LATTAFA
Ajayeb Dubai

2023

pineapple
saffron

violet
coffee

butterscotch
sandalwood
vanilla

I was pretty intrigued to try Ajayeb Dubai, given its notes and comparisons online. It seemed like an interesting combination, but ultimately, this is not the best that I’ve smelled from Lattafa so far.

Ajayeb is often compared to Kilian Black Phantom, but that seems like a huge stretch of the imagination to me. If anything, the temporary coffee vibe here reminds me more of Kilian’s Intoxicated instead; a fresher, almost after-shave hint, and not just sweet and dark. The same can be found in Zara Intense Dark Exclusive.

I get no resemblance to pineapple in this, the brighter notes have an aromatic tinge to them instead. What Ajayeb does different than either Intoxicated or Black Phantom is that the sweetness goes completely nutty on my skin. Nutty, pastry the way it is in a Teo Cabanel Oh La La. I’ve found this nutty sweetness in more recent Lattafa’s as well, like Teriaq and Her Confession, but here it’s the most pronounced and most masculine-leaning take; more nutty woody, than sweet pastry and definitely darker and more rugged than the fluffy cotton candy-esque nuttiness that’s been a trend.

Usually I’m quite sensitive to leather or leathery notes coming from saffron, but I can’t say that saffron jumped out at me in this fragrance during a first wear.

It retains it’s fresher tinge for a while, but ends up going completely sweet. Any idea of coffee goes out the window quickly, so it’s a more generic gourmand and to be clear, it ends up smelling nothing like Black Phantom or Intoxicated to me. Not an unpleasant wear, but not a stand out.