Najdia Intense by Lattafa Perfumes

I’m surprised a fresh scent can last all day: I sprayed 8-9 times at 9 AM, and by 8:30 PM my dad asked if I’d just put on perfume because I smelled incredible. XD

Very masculine and fresh, perfect for a shirt and tie or semi-formal looks. The bottle I bought came unmacerated, with lots of alcohol and synthetic notes; if this happens to you, I recommend spraying it several times to let it bubble and shaking it frequently so the compounds react.

Getting this for under €20 is a steal from Lattafa. From my inexperienced nose, it smells very natural and similar to LPG. Nadja Intense has a fresher opening and then turns creamy without much evolution. LPG, surprisingly, smells more artificial at the opening, with that coconut note reminiscent of air fresheners, but later evolves with salty nuances from Kenzo EDP and Le Sel d’Issey that Nadja Intense lacks. It lasts quite a while but doesn’t project much; with 5 or 6 sprays, you create a pleasant bubble, ideal for those who perfume for their own enjoyment without overwhelming others. Absolute hit.

This perfume is a gem, and even better for its price. Better than Hawas Tropical and worth much less!

Before starting, I clarify that I’m a hobbyist and this is my first review; my sincere opinion based on my experience may not be the same as yours. I just sprayed it for an objective critique. The opening is sweet, not cloying. The first time, I felt a clear similarity with JPG Paradise Garden, I’d say 80%, though to be objective I should have the original; I only smelled it a couple of times when it opened, but they are similar. Judged individually, although it’s for daytime, it can be overwhelming in extreme heat: it’s sweet and fruity due to the prominent tonka bean, also green from the mint and lavender in the base, and creamy from the sandalwood that recalls the fig in the original. Personally, I feel it’s somewhat synthetic, with a plastic-like smell (especially with heat); the musk gives cleanliness but gets stifled by other notes, so I try not to spray too much. Still, it’s a very good option for the price if you can’t afford the original. In terms of longevity, it’s tight, about 5 hours, projecting a maximum of 2 hours; I’ve had it for a while and I’d say that’s its weak point; it projects well for the first hour. Usage situation: informal, recreational, party, or summer night out since it’s sweet and creamy. For daytime, without more than 23°C, it works well; it can go in most seasons, but in winter there are better options. Extra: I have the regular Nadjia and this one came with deodorant, unfortunately this Intense version doesn’t include it, which was sad 🙁

The coconut isn’t listed, but it hits hard—it’s like a piña colada with mango and pineapple over a base of sandalwood and tonka bean. Personally, I’m tired of tonka bean, but I have to admit it works brilliantly here. It feels fresher than other options, and watch out: on my skin, it lasts over 10 hours and projects a ton.

I tried it months ago and it didn’t work at all: a very sharp minty opening and a dry-down similar to ADN Paradise Garden but way more aggressive, unpleasant to my nose. I kept it hoping it would evolve, but months later it’s still the same: the first 5-10 minutes are awful, with an aggressive mint that hits you right in the soul, then it mellows into something more pleasant, reminiscent of Paradise Garden but not quite reaching its level. Longevity is good for a fresh scent. For the price, it’s not bad, but paying a bit more, you’ll surely find something closer to the original.

I bought it for 18,000 Chilean pesos (around $19 USD). For the price, it smells great and the coconut is very noticeable even though it’s not listed. Performance is weak: 4-5 hours on skin and a trail of max 1 hour, maybe a bit more, but I doubt it goes past 2. Perfect for a young person’s daily routine. I read it costs $30-40 elsewhere, and at that price, I’d rather spend 5-10 more on Hawaii Tropical. One-day update: it seems to last over 2 hours because I got compliments; I thought it didn’t, but it was probably olfactory fatigue. It also lasts over 6 hours on skin because people hugged me and said I smelled like coconut. Now it’s highly recommended.

In short, it’s a fresh fragrance, leaning blue and green (I imagine fresh flowers and grass) with a pleasant sweetness. The opening is strong, and you can detect the ginger and apple. Not everyone will like it, but it’s totally unisex; my girlfriend actually prefers to wear this Najdia Intense over her own perfumes.

Najdia Intense doesn’t win the award for originality since, as far as I can see, it’s very similar to JPG Paradise Garden, but I must note it’s a well-balanced mix of pineapple, marine notes, and green accords; maybe that combination makes it smell like a coconut and fig perfume, as there’s a certain touch of dry coconut with a fig cream. It’s particular, fresh by excellence, but with green touches. Performance: 5 to 6 hours of longevity, good projection for the first 2 hours. A scent that combines daily wear with tropical and salty touches.

If you’re looking for a 1:1 clone of JPG Paradise Garden, let me be clear: I don’t recommend this. Anyone claiming they are identical doesn’t have much of a nose. This Najdia Intense smells like a mix of the three Le Beau scents, with a synthetic coconut note that’s much stronger than the original, lacking the fig and mint/salt nuances that make Paradise Garden so refined. They added the pineapple from Le Beau Parfum, resulting in a blend of all three that leans toward Paradise Garden in the dry-down. If you want something with that fruity coconut DNA, I recommend it, but it’s far from the composition and quality of Paradise Garden; it feels more rustic and less harmonious. Honestly, I don’t consider it a clone.

If you’re looking for a 1:1 clone of JPG Paradise Garden, honestly, I don’t recommend this alternative, and I feel anyone claiming they are identical lacks a good nose. To me, this Najdia Intense feels like a mix of the three in the Le Beau line, with the synthetic coconut turned up way higher than in the original, unlike the Paradise Garden. It lacks the characteristic fig note, the mint or sea salt that makes it finer, and it adds the pineapple from Le Beau Le Parfum. Ending up, as I said at the start, it’s a mix of the three in the line—the EDT, Le Parfum, and Paradise Garden—leaning more toward Paradise in the drydown. If you want something with that fruity coconut DNA, I can recommend it, but it’s worlds away from the composition and quality of Paradise Garden, which is a much more rustic and harmonious perfume. From my absolute honesty, I don’t consider it a clone.

The opening is brutal, fresh, and fruity, then it evolves into a creamier scent, leaning more toward Le Beau Parfum than Paradise Garden. The latter has that sweet fig touch that isn’t present in Lattafa’s Najdia Intense. It’s perfect for daily summer wear and casual outings. Longevity is moderate, around 5 hours; while it doesn’t project heavily, people can still smell it and have asked me several times what I’m wearing. All this while waiting to see how it develops after maceration. I bought it for 22 euros, and the quality-to-price ratio for 100ml is excellent.

I own the original Paradise Garden and this one. In the dry-down, they are very, very similar. The Paradise Garden opening is fresher. Without testing longevity yet… this is a 10.

Incredible.