AZMAN
RIAD JASMINE

2022

PERFUMER
Chris Maurice

tangerine
pine
raspberry
date

lily-of-the-valley
cedar
jasmine

frankincense
oud
musk

I really enjoyed trying out I Am Darkness and especially loved Majnoon, courtesty of the brand. So I ordered some of the other Azman samples myself, to explore the house further. Jasmine is one of my favorite notes, so it was one of the picks.

Riad Jasmine felt ‘beautiful’ to me from the first moment. It’s not overly indolic, but somewhat mature; not a ‘designers jasmine’. In general, it’s very well-balanced, with a fruity tinge, a lot of sweetness that comes through during the wear, more incense in the drydown, but floral-forward for a good part.

Don’t go into Riad Jasmine expecting a strong oud scent straight away. This is more of a slow build-up; it opens as a more casual, mass-appealing sweet white floral. If anything it reminds me of a light Cambodian oud. As it dries down it gets heavier and more rose-oud-esque when I expected it to taper.

I get a berry-like fruitiness throughout, at times recalling wine or champagne, without it smelling particularly boozy. In the opening Riad Jasmine feels like a more mature and refined version of something along the lines of Argos Pallas Athene or even Atelier Des Ors Pink Me Up. Both of those have a more youthful, playful designer-styling (especially Pink Me Up), whereas Riad Jasmine feels more classy. In the drydown, it becomes a completely different animal, as mentioned, more like a rose-oud to my nose.

 I enjoyed wearing this one. After having tried 4 Azman fragrances, Riad Jasmine takes the second spot behind Majnoon.