Ta'If Parfum

Ta'if is a nice understated watery rose w/ some spices. I don't find this overly feminine leaning at all; in fact, a man could wear this if he is so inclined. But then again, I like more feminine leaning fragrances on men. The date note isn't heavy or overly sweet like it can be in many date fragrances. Nothing about this perfume is heavy, at least for a spicy perfume. Many times, when people hear saffron, they run and hide but it's not overwhelming here. The florals have a watery texture, in fact the whole composition of this fragrance is like a watercolor painting. Shades and textures blending together to create a picture of a landscape, but it never looks overly realistic, it is abstract, gentle and a bit unfocused but very pretty none the less. There is a bit of a metallic twang from the saffron but nothing that give the impression of actually metal. The saffron becomes very warming in short order. The rose here smells of a fine rosewater that you use to splash on as a tonic. The spices and dates add depth and texture to what would be an otherwise dull, just another rose fragrance.

The saffron and date out of the gate is fun! Like others, the pink peppers takes on a metallic tone to me, but it softens quickly to the bouquet of florals underneath. I'm amazed at how light the fragrance stays in the heart notes with such heavy-hitting white florals in there, but I suspect it's the aridness of the desert-grown ta'if that keeps it airy. Also, it's fun to see a floral grounded only in amber, rather than musk, patchouli, cedar, oud, etc. Subjectively, to my nose, this is one fancy b*ch, who still knows how to have fun. They have dark hair and warm, brown, sparking eyes. They are beloved by their friends and family, but have a bite if you cross them. Definitely leans feminine, but there is a gravitas to it that I think would smell fascinating on the right person of any gender. I do think this belongs on an earth and fire sign. I am too much of an air-sign butterfly to maintain the level of depth and intensity the scent requires on a daily basis, but it sure is fun to play dress-up and pretend I'm another kinda person for a while!

First 5-10 minutes leans the tiniest bit feminine, but after that it is 100% unisex. Sweet fruits, light spicy, floral, rounded out unsharp citrus, very airy. It stays this way throughout the entire perfume without dropping any notes, even the rounded out citrus. Extremely versatile due to the airiness of it, like all perfumes with the Ormonde Jayne DNA. Not a problem for men to wear. Will not come off as feminine at all. I don't use the word 'groundbreaking' lightly at all, and I won't use it here. This is extremely extremely nice. Great longevity, great versatility, alluring scent, can be found for a great price. What more can you ask for? For dinners, for work, formal events of any you can even think of. Probably not good enough for clubbing because of how airy, sophisticated, well blended, and complex it is. With this being said, it is still very sexy on a man or woman.

There was a time in the 90's when a south Asian wedding would be a modest affair. The father of the bride would expend his savings on a buffet at the reception of the singular matrimonial event, and if he had the means, splurge on an ice sculpture that required its own rotating fan to outlast the sweltering heat. The powerful scent trail of Ta'if evokes that. There is a particular breathmint of sorts that is consumed after a heavy wedding buffet, consisting of a rose petal jam spiced with cardamom or saffron and packaged in betel leaf, to be placed entirely in the mouth and chewed slowly upon while marvelling at that ice sculpture. Taif is remniscent of this gulkand paan - decadent, sweetly spiced rose with an ambery green heart. It lends a powerful scent bubble though close to skin, lasts a few good hours, and retains its composition in the drydown.

I didn't expect to fall in love with Ta'if as I'm not fond of rose-heavy fragrances. At first spritz it was as I had expected. A beautiful ripe blousony rose. While I carried on with my day however, the rose blossomed into far more than that singular deep pink note. Sweetness of dates, warmth of spicy saffron, tickling prickles of pink pepper, rich resinous flow of amber. The rose now joined by broom and orange blossom. An exotic resinous veil pulled around the whole beautiful story. My nose and heart now overtaken by a dream of 1,001 nights, magic carpets, colourful bazaars filled with silks and stars and mystery and playful camels (ok... now I'm getting carried away, but having a whole Arabian fantasy sneak up on you will do that).