NOEME
AMAN

2022

PERFUMER
Majda Bekkali

Pink Pepper
Rhubarb
Coriander

Gardenia
Blackcurrant leaf
Incense

Sandalwood
Vanilla Absolute
Cade

Aman was released alongside Khalil and Soma, which are all nice, but Aman is definitely my favorite of this set of releases by Noeme.

Aman instantly hits you with a blast of vanilla. But this is not your average sweet vanillic fragrance (Soma is perhaps more of a common sweet fragrace). Instead, Aman has a prominent, band-aid-esque gardenia scent, mixed with a lot of ‘green’ vanilla and a slightly fresher tinge (presumably from the rhubarb, but it’s not a fruity scent per se).

It turns into a super lactonic, yet floral scent, that’s part not-quite-gourmand and part heady. It reminds me a little bit of Liquides Imaginaires Blanche Bete (which is more gourmand perhaps), but in particular, to me, Aman smells nearly identical to Benigna Premier Amour. Given the price point, presentation and brand reputability; I’d go for the Noeme.

As it dries, it becomes more woody and slowly the ‘stems’ of the florals fades away. There’s a sort of honeyed-incense vibe eventually, but from start to finish, everything is coated in this semi-sweet vanilla.

This is such a spectacular scent-profile in my opinion. It’s vanilla, but not edible. Very classy. The smell seems subtle, but somehow the florals are quite pungent at the same time. 10 out of 10 fragrance on first impression.

I revisited this a couple of months later and it’s still great. I ranked it #9 in my best discoveries of the year 2023 (that came out earlier). The opening is very green for my taste, but there’s something about the way this wears that keeps me interested. If you’re looking for a non-typical vanilla, this should be on your radar.