Hawas Kobra

This was one of my first Middle Eastern fragrances. I was looking for an easy-to-wear, versatile everyday scent, and buying this was one of the best decisions I've made. It smells incredible—opening with bright citrus and spicy ginger, then settling into a fresh green tea note while keeping that crisp ginger bite throughout the life of the scent. Be warned about the projection, though: 5 sprays choked out my friends in the car! The longevity on skin is a phenomenal 9+ hours (unreal for a clean scent) and easily lasts all day on clothes. While it's an LV Imagination dupe, I haven't smelled the original. Some say Arabian Prestige Marwa is a closer take, but side by side, I personally prefer Kobra. An easy recommendation for Spring and Summer!

I have Hectic but my friend gave me a bunch of decants and this was one of them, so I figured I'd give it a wear to see how it was. I love it. I just love this DNA in general which is why I bought Hectic but Kobra and Hectic take the Imagination DNA in different directions. Kobra is a lot louder, but I find it more smooth than Hectic. Hectic is more spicy and has really high quality ambrox in the drydown, while Kobra doesn't really have as much spice and ambrox doesn't drown out other notes. I ended up buying a full bottle because I loved it so much. Projection and sillage are phenomenal. If you like this DNA you can't go wrong with Kobra.

Tested this alongside several other LV Imagination "clones" and to be honest, this's not a clone of Imagination - maybe just an inspiration. It stands on its own and is actually a very solid release. This one goes really heavy on the lime/green citrus notes. I'm usually not a fan of sharp citrus, but I have to admit the blend here is well-done and interesting. It is infinitely better and much more structured than the bland, watery mess you get from cheaper clones like Inception or Morpheus. A great option if you want something very fresh, bold and citrus-forward without smelling cheap.

I have resisted the Hawas line until now and chose this one as my first attempt. So glad I chose this one. I have never smelled Imagination, so this is not a comparison to that. But I will say this is the first freshy I have come close to loving. Initial spray is a strong citrus ginger mix that is pleasing and does not seem artificial at all. Dry down is a soapy tea scent that is just all around pleasant. Drydown smell lasts for hours and never gets boring to me. I am beyond happy with this blind buy and now I am considering trying some others in the Hawas lineup.

The first time I sprayed Kobra, I hated it. My first impression was bug spray and cleaning chemicals, but as I've continued to use it, it has developed into something wonderful. the tea and citrus notes in Kobra come together to create an smell reminiscent of Arizona ice tea with a heavy background of hotel soap. It smells less like cologne and more like you just got out of the shower. Very clean. Lasts all day on skin and projects. You could get away with wearing this whenever, but I think it shines in high-heat environments.