VIRAL MIDDLE EASTERN FRAGRANCES: LIKE, LOVE OR PASS?? MY THOUGHTS ON THESE PERFUMES FOR SUMMER

[@nsylvester6489]

I love your reviews of perfumes and have purchased many based on your excellent recommendations. However, there is a huge misconception about Middle Eastern perfumes. The perfumes from the Middle East are made from oils, hence why they last longer than western perfumes. Therefore, they should only be sprayed lightly. We get about 3 times the concentration of Western perfumes in Middle Eastern perfumes. Their perfumes are not screechy or not well blended. If you want a more western take on a Middle Eastern perfume then add isopropyl alcohol/ethanol to a bottle half way then spray in your Middle Eastern perfume to fill or Spray 1/3 less sprays. The reason why we need to spray out the nozzle before using perfume from Middle East is because during travel the alcohol and other ingredients in perfume diffuse up the straw and most of the oils do not hence the difference in smells. Middle Eastern perfumes are not cheap. USD $30 is a lot of money in their region to pay for a perfume and because of the dollar conversion it seems like it's so little money and most times the cost of the perfume is associated with the type of material used. The reason why niche and celebrity/ designer perfumes cost a lot is to allow those companies to pay for advertising and to make profit and since things are more expensive in western countries therefore the materials etc is much more. Perfumes is a part of the culture in most Middle Eastern countries, and they invest heavily in the creation. Plus, like most people sing a Whitney Houston song at auditions to prove they can sing, some Middle Eastern perfume houses replicate popular perfumes to gain reputation before they try to branch out on their own.

[@mariacollettlife]

Thanks so much for writing this out, very informative!!

[@christinelecher1406]

All perfumes are made from oils. What do you think the concentrations are about..? 😳 Ya know, eau de cologne, eau fraise, eau de toilet, eau de parfum, extrait de parfum/parfum... Those aren't nicknames. 🤨

[@christinelecher1406]

​@@mariacollettlifeah Mariah, you're just lovely.❤

[@dawnyakathem5374]

I got both the gold and black ajayeb Dubai perfumes before they got popular and they both have an underlying funk for sure. They are an acquired taste

[@TheSillykelly]

I love that Atlantis bottle and I think the scent profile sounds really interesting 👍

[@mariacollettlife]

It is a good one for sure! Perfect for warm weather!!

[@nikkib6706]

It's so funny how fragrances hit people differently! I looove Rasana! I've been wearing it practically everyday and it reminds me of a lemon cake!

[@mariacollettlife]

That is awesome!! Now I’m going to go sniff it again with that in mind!! 😀

[@YummyGummy77]

Luxury rouge and Atlantis are the ones I added to cart!! ❤❤

[@julieg_quebec-julesselivre8641]

Hi Maria! I sold my Ajayeb Portrait to a man yesterday. And he was very happy. Very spicy and masculine on me. Exactly like Honor and Glory. More masculine than feminine to my nose for both of these.

[@ultraviolettas]

Thank you for making that comparison!!! Now I know not to get ajayeb portrait!! ❤

[@kari0675]

Had the same experience with Lattafa's Liam - totally masculine for me...

[@loriwiggs8599]

Ajayeb portrait is sooooooo good on WOMEN! I love it!

[@MsTammi125]

The portrait fragrance in the black bottle is amazing it smells like leather and desire lol give it a try. I thought I was getting the one for a female but the black bottle came instead. After I reordered and got the clear one, the black bottle is WAY BETTER, I'm guessing the black bottle version is for a man but I'll tell you what it's lovely

[@loriwiggs8599]

@@MsTammi125 if u ordered from Amazon they did the same to me except in reverse . I’m letting mine macerate awhile but yeah it smells good.

[@gogojojo2718]

You actually pronounced Khair almost perfectly! I love khair fusion! It's so identical to kayali that I don't even need the og! I can't wait for a Burberry goddess dupe

[@MyPerfumeMap]

Atlantis sounds really interesting. I love a hyacinth note.

[@playsintraffic2]

I adore Ajayeb. Best think about fragrances is that we're all different in what we smell and wear.

[@mariacollettlife]

I fully agree!!

[@PacificNWGrl]

Your review of Atlantis got me. I am ordering it. It’s so different from Cee Chronicles channel but I trust yours based on how we agree on so many fragrances. Thanks for all your amazing content and reviews!

[@Kiwi_Christine]

I got Ajayeb Dubai portrait about a month ago, I wasn’t sure I liked it but was curious as to what maceration would do. Well it got more juicy and slightly sweeter, to me anyway. Now I absolutely love it.

[@rush8645]

I’m wearing Ajayeb right now, have gotten compliments. I really like it but wish the mango lasted throughout. Me too love the opening❤

[@NinjaBooKitty]

Warm and stormy here, so settling in with perfume vids! Still really want to hear your thoughts on Reyna, the dupe for Oriana that I am fully obsessed with! Can't stop wearing it!

[@MS_vienna]

I am bindge watching your videos for days in a row. You are hilarious 😂🎉 Please never stop! 😂

[@mariacollettlife]

Thanks so much!! That just made my day!!

[@lisawithans]

Ok Maria the way you describe Atlantis I WANT IT!!!!! 😂

[@mariacollettlife]

It’s really good!!

[@rinairis5510]

I love Khair Fusion. I’ve layered it with Lattafa Mayar or BBW Champagne Toast

[@amandagreenholtz4629]

Oh I’m so interested in Atlantis I gotta find a sample

[@jorunpolsdottir7114]

Thank you for the video, Marie 😊 I have been curious about Ajayeb Dubai Portrait for a while, but after this video I am more interested in Atlantis! 😊 I have Quasamat Ebhar - the bottle is almost identical to Rasana. Quasamat Ebhar is one of my favorite vanilla perfumes - alongside Barakkat Gentle Gold, which I bought on your recommendation. Ebhar has a bit of tart apple and spice, like an apple pie, but it just makes the vanilla shine and smells more expensive than it is. It is a gourmand, but to me the sweetness in it is equivalent to Gentle Gold. I am always on the hunt for the "perfect" vanilla because I looove real vanilla and have an idea of how how my perfect vanilla perfume would smell, but vanilla scents are so often so synthetic, overly sweet and cloying. I know that vanilla isn't your favorite but I wonder if it is vanilla in itself that you struggle with, or if you - like me - find that it is rare to find vanilla done really well 😊

[@perfeptions_ENG]

Hi dear ❤ you’re like a fresh positive breeze 😊

[@mariacollettlife]

😊 thank you so much!!

[@LauraSanchez-ur5bw]

Hello Maria!i recently got ayahab dubai portrait,i will try it tomorrow,but i put it in my wrist when it came.and i felt it very masculine and oudy,i will see tomorrow and if i dont like it,i will let it sit down a bit to macerate.I recently got the qasamat ebar rasasi and i loved it,it lasted liked 8 hours and it smells like a apple pie to me,so try this one instead of the qasamat rasana rasasi.Send in you hugs🥰

[@ginnys9831]

I just got Junoon and it's a powdery BOMB! It lasts forever too! A beast!

[@hyggescent]

If it's okay to post this, I'd like to mention that the hyggescent website has decants of four of the five mentioned here (US shipping only at present). I offer decants of Middle Eastern scents because it can be so hard to try them before buying -- and as you mentioned, they're out of stock at the moment!

[@aleksandrala4497]

Omg I've been looking for a dupe of Rouge Malachite since I first sniffed it. I loved it imidiately. I own Maison Alhambra Royal Rouge, but I am definately going to check the Riiffs one. Thank You so much!!! Have you tried Emper Rouge Prive?

[@lindahawthorn6075]

Hi Marie great video!! Have you tried Emper Prive Rouge another dupe for Armani Rouge Malachite I think that’s really good one too!!❤❤❤

[@mariacollettlife]

I haven’t tried that one- thanks for the suggestion!

[@cocoline5692]

Hi Maria! Thanks for your review! I've been hemming and hawing about Ajayeb Dubai Portrait for a while now, and I'm going to trust it's probably not for me as well as heavy, oudy scents aren't my vibe. Pls keep them coming! ❤❤❤

[@tiamurrell963]

Hi Maria, Hi Maria thank you for this video. I bought Ayajeb Dubai Portrait and made the mistake of spraying it on myself rather generously. I had a headache also starting and was not thinking clearly as I loved the top notes very much but the dry down ( and the fact that I sprayed too much ) was actually making nauseous. I so want to love this elegant perfume and wish the dry down was a touch less earthy. I love woody, oud , amber notes as well as sandalwood so I am not sure what note I disliked so much. I had to have a long shower and washed my clothes, that's how much it bothered me 😂. I am letting this macerate and revisit when I do not have a bad headache 😂. Riiffs Luxury Rouge I bought and liked, but when I wore it, I smelled too much cedar or a note that I was unsure of. I feel I need to let this macerate or just revisit again as the notes in theory and the description about this would be my type of perfume. I have not tried the others but Atlantis sounds interesting. Warmest regards from sunny 🌞 Tasmania, Tia ❤

[@mariacollettlife]

I find that when there are woods, at times my skin will really pull the woodiness…it gets to much so I can relate!

[@tiamurrell963]

@@mariacollettlife Thank you, it helps to know that you felt the same way. I will try one more time ⏲️ in a few months as I do love the actual mango 🥭 note so much. They did this so well. Is there another perfume in the Middle Eastern range with the same 🥭 mango note? Some are bitter to my nose. This one is perfect 👌 but the 🪵 wood note feels too strong. Warmest regards ✨️ Tia

[@Shooshoobella7]

My bank account can't handle all these new perfumes 😭But it's so hard to resist these middle eastern ones! Thanks for the reviews, Maria.

[@tarantulady8565]

Definitely interested in trying Atlantis Blue. I see they have an Atlantis Coral also…duping Poggia by Tiziana Terenzi. Have you tried that one? I read two reviews. One said it was nothing like Poggia, and one that said it was exactly like it.🤷🏻‍♀️ lol

[@yolandacheung3905]

❤❤❤Thank you for sharing, Maria. You convinced me to get gentle gold. It’s true addiction. Dubai portrait is great scent but too strong. I can’t stand it when getting too close to it. I spray it on my keens so I can smell it from a distance but still in its scent bubble. Oh my, the juicy mango really shines and it smells freaking good. I even get a bit of amouage sunshine vide in the dry down from the osmanthus note.

[@edithobrien7118]

it is good you mentioned the earthiness in Dubai Portrait, people are sometimes shocked (often dissapointed) with the earthy note in it

[@mariacollettlife]

Yes, people hear mango and think juicy and super sweet. It’s important to look at the surrounding notes as well for sure!

[@beanmehula]

Qasamat Rasana. Thank you for your honest opinion. I’m still testing this out but I didn’t know how to define the dry down till I heard your comment about musk. In not having a great nose like yours to define what you sense I think my descriptor is it’s woody and spicy. More than I’ve ever worn. I went from no middle eastern to 11 bottles in 2 months! So like yourself I think my limit is just about here. I was just complemented while wearing this so for now it’s a keeper. 😊

[@mariacollettlife]

Yup the compliments make me like them more too!! 😀💕

[@TheBlueFlameKeeper]

Hi Maria, I can’t tolerate heavy musks either I find they give me heartburn 😅

[@sharfalor4244]

I'm going to have to let Ajayeb dubai portrait sit to see if the drydown changes. I wish I got sandalwood but I'm currently just getting a generic woody base. I might try layering it.

[@Ihavenoideawhatthisevenis]

2:15 maybe it would be a good summer - fall transition fragrance? 😊

[@LauraSanchez-ur5bw]

You have another subscriber here❤️

[@KellyJelly9976]

I am intrigued with Atlantis.

[@chandracox6814]

I'm so glad you said the Maison Alhambra dupe for Rouge Malachite is not close to the OG. I own it and was confused when I assumed it would be a love for me and I cannot stand it. I'll try the one from Riffs. I love The Only One Intense and Alien Fusion so I can't wait to try this version. ❤❤

[@annewalsh5069]

Lataffa le African drummer might be of interest to you , I believe it's very similar to the only one intense.

[@mariacollettlife]

Please let me know how it goes!! 😀💕

[@alibug3049]

Hi Maria , nice choices ! Have you or Val tried the other Asdaaf fragrance, Coral, same bottle as Atlantis ? I'm very curious as to what that one is duping !

[@edithobrien7118]

ROUGE PRIVE by EMPER smellslike RM minus the sage note .I love the dupe, I dont like the original Armani Prive version...

[@marywendt7]

So what I did with the ajayeb Dubai portrait, is Layer it with Yara Tous !! insanely good!! I lean more towards Gourmand, and the Ajayeb was just not doing it for me..saved my life. Two fragrances that I was not really crazy about suddenly turn into insanely good.

[@mariacollettlife]

Oh wow, gonna try that!!

[@marywendt7]

It was better than getting rid of two perfumes. I spent my money on, and I was really happy with it. Just call me mango mama. 😂

[@grazynacohen9067]

Thank you for this layering combination. Same exact situation here 😊

[@annewambugu5691]

Great idea. I pair it with hareem al sultan gold, I find that the combination balances them both out

[@sherlcollins7011]

I liked the opening of the ajayeb frag too but I don’t care for that dry down:(

[@DaniCouto]

You are so lovely Maria❤ unfortunately on my skin Khair Fusion smells like tart fruit + humid swimsuit. Yikes! From the opening to the drydown I could not get rid of that funky smell In the air, so good but on my skin such a disaster 😢😢😢😢

[@mariacollettlife]

Nothing like humid swimsuit!! 🤣🤣🤣. Thanks for weighing in!! So important to get different perspectives! 💕

[@DaniCouto]

@@mariacollettlife 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@mamoni7703]

Riff makes some beautiful dupes. I have one of theirs , a dupe for Armani Si and it’s a fresher, lighter version and I really enjoy it.

[@angelamaiyo2524]

Hey, what's it called?

[@mamoni7703]

@@angelamaiyo2524 Imperial Rouge. Comes in a red bottle, gold cap, with a fancy pants gold metal label.

[@pragya99]

@mamoni7703 Hey! Do you have any idea about how riffs majestic rose and L'Femme Paradiso smell...? I'm quite intrigued by their notes.

[@mamoni7703]

@@pragya99 Majestic Rose smells a lot like La Vie est Belle by Lancôme, as far as I recall. It’s really nice. Never come across L’Femme Paradiso, so have no idea what it smells like.

[@pragya99]

@@mamoni7703 Thank you sweetie..

[@Victorious52]

I dont think we like the same perfume scents but I love your honesty while testing these dupes. I recently acquired one that all youtube reviewers say is great um I just got my bottle and it is going to be a bathroom spray because it had such a synthetic disgusting smell. I dont even know if it is good enough for the bathroom. P.S I am a fresh, fruity, floral gal and maybe some spice. Definately love a rich, luxury smell. But hate gourmand or sugary cake or cookie kinda smells. I love the delina original and Valaya

[@mariacollettlife]

What was the fragrance you didn’t like? I think you may like the Atlantis…definitely on the fresher side but still juicy! 😀

[@Victorious52]

@@mariacollettlife The one I did not like was armaf club de nuit white imperiale, Delina Exclussif dupe. So weird smelling and synthetic/ metallic I did buy the Atlantis on your video recommendation. I have not received it yet. I will get it sometime next week.

[@chandracox6814]

The black bottle Ajayeb Dubai is my favorite ME fragrance of all time. I can't stop wearing it and am about to buy a second bottle. Only $20?! Insane. I haven't tried the one features in this video yet though but I imagine if I get on so well with the black bottle then I'll get on with its counterpart.

[@MsTammi125]

I ordered the black bottle by mistake and omg I'm in love too! So i ordered the clear one to try and not nearly as good!!! That black bottle of the Dubai one is nothing short of INCREDIBLE

[@MsTammi125]

Black bottle is a million times better I promise you

[@mariacollettlife]

Oh wow, I’m going to have to check out the black one then!

[@andreeaschumacher]

The yellow Ajayeb is called Ajayeb Dubai Portret. The black one is Ajayeb Dubai.

[@mariacollettlife]

Yes, I noted that in the description box but thank for clarifying!! 😀

[@andreeaschumacher]

@@mariacollettlife It is only written on the box. I have both fragrances and on the bottles they wrote Ajayeb Dubai. But on the boxes they make this difference. This video is a great recomandation!

[@kristinmary4025]

Just ordered Atlantis and it’s Sister it’s pink coral something. Wondering if you’ve tried the coral one?

[@mariacollettlife]

No but let me know what you think!

[@kristinmary4025]

@@mariacollettlife both are really nice but they remind me of something my stepmother wore. I don’t know what it was but instantly I could smell her in them. it’s kind of funny the coral one actually smells like what you think coral, smells like but with my stepmother sprinkled in there. I really wish I could identify the note that is bringing this memory on, but I got them posted up on Mercari already

[@cynthiamitchell2442]

I am trying to love my ajayeb dubai but there is some little something not blending well with my chemistry. Going to keep on trying because it is not very old.

[@calgal5752]

Same here. I suggest putting it away for a month or two and give it another try. I’ve been pleasantly surprised before

[@cynthiamitchell2442]

@@calgal5752 Yes, maceration is key to middle eastern fragrances.

[@gladyscatalinariveramariet5903]

I am in love with Ajayeb Dubai Portrait.

[@MsTammi125]

The black bottle???

[@mariacollettlife]

I’m glad to hear it!!! It’s rich and sophisticated enough that I can see many loving it for sure!

[@gladyscatalinariveramariet5903]

@@MsTammi125 No,vthe white and yellow bottle.

[@gladyscatalinariveramariet5903]

@@mariacollettlife I want the Atlantis, ahhh your descriptions.

[@roshneepersad1426]

Hi, can you review berries weekend?

[@mariacollettlife]

I haven’t heard of that one!

[@dawnstreeter8744]

I have that one. It got better to me as it sat. I mixed it with Selena Gomez perfume. Fruit bomb

[@katricadoby1148]

Yall that Ajayeb Dubai Lattafa is 🔥. Get it get it you won’t be disappointed. I had to get a back up. Now everybody pallet/preference is different. This is not to me unisex it’s all woman or should I say feminine. Ain’t no way my man will be wearing this and if any man do I’m side eyeing him. lol. I’m just saying.

[@mariacollettlife]

🤣🤣🤣 love that!!

[@pamelabrown8467]

Thanks for sharing ❤

[@Twokays13]

Ajayeb is very faint… I just got it so maybe I need to give it time to macerate… I love Erba Pura and it’s not like it at all

[@chandracox6814]

Macerate*

[@christelhodge3907]

Atlantis is on Amazon right now for $29.99

[@mariacollettlife]

Thanks for the heads up!!

[@peaceofmind7777777]

Is atlantis unisex? Anyone...

[@mariacollettlife]

I think anyone could wear it

[@malenahernandez9377]

Why do you want to compare portrait and rasana? Nothing to do.

[@dishatiwari8431]

Ajayeb portrait is very oudy 😢

[@loeanne3261]

Yeah way too much old for me 😅 I’m sad I paid for it lol

[@laparralenseybuenas]

The ajayeb Dubai smells HORRIBLE!!! it makes my head hurts....

[@alexaann9232]

They have Atlantis on Amazon ! 🩵

[@alibug3049]

Hi Maria , nice choices ! Have you or Val tried the other Asdaaf fragrance, Coral, same bottle as Atlantis ? I'm very curious as to what that one is duping !