Alaïa by Alaia Paris

You can definitely smell the leather here—refined and exquisite. It’s not masculine, but rather unisex. If you love LPRN Black-style leathers, this isn’t it: it’s cold, not sweet. It’s a unique gem that gives me a déjà vu of childhood car rides with my cousins, heated leather seats, sunlight, and wind rushing through the windows. It’s not for everyone; it’s different and one-of-a-kind.

The violet opening is rich, but as it dries down, it smells off and cloyingly sweet, like diethyl ether (I guess that’s why it’s called ‘mountain air’). As it dries further, the leather and flowers emerge; the violet returns after an hour and a half. The final scent is pleasant, but I don’t like that ‘mountain air’ base. Eventually, the leather fades and it’s left floral—peony and freesia. Good longevity, about 9 hours, projecting well for the first 2. It’s feminine and perfect for cold weather, ideal for someone elegant and formal (the bottle is gorgeous). In my case, anything that smells like a lab doesn’t work on my skin. It’s interesting but not for daily wear. Pleasant: 6/10, Interesting: 8/10, Versatile: 7/10, Original: 8/10.

I’ve already bought Alaïa blind several times without testing it, but I held back on this one due to the leather, which can be tricky, and I was intrigued by the ‘mountain air’ note. I opted for a decant, which is hard to find. It’s not common, and I understood they discontinued it after Azzedine Alaïa’s death in 2017. I used the decant twice: the opening is strong, rare, and strange, far from commercial. Nothing friendly at first; I felt a gaseous sensation, almost like gasoline, from the mountain air or the leather. Within minutes, flowers appeared—a combination that smells great and elegant. After two hours, on my skin, a lovely talc-like note emerged, blending everything together thanks to the violets, and I liked it more. The gaseous scent lasted the whole time; I wonder if it’s the leather. I didn’t feel the cool ‘mountain air’ freshness mentioned in other reviews. The opening is strong, then it becomes a soft floral with almost no projection. I tested it in mild weather, taking advantage of the cool days before summer. They say it shines in the rain; I’ll try that. I find it nocturnal and elegant, not dark. I own Black Perfecto by Guerlain, but they don’t resemble each other at all, despite both having leather. Alaïa isn’t for blind buying. Better to get a decant. For now, I’m not buying it, but I’ll keep testing and reviewing it.

“I change my mind constantly,” Sting used to say, and that’s exactly what happens with the perfect fragrance for rainy nights, thunder, and lightning, à la Santa Rosa. Before, I’d hide away in Terre or Narciso Rodríguez, or the damp countryside of Sisley. But for the first time, Falabella knocked it out of the park at a price that would make the cheapest brands blush. I got lucky to be there, since Falabella and I never had the best relationship; their website felt hostile and misleading. It was almost a blind buy without testers, struggling with spotty store signal. And yes: violets, pink pepper, mountain air (I admit the alpine vibe), musk, and leather. Could it fail? No. It’s so wonderful it makes me crave more rainy days, when it really shines. Marie Salamagne is an undisputed creator. We only had two of the four in the line (the other was Blanche, absolutely standout). I was left wanting to try the other two, but they never made it to the country. If you see them, don’t hesitate. I don’t think any collection could be redundant with her work.

Delicious and different. I wore it years ago, and now I have Moschino Toy Boy, which is remarkably similar, almost identical on my skin, though it has better projection and longevity. Still, I’m getting an Alaïa soon.

Elegant, distinctive, exotic, and one-of-a-kind. I tried it today… I had no intention of buying anything, but I ended up taking it home! In 100ml because they’re hard to find here in Argentina. Heads up: it’s summer, and this perfume screams winter, but I’m head over heels for it. I get that not everyone will like it because it’s so particular and exotic. The opening is fresh, but within minutes the musk takes over; the leather is what stands out the most—deep, powdery, with a floral touch. I wouldn’t recommend buying it blindly; it’s like Guerlain’s Black Perfect (note: they’re not the same, but here the leather is much deeper and more musky). Alaia could be unisex, as it develops noticeable masculine traits once dried. I believe perfumes shouldn’t be classified by gender or age; everyone should wear what they love. To me, it represents a determined woman, decisive and resolute, exotic and unique—someone with experience. I’d wear it in winter and for work (though I’m rarely in the office, so I’m not sure if it’s suitable for daily wear in enclosed spaces), but it really stands out. It’s different from the usual. I recommend trying it. Presentation: 10/10, Longevity: 7/10 (tested for 6 hours in summer, saving it for fall/winter), Sillage: 7/10 (moderate to high depending on applications and season), Scent Profile: Authentic since 2015, very different from the market. Go ahead and try it, maybe it’ll become part of your collection! (If it does, I’d love to read your experience).

This fragrance radiates magnetism; it’s very peculiar. Perfect for an enigmatic, determined, strong, and brave woman. I imagine her dressed head-to-toe in black; rock-chic, leather, and studs. An Arya Stark for the Game of Thrones fans. Olfactorily, I detect violet, freesia, and leather. The pepper in the opening gives it that spicy kick that fascinates me. It feels like it marks a shift in the industry. Very sensual, with a masculine touch. I want it forever in my vanity!

It’s a strange scent; I imagine walking through a forest on a very cold night, and that icy air smells just like this. Alaia really stands out for its leather note; I don’t perceive the pink pepper. Excellent longevity.

I tried it today… and I bought it! Honestly, I can’t say if it reminds me of a specific fragrance, but the same thing happened with ‘Fracas’: they start intense, between spicy florals and oriental… but both change tremendously on my skin. From the opening to the dry-down… the first 40 minutes keep me entertained. Now, after 3-4 hours, I sense it more subtly and clearly, and it’s rich!!!! I can say I detect almost all the notes, except the peony, but definitely the leather is the star, and I love it!!!! I recommend it 100%… try it!

Alaia is a perfume I love. I admit I usually like leather notes and dry aromas without harsh sweetness; those are my weakness. But Alaia, besides being a perfume that fascinated me from the very first second, was found at a time when sweet, sugary perfumes, which I also like, are the norm when testing fragrances. It was like a breath of fresh air, a respite, standing out from the rest. This time I tested it only on blotter paper. The next time on skin, and I liked it even more. The first inhalation left me breathless. I thought, ‘Is it the mountain air its notes announce?’ but it’s true that it gives a sensation of pure oxygen. Then comes an aroma of soft roses and intense leather, conveying luxury, and pairs beautifully with slightly powdery violets. I can’t distinguish the peony scent. In the dry-down, the violets stand out, leaving a persistent trail along with musks that enhance and make the fragrance more yours and closer to your skin. For me, it’s versatile: austere enough for a work meeting and bold enough for a romantic night. It also seems unisex. Definitely, I like it, and a lot!

Tested after reading reviews: A deep and intense scent, yet not cloying. It feels unique, uncommon, and very persistent; it has its own signature, and anyone wearing it will definitely stand out. Ideal for special occasions, full of personality, and in my opinion, with unisex touches. The longevity is excellent.

Exotic and Ethereal: Alaïa is an exceptional and innovative perfume for these times, as the reviews say. Amidst all the sweet bakery waves that are popular now (which I don’t dislike), Alaïa wanted its creator to evoke the smell of his grandmother’s courtyard in Tunisia after dumping a bucket of cold water on the floor; a lovely evocation, whether true or not, that has defined a perfume today that is risky but highly addictive to my nose. The opening is very fresh, I assume due to the mountain air, followed by pepper, musk, leather, and other flowers. It is elegant in every phase. It has a very subtle oriental touch that adds mystery, but it’s light, weightless, and joyful. It’s a beautiful perfume that stands out for taking a different approach, without vanillas or woods, but with a very elegant and sparkling leather, very light. I recommend it, in my humble opinion, for both women and men. Longevity on my skin is acceptable, which is saying a lot for dry skin; perhaps because it’s a bit oily. Its trail is moderate, but it leaves very pleasant bursts constantly during the first two hours; others might last longer since perfumes usually don’t last long on me. I recommend trying it.

I don’t consider this fragrance ‘original,’ meaning it has a scent that doesn’t resemble any other, because honestly, it did bring back memories of other fragrances (I think some Prada, though I can’t remember which one now). However, what I do think is that it is an intense and consistent fragrance, elegant, ideal for temperate to cold climates, not youthful, and as said in a review: an excellent blend of oriental fragrance characteristics and Western style.

E. Spartaco defines it perfectly.

Warm, with character, and very present. It leaves a very noticeable trail wherever you go. It feels almond-like, with the underlying wood note always present. It is basically different from more conventional or generalist scents. You might like it or not, but it is a very well-crafted perfume, with refined notes, elegant, and sophisticated. In my personal case, it doesn’t fit within my olfactory tastes; I prefer fresher or sparkling fragrances, I feel this perfume doesn’t complement my personality; but there’s no doubt that it is an exquisite aroma.