba Wardat and Sonia, just less feminine. It has that soapy oriental base that isn’t noticeable in French perfumes; here it smells oily, suffocating, lacking freshness. When it dries, it smells like Dove soap and a bit of talc. Honestly, it has nothing to do with Chanel No. 5, not even like Van Cleef’s First, which does smell like Dove mixed with Chanel. This is another world. It lasts all day, but that oily, dense sensation—far from what CLEAN gives—is what doesn’t convince me.