Best Qaa'ed Al Shabaab by Lattafa Perfumes Alternatives & Similar Perfumes

Trees laden with joyful, colourful exotic fruits: Pineapple, Coconut, Raspberry and Passion fruit. Lively Osmanthus and Ylang Ylang flowers. Sweet, delicious notes, as sensual and enveloping as an embrace under the infinite stars of the southern seas.

A sensual floral with an exotic tropical touch.

Ylang-ylang, jasmine and leathery osmathus are highlighted with ginger, coconut and rum.

Elegant, decadent and slightly melancholic, very Lana del Ray.

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"My old man is a tough man
But he got a soul as sweet as blood red jam
And he shows me, he knows me, every inch of my tar black soul
He doesn't mind I have a flat broke down life
In fact he says he thinks it's what he might like about me, admires me
The way I roll like a rolling stone."

Off to the races. L. Del Ray

The wild side of the indomitable goat swirling with the learthery darkness of the mountain roads. Mushrooms and truffles conjur the habitat; and the dirty, bestial, almost aggressive side of the creature is felt through goat's milk, costus and oud. An earthy, woody, animalic fragrance denoting strength and virility. 

Perfumer: Pascal Gaurin.

Your ardor outweighed my reason. I can recall those dark streets where we lingered, the sensual gleam of the urban neons caressing our skin. I remember you slipping an osmanthus flower into the open front of my dress.

Addiction of the senses. A perfume offering the forceful contrast of violence and sensuality. The exploration of another continent. A smoked longjing tea combined with the modern leather notes of natural osmanthus conjure an invitation to dangerous, romantic games. Vetiver creates imperceptible fluidity. Bergamot, cardamom, Turkish rose and jasmine nurture the intrigue. Many musks and leathery nuances intensify the mystery.

January 1618 A Japanese Galleon, the Pacific Ocean

Following a diplomatic mission to the West, a galleon carrying a delegation of samurai charges through dark ocean currents. Loaded with a rare and precious cargo, the ship’s hull is redolent of sweet-smelling tropical woods, heady Spanish leather, frankincense, fine black pepper and other exotic ground spices—the intoxicating spirit of a singular, extraordinary voyage of discovery.

A good perfume to visit if your are in a search for perfect true sandalwood,  smoky and a touch dirty. Arquiste carefully selected the companions for its sandal in this formula: tea and osmanthus, coffee, myrrh and stryrax and others to give it a dark, sensual depth.

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GQ US on Nanban:

"This is my signature scent. I wear it all the time. And let me tell you: I’ve never worn something that has gotten so many compliments—no sunglasses, no sneakers, no full-body rubber suit. People actually turn their heads and ask me what I'm wearing. And then they jot down the product name. Arquiste’s masterpiece introduces itself with Malabar black pepper and Persian saffron, gives way to coffee, sandalwood, myrrh, and Spanish leather, and embraces you all day with a blanket of frankincense, balsam, and cade juniper."

Read full review

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Financial Times' resident perfume writer Victoria Frolova on Nanban:

"... approach coffee notes creatively. Instead of mimicking nature, a perfumer instead might fashion a blend that hints at coffee’s pleasing bitterness and heady richness. Such is Arquiste’s Nanban (£160 for 100ml EDP). The composition uses a plush backdrop of woods to frame the smoky, spicy notes of myrrh and incense, with an accent of coffee to lend the composition a dark, delicious twist. It teases with its smoky, nutty warmth, but keeps its presence mellow behind layers of sandalwood and leather."

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Inspiring and carnal, Smoky Soul features smoked black tea infused with Osmanthus absolute with fruity accents of apricot.

Black tea, extracted with supercritical CO2, is smoked with Java Vetiver essence, which brings out facets of burnt hot wood. Black pepper enhances the spicy and black notes of the tea while a trace of seaweed absolute accentuates the mossy, savory and mineral notes of some Chinese teas.

The largest Chinese community in Italy is located in the Tuscan city of Prato. The main drag, Via Pisoiese, is an “everything everywhere all at once” bustle of Chinese signs, 24-hour restaurants, holiday-bright colours, white Porsches emblazoned with Hello Kitty. The street is accidentally hipster, underground on purpose, eccentric by nature — reflected in this fire horse of a perfume, Cavallo di Fuoco. In it, mint and celery lead unexpectedly to a hurly-burly blend of pomelo, ginger, Chinese jujube and honeyed Chinese oud. Just like the dynamic fire horse in Chinese astrology, this smellscape is bold, untamed and full of life.

Limited to 36 bottles, 38% extrait.

Blended with:

Pomelo tincture,
Osmanthus absolute,
Chinese Jujube absolute,
Persimmon fermented tincture,
Sichuan Pepper tincture,
Ginger essential oil,
Kaffir Lime tincture,
Rose Buds absolute,
Ginseng tincture,
Celery tincture,
Bamboo tincture,
Clove tincture,
Mandarin essential oil,
Wild mint tincture,
Chinese oud.

Important notice:

Zanini blends are living botanical compositions, crafted entirely from natural materials and free from synthetic fixatives or stabilizers. As with all things living, subtle variations are part of their nature: over time, you may notice a gentle evolution in colour, texture, or the appearance of natural sediment. These are not imperfections, but part of the character of the raw materials themselves.

These blends are olfactive smellscapes (but neither aromatherapy, nor ‘spray-and-go’ perfumes) and sensory experiences, closer to works of art created in the scented plane (rather than, say, visual or audio).

Certain essential oils and absolutes that are used in Zanini’s 100% natural blends may potentially cause allergies in some people. Please spray Zanini’s blends on fabric (on sleeves, scarves, etc.). 

Zanini advise that those who are prone to allergic reactions, pregnant and nursing women, as well as people with chronic illnesses to be extra careful. Before trying natural blends, study the list of ingredients and consult with a doctor if you are not sure or a had a history of allergies. If you do decide to put these blends on your skin (unable to resist the temptation) always test the blend on the inside part of your elbow first and wait.

Do not spray these blends liberally as a cloud in the way you would spray a conventional perfume. Zanini’s smellscapes need to be… carefully applied and experienced. Be mindful that some oils can also make your skin hyper-sensitive to UV.

A fragrant and floral dedication to emotions and the intricate patterns that shape and run through the structure of our brains. Liquid joy prepared with balsamic labdanum, leathery orange blossom and violet leaf absolutes and a drop of fruity coffee nuance.

Perfumer: Luca Maffei

Strength: 35% extrait de parfum

The origin of some materials in the formula:

pink pepper -> South America

arabica coffee -> South America

cinnamon -> Sri Lanka

galbanum -> Iran

jasmine sambac -> India

violet leaf absolute -> Egypt

orange blossom absolute -> Tunisia

Ylang Ylang -> Madagascar

guaiac -> Paraguay

Vetiver -> Haiti

Labdanum -> Spain

A pile-up of contrasts: cinnamon along with tropical florals frangipani and ylang ylang, against the earthy bitterness of artichoke and leather. This almost-gingerbread, almost-cement perfume confuses the senses with its animal/vegetable/mineral mystery.