LOUMARI
Almeria

2021

PERFUMER
Amelie Bourgeois

bitter orange
almond
elemi

rose
cinnamon
black pepper

cedarwood
tobacco
musk
vanilla
caramel

‘The perfume ALMERÍA is constructed just like the city it take its inspiration from, both are in relief and full of contrasts. The city was established on the coast, open to the blue immensity of the free and rebellious mediterranean sea, but yet, built to be impregnable. It is majestic and charismatic as much as it is floral and colourful. It was designed to be an observation point, a mirador facing the horizon. But still, it remains an object of contemplation, voluptuous and fascinating like a star in the sky. The most Oriental of all the Occidentals, ALMERÍA is an invite to meet with delightful sweetness. . Let yourself be seduced by the notes of caramel and pepper, combined with the soft and honeyed warmth of tobacco. Last but not least, the flower of all, the rose, brings the final touch to the blend, and which scent will make you dive, until getting lost, into an ocean of emotions.’ – Loumari

So far I’ve had nothing but good experiences with Loumari. With Almeria, I’m not quite sure how I feel about it. I want to like it, but it’s almost too vibrant if that makes any sense.

Part of the fragrance I enjoy. The darker side, with a lot of sweetness, but also a lot of cinnamon and some sort of soft tobacco-ish vibe.

The other side however has an almost syrupy, fruity, spicy mix. I see quite a few comparisons to YLS Tuxedo, which I get, but also to sweet syrupy rose fragrances like Oud Satin Mood, which I also can see. It’s like a mix of the two and it feels unbalanced, untamed. Too sweet, like concentrated syrup. As you can probably gather by the rather far apart references, it’s like Almeria blended several already complete fragrances together.

Some reviews speak of it being clean, fresh and green, but I have absolutely zero overlap with that experience. I think it’s one of the more cloying rosy scents that I’ve tried. Especially as it dries, I get less of the spices, less of the more traditionally masculine leaning Tuxedo hint and much more of a vanillic and sugary rose. I could even see this having as much of an overlap with Baccarat Rouge 540 than with Oud Satin Mood or Tuxedo at this stage.

Intriguing, but not really working out for me.