Mukhalat Barq by Swiss Arabian

This perfume made me play detective. The moment I smelled it, I knew it was identical to another one I own. Comparing the notes, they are exactly the same as ‘Attar Mubakhar’ from the same brand. Curious, I contacted Swiss Arabian and they confirmed this product was discontinued, but that I could buy ‘Attar Mubakhar’ with the same scent. The result? They discontinued a product, copied its fragrance, changed the name and packaging, and boom—you have a new product with the same smell as the old one. Now I have two identical perfumes with different packaging; luckily they aren’t expensive, so the new packaging makes them worth it. The fragrance isn’t bad; it’s very original and distinctive, though very similar to Arabi Cana by Kolmaz, which I also own. In short, I have three almost identical perfumes, haha. Anyway, here’s my summary so you can get to know the aroma. On the official Swiss Arabian website, they say tobacco is a base note, but then they don’t list it in the notes; I don’t get it, because as the description says, tobacco is the guiding thread of this perfume, which is magnificent. The opening is a powerful blast of woods and tobacco, with a strong incense presence that makes the entire development smoky and balsamic. This aroma will dominate throughout the evolution, except for small citrus and floral hints at different stages. When the opening settles, you notice a minimal, very frugal citrus touch. Then, the scent fills with a slight floral nuance, so subtle you can’t tell if it’s rose, jasmine, or a blend, but it adds delicacy to a scent that, without it, would be too rough. The dry down is delicately sweet and creamy, revealing an elegant vanilla that rounds out the fragrance. I really liked it; it’s a smoky wood and tobacco fragrance for special, formal, and elegant occasions. Longevity on oil is very good, slightly less than others I own, but it still lasted over 7 hours on my skin with a moderate sillage. A perfume for autumn and winter nights, recommended for those seeking off-the-beaten-path fragrances outside designer perfumeries and who like tobacco, incense, and oud. To finish, the incense isn’t cathedral-style; it doesn’t smell like a church 😉