Faïsa by Ramon Monegal

Saffron and oud, a risky blend… at first it’s very harsh, it doesn’t work for me. Then the flowers come in, none really standing out, and it finishes with a subtle sweetness, but that initial astringency lingers. It’s not pleasant, I have to say.

The first time I tried it, I almost cried. It’s special; it enters the mind before the analytical brain kicks in. I imagine shining souls after a dark night. A masterpiece by the great master Ramón Monegal.

I love it! All of Monegal’s scents are unique. The opening smells like Swiss Arabian-style oud, but within two minutes it transforms into a unique oriental. I’m fascinated, even though I get dermatitis from all of them (weird, right?), but it lasts forever on clothes and has massive sillage.

I rate it the same as Flamenco; both have me head over heels. In this one, the oud and saffran are noticeable right from the opening. The first time I used it, I got the impression of an old-school perfume, but the second time I felt it was rich, sophisticated, and delicious. The base is impressive with amber, tonka bean, and sandalwood, where the caramel ends up sweetening those notes. How did I feel? Sophisticated, sexy, very sexy, and it projects confidence. It leaves a trail that makes everyone turn to look at the person wearing it. It’s worth the price of this exquisite fragrance.

This is for those who want to buy blind. It reminds me of Montale’s Tonka, but Faïsa is more complex. It has that oriental DNA of oud with roses like Oud For Greatness or Oud Bouquet, with a touch of Mancera’s Instant Crush. What am I saying? If you’re fascinated by those aromas, you’ll love it and flip out. The performance is eternal with notable projection. Use it in cold climates because it’s VERY warm and sweet. I love it!

I’m not a fan of gourmands; excessive sweetness tires me out… but there are exceptions, and this Monegal Faïsa is one. It starts sweet, vivid, and fruity, hard to identify, but seems like fleshy red fruits with jasmine and ylang. It says it has oud, but I don’t notice it like usual. In the dry-down, spicy and smoky saffron appears, tempering the sweetness with a different nuance. I love that phase. The dry-down is creamy, with sandalwood and tonka bean. Fortunately, it’s not that sugary bakery vibe; the vanilla-caramel combo is restrained. Over time, it becomes creamier. Imagine a vanilla and raspberry milkshake with lemon and whipped cream. Surprising performance: over 10 hours on skin and 3-4 hours of projection. Ideal for autumn/winter.

What a surprise. Cheerful, sweet, and mood-boosting; it positively changes your state of mind. A ‘semi-hidden’ gem by Ramón Monegal. It’s worth trying.

One of Ramón Monegal’s best. Sweet, unisex, deep, and addictive. Many sound like Initio’s Bacaratte Rouge, but this takes home the gold medal. It has a floral touch, is sweeter, lasts a long time, and doesn’t smell like burnt sugar. Despite the price, it’s worth every penny; the ingredients feel incredibly high quality. Love at first sniff.

I ordered a 7-piece Monegal sample set and they gifted me this sample. The ingredient quality is beast mode, as expected from a 3E/ml perfume. It opens with a sweet raspberry reminiscent of TF Leather, followed by a sweet but tamed amber, nothing cloying. You can smell the oud throughout, but nothing unpleasant; it’s just there to enhance that amber. Overall, it reminded me of Gucci Guilty Oud, dialing back the oud and boosting the amber, but very similar in style. The longevity is eternal, and the note quality is extraordinary, though it doesn’t make you want to pay that price blindly. I understand that amber lovers will recognize these notes in many oriental Arab scents or Montale/Mancera types. 8/10.

I absolutely loved it! It has a fairly noticeable oud, but more woody than medicinal, reminiscent of Bois d’oud by Montecarlo, only here it’s paired with sweeter notes. The opening is sweet with a fruity hint from the raspberry, dusted with saffron, and has a resinous touch from the amber. As it dries down, the rose becomes more prominent, softened by the other flowers, while vanilla and caramel kick in, pushing it to a gourmand point, in the line of Francis Kurkdjian’s Oud Velvet Mood or Lattafa’s Oud Mood. The longevity is beast mode, lasting 10 hours on skin and even longer on clothes. The projection is good, though not a beast mode. I see it as unisex and more for night. Scent: 9.5, Longevity: 9, Projection: 7, Value: 7, Originality: 9, Versatility: 7, Overall: 9.