Asad Elixir

Already owning the OG Asad and Boss Bottled Absolu which this echoes, I find it a bit tough to review Asad Elixir. I prefer the original Asad over this one and I don't really think of this as an actual straight-up clone of the superior Bottled Absolu. And yet I would still give this high marks and recommend it. It's much more similar to it's Boss inspiration than to Asad, but it's a slightly neutered version that removes whatever gives Absolu it's resinous medicinal aura and replaces it with a bit more sweetness and a smoother mass appealing veneer. It's not bad at all, but as close as it might be to Absolu it lacks the very important edges that make Absolu so special. Sometimes clones get you close enough that it's not worth the price difference to get the original, but in this case I'd still spend the difference for Absolu because it's such a special scent and it has a side that Asad Elixir lacks. And while I prefer the plain old Asad over this Elixir version, this is a more wearable and versatile scent that's less likely to polarize those around you - and even though it does smell more like Absolu there are traces of Asad's peppery spice and woody DNA here. So while this comes in 3rd place behind the one it flanks and the one it imitates, it offers something those do not: a more mainstream mass appealing spin on a similar DNA. On it's own it smells great and has excellent performance, and makes a wonderful rich spicy cool weather scent that's masculine, modern, versatile, and which outperforms its price point the way the OG Asad did before it. Recommended.

I loved Bottled Absolu the moment I sniffed it at Duty Free but went for pre-decided JPG LME & Bad Boy Cobalt Elixir. The moment I left the counter I was itched by thoughts not grabbing Bottled Absolu..Few days later I went to buy Bottled Absolu at same time I was reading about few alternatives too...At the counter I saw Assad Elixir and Immediately bout two bottles...I know I was supposed to buy OG but then decided to buy AE as it was too similar to OG for my nose so the calculation was two bottles for half the price and ill be able bath in it..I was budget constrained yet I went because of compulsion , I saw a promising alternative graded it...Back at home I spayed it..Loved it but longevity was half an hour max....Felt disappointed gave one bottle to friend on his birthday and kept one for the time Im not getting the OG...In between I realised it smells very close to Amouage Outlands as well so I was not sure if ill buy Bottled Absolu anytime sooner...Two months passed and last night I pulled out Assad Elixir and sprayed it before going to bed (around 4am) on the wrist of my one hand and few others on diffrent spots jut to check longevity and to my surprise and by time writing this review (2:12 pm) almost 10 hours have passed this is the only one which still there on my wrist as a strong skin scent..Its not projecting but very strongly visible when I bring it close to my nose..All other freeness are non existent which I spayed last nigh...Kamrah Quhwa is another one which slightly noticible. :)

Wow. Really really nice! Nice sweet opening, I don't feel it too spicy nor too sweet but immediately you get a nice tart grapefruit, the saffron is really there with the pink pepper, working with a nice not overpowering vanilla, nice ambery warmth, slight leather accords from the get go but they develope more with patchouli and frankincense 30-60 min in. And throughout the whole drydown. At least on my skin I can feel this really powdery, iris kind of note, almost like a lipstick. Also I don't get as much tobacco, not at least until 60-90 min have past but it doesn't feel smoky either it's more on the actual leaves rather than a tobacco store or a cuban street. So drydown is more like - leather patchouli and cedarwood with a nice frankincense tobacco leaf ambery vanilla warm background. Definitely not a scent for a younger person but generally not a hard or too specific scent to wear or pull off. I haven't had a sniff at BBA or any fragrances it is said to be similar to but as a standalone fragrance it's just amazing. Doesn't feel aged in any way, really nice modern and sophisticated scent. Easy to wear all year round except the hottest and sunniest of days, but definitely shines in a more formal setting, dinner night, winter night out, but it's not a ultimately winter exclusive fragrance. even in the office environment will be ok if not oversprayed of course. Speaking of- Great performance as well even from a few puffs . I rarely go more than 4 puffs.

VERY pleasantly surprised with this. It was a blind buy. I've only smelled the original HB Absolu once and thought it was okay. This however is incredible and lasts so long. I often go nose blind right after applying most fragrances however this one I would smell on myself hours after. In fact I found myself grabbing the bottle and smelling it throughout the day. Simply an amazing scent. Very masculine and sexy. The vanilla and amber make a deliciously swirling smooth scent. Lattafa really cooked with this one. Only cost me 28 euros for 100ml. Incredible worth it. I paid more for dinner the night before. This stuff is eternal. I'll smell it on my cloths the next day. 10/10. Worth the blind buy. Truly an incredible cologne.

Got a bottle of Asad Elixir about 2 months ago from Amazon. I have a big collection. So just did the normal with Middle Eastern fragrances, turned the bottle upside down and sprayed 15 times, then 10 more right side up, and one on my skin/arm. Tested once approximately every two weeks to get an idea of how the fragrance is changing with maturation. About one month in went to local Sephora and sprayed Boss Bottle Absolu on one arm and Asad Elixir on the other. Then compared them for the next few hours. The conclusion I came up with is that they are similar, definitely from the same DNA family. They are not 1 to 1, but is close. At that time one spray of BBA lasted on my skin for about 6 hours. Elixir lasted about 5 hours.