Lamar Noir by Kajal

From the first spray to the dry down, the leather and oud dominate everything, with a trail and projection that never stop. It lasts several days on clothes and over 8 hours on skin; this is pure beast mode. The opening is fruity, citrusy, and floral, fresh before evolving into a musky floral that softens the leather without hiding the fruit or rose. It blends so well that the heart’s roughness doesn’t overpower the fruit or flower. It’s a dark, smoky rose paired with a fruit I can’t quite identify, maybe plum, even though it’s not listed in the notes. In the dry down, vanilla and sandalwood take the lead. It smells a lot like Fugazzi’s Passionfruit, Maison Crivelli’s Oud Maracujá, or Montale’s Arabians Tonka, but with a less synthetic oud than the latter two. Perfect for cold weather, not for enclosed spaces; it exudes class and presence. Unisex, but leans masculine. To me, it’s a fantastic perfume.

It’s clearly the dark, mature version of Kajal’s Lamar, taking those fruity notes to another level, slightly darkened by caramel, but with a well-crafted masculine leather, nothing dirty, and an oud that smells more like wet wood than animalic notes. It’s quite potent, ideal for the office, but the best is to wear it outdoors; in my case, I’ve used it day and night, even above 35 degrees, but it definitely shines more at night or in cool to freezing temperatures. It’s a perfume that makes a statement and dominates. I understand people compare it to Oud Maracujá, but I think the dried-out fruity part resembles Kajal’s Lamar more.

I’d describe it as if Ombre Leather and YSL’s Y had a collaboration. The leather is dark and refined, the fresh part is delicious, and the two combine perfectly for dressing in black, maybe leather. I detect a lot of violet and resines under the leather. It’s super masculine, ideal for going out at night for dinner, a drink, and maybe a bit of dancing. It’s not for parties; it’s serious and full of personality.

At first, it smells like LV’s Ombre Nomade, but it changes as it dries. We’ll have to test it more.