Viral Arabian Perfumes NOT worth the hype.
Social media is a great platform for circulating viral products. For example, “Lattafa,” a Dubai-based luxury perfume brand, went viral on TikTok after the release of “Lattafa Eclaire,” a dupe for Bianco Latte. Since then, Dubai and Arabian fragrances have been trending over social media, known for their dupes of high-end fragrances. Even stores like Zara have gone viral for the same reason.
Popular fragrance content creators and collectors such as Daniel René, Paulina&Perfumes, Affordableperfumerevies, and sniffwithsteph9399, review popular and viral fragrances. Known for their massive collections and knack for describing fragrance notes, viewers who want to hop on the latest perfume trend trust the noses of such content creators for luck.
However, sometimes these fragrances just fall short of nearly everything they’re lived up to be on social media. Here are five personally-tested fragrances that are not worth the hype:
- LuNiche Aziza
Top Notes: Fruity Accord, Coconut, Peach Nectar
Middle Notes: Floral Accord, Tiare Blossoms
Base Notes: Sandalwood, Heliotrope Blossoms
Everything about this perfume suggests that it will smell tropical and fresh. According to their website, the fragrance description reads, “With every spritz, Aziza transports you to your own tropical paradise, making every day feel like a beach day.” However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Many fragrance creators rave about Aziza despite it being such a flat fragrance. It smells like a watered-down Yara. There are no hints of coconut or peach. On the skin, this smells almost like rancid or expired fruit snacks. Some fragrance connoisseurs recommend letting fragrances “macerate” (mature) into their true scent. However, Luniche doesn’t evolve into anything beach-related. This fragrance is not for everyone.
Top Notes: Apple, Grapes
Middle Notes: White Woods, Iris, Patchouli
Base Notes: Caramel, Amber, Suede, Musk, Peru Balsam
This unisex fragrance is said to lean more female, and many online users claim it smells like a version of apple pie. Again, after reading reviews on Amazon and Fragrantica, this flopped. Casablanca is very masculine-leaning and smells more of suede and Musk. Honestly, it is nauseating. This is another flat scent that smells entirely the same, even on the dry down. There are no hints of caramel, amber, or grapes. Casablanca definitely does not live up to its positive reviews!
Top Notes: Bergamot, Orange
Middle Notes: Vanilla, Pear
Base Notes: Musk, Amber
There is nothing positive about this fragrance besides its longevity. Ana Abiyedh is not a safe blind buy, despite users claiming it is a fresh and clean scent. It’s mostly a musky/woodsy scent profile that overpowers the vanilla, orange, pear, and other listed notes. It smells similar to men’s deodorant with a hint of body odour. Like many Lattafa fragrances, Ana Abiyedh is strong and smells better on paper than it does on skin.
Top Notes: Coconut, Pineapple, Citrus
Middle Notes: Ylang-Ylang, Fragipani, Jasmine
Base Notes: Vanilla, Musk, Sandalwood, Sweet Notes
To give this perfume the benefit of the doubt, it does smell like the listed notes: coconut, pineapple, musk, etc… However, there is something off about this fragrance. It could be the citrus notes that turn this fragrance sour. It is not the worst fragrance on this list, as other creators had second thoughts about it. It’s definitely more masculine, though if it’s layered correctly, it can lean more feminine.
Top Notes: Tangerine, Pink Pepper, Bergamot
Middle Notes: Jasmine Sambac, Ylang-Ylang, Lilly of the Valley
Base Notes: Vanilla, Sandalwood, Patchouli
Overall, this fragrance is nice; however, it gives off “old lady” vibes. The vanilla note stands out during the dry-down, and it’s not as citrusy as the tangerine suggests. Athena is said to be a dupe of “Burberry Goddess“, but some users mention it smells similar to “Burberry Her“. It is not a safe blind buy for younger perfume collectors who love gourmand fragrances. Despite this, Athena has almost five-star reviews on Amazon.
Generally speaking, everyone perceives fragrances differently. Smell Stories states that one’s skin pH levels, body temperature, skin type, and even skin bacteria can affect how perfume smells on an individual. It’s best to test perfume on skin to smell the “true” notes and how they react with your body chemistry.
The 21st Century Girly Blog 