Laban Arruz by nBitor

Laban Arruz is nBitor’s latest proposal, a house inspired by Spanish history that surprises us with Miguel Matos and his team. It’s an innovative gourmand with excellent-quality ingredients. The name means ‘rice pudding’ in Arabic, and that’s the main evocation. The opening welcomes us with a soft, realistic cinnamon, accompanied by rice, lemon zest, and a milky touch. As it dries, nuts, tonka bean, and vanilla appear, settling over a base of dark chocolate with a discreet but suggestive animalic touch of civet. It has great longevity and projection, is versatile and easy to enjoy without leaving anyone indifferent. Its character is unisex and evokes cherished memories. In short, an outstanding job by nBitor and Miguel Matos that reaffirms their talent and creativity in artistic perfumery.

What can I say about Laban Arruz? I was eager to try this new release from nBitor by Miguel Matos. Not only is it the brand’s first gourmand, but also Matos’ debut. I love his work, and since it’s inspired by rice pudding—my favorite dessert—my anticipation was huge. I saw the post on Instagram, noticed The Perfumery already had it, hopped in my car, and went straight to try it. I had faith, and it didn’t disappoint in the slightest. The moment I smelled it, I knew I was taking it home that very morning. Matos and his team have created a true gourmand jewel. Its star, as the name suggests, is rice pudding, but not the kind another perfumer would make; this is rice pudding with Matos’ DNA and a daring twist. It’s easy to love yet complex and unique. In the foreground, you get cinnamon, rice, and lemon zest with that milky note, which stays present throughout the entire development. Beneath it lies a warm touch of nuts and vanilla. The interesting part is that it includes civet. While I enjoy animalic notes, I lean more toward castoreum than civet, though I adore it when well-balanced. Here, the civet isn’t noticeable; if they didn’t mention it, you’d miss it. But it’s there! It doesn’t overpower; instead, it plays a nuanced role alongside patchouli and carrot seeds, adding depth and complexity. This gives it a darker side without making the perfume itself dark. These nuances gain presence as it evolves without overshadowing the rice pudding. That’s what makes it so interesting and unique. It’s not a “I threw dessert on myself” gourmand, although I like those too. Here, we simply have a PERFUME of rice pudding. A creative composition, planned and executed magnificently, beautifully, and differently. The performance is excellent. It’s not nuclear, but it has high longevity lasting 8 to 9 hours with perfect projection. It’s not invasive or cloying. Alongside Ocaña, this is my favorite nBitor scent, and like that one, it will be a top pick in my collection.