Shomal by Botanicae

Hi, I picked up this Shomal from Botanicae for 55€ for 100ml online during a sale. At that price, the value is a solid 10/10. It smells elegant, discreet, and calming (it gives me peace and a great vibe), and people usually love it. Just a heads-up: it doesn’t have a powerful sillage; it’s all about elegance and closeness. It’s perfect as a signature scent and totally unisex. On dry skin, it lasts 5-6 hours, which is a bit short, but on clothes it lasts twice as long. You can really tell the quality of the ingredients when you smell it: everything is perfectly balanced. Even people who don’t know much about perfumes can easily identify the notes. Would I recommend it? Yes, but always try it first.

Fresh and citrusy, with a masculine vibe similar to Le Labo Santal 33. Could work as unisex for the office. Reminds me of Mugler Cologne, Prada L’Eau, Versace Pour Homme, and Aqua di Parma Essenza di Colonia. It’s clean and addictive, perfect as a daily wear and very versatile. The floral notes are lavender, iris, neroli, and jasmine, giving it that total clean feel.

I’m surprised no one talks about its huge similarity to Versace Pour Homme, which shares the hyacinth. They differ because VPH is sweeter (tonka bean) and Shomal lasts longer (about 6 vs. 4 hours) and feels more floral and natural. I’m not sure if that justifies the price difference, which is more than double.

What a letdown. It doesn’t last absolutely anything. Regardless of how little I could smell it due to its non-existent longevity, it passes without making a mark. Total disappointment with Botanicae perfumes. The only one worth it without breaking the bank is Matin Amour. But regarding longevity and sillage, I don’t consider these to be quality products.

Shomal is a perfume that ended up winning me over. It wasn’t my style and didn’t have notes that caught my attention; the first time, it didn’t say much to me. This shows how important it is to try a perfume several times and not let your first impression rule. It radiates peace and a great vibe from its hyacinth and mandarin opening to the dry down with that fresh, musky, slightly sweet iris. The opening hooked me: that sweet and bitter citrus mandarin blends phenomenally with the soapy, green hyacinth. As it dries, the mandarin becomes subtle and fades, leaving a heart of musk and iris that gives a sense of brutal cleanliness. In the end, it leaves a floral, fresh, musky, clean scent with a light sweetness and earthy nuances that stand out in the last hours. It lasts 7-8 hours on skin with moderate projection for the first 3. Not bad at all for this type of aroma. I think it’s very versatile: I’d wear it in spring, but it’s also great in summer and autumn. It works in winter too, though there are better options. Equally versatile for the occasion: perfect for work, casual outings, or something slightly more formal without being extreme. Unisex? Yes, right in the middle. We could say it leans slightly masculine, but it’s a matter of taste. Anyway, I recommend it a lot; it was a surprise that took time to appreciate, and I can’t separate myself from it now.

Shomal is an acquired taste. At first, it seems light, with strange touches between green and floral, highlighting that fresh and different hyacinth note. It never seemed vulgar to me, but it did have a peculiar ‘acidity’ that I didn’t know how to fit at first. Today it’s my favorite from the house. Versatile, discreet, and very elegant, totally unisex; it dresses you in floral cleanliness with a very attractive musky dry down. A positive experience discovering this hyacinth note: a green flower with sweet touches, herbal reminiscences, and spicy nuances that fit perfectly. It lasts longer than expected, feeling it without issues for 6 hours. Perfect for the office, semi-formal character, shines on mild days. Good value for money, a very recommended option to try something different in your daily routine.