ALGHABRA
LABYRINTH OF SPICES

2019

Tobacco
Coffee Bean
Pineapple
Labdanum

Nutmeg
Clove
Cinnamon
Cardamom
Anise
Lavender
Tonka Bean

Amber
Sandalwood
Oakmoss
Vetiver
Musk
Cedarwood

Labyrinth of Spices is one of the more surprising Alghabra’s in my opinion. I didn’t instantly know what to make of it, and if you read the reviews on it, they are all over the place when it comes to what this smells like.

Are there spices in Labyrinth of Spices… sure. That being said, this doesn’t strike me as a typical spicy scent as it lacks the dryness and sharpness in the opening. The cinnamon and clove definitely are there, but I mostly smell them an hour in, when the scent-profile sweetens up a bit.

Initially I got hints of Alghabra’s own Ancient Fortress, with it’s dewy, greenish leather. There’s a pineapple note in Labyrinth of Spices that seems to add a watery, slightly fruity tinge, although it doesn’t smell of pineapple.

I had trouble figuring out what this smelled like to me, until I recognized Marc-Antoine Barrois Encelade in this, clearly. That smoky, almost intoxicating, oily leathery vibe with the greener vetiver base was a connection I couldn’t let go from the moment I made it until a couple more hours into the wear.

While very strong, the Alghabra isn’t as overwhelming and the lack of rhubarb takes away some of the feminine edges that Encelade has. Instead it opts for a more sweetened drydown, with labdanum pushing through and as mentioned, this is when I get most of the spices.

Someone mentioned that Labyrinth of Spices feels like wearing several fragrances at once and it does feel quite chaotic and at times clashing; I think it can be an ‘active’ wear. That being said, I really enjoy this. I need more wears still, but it could be my favorite Alghabra behind King Of Flowers.