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jeollaKem – :
It is interesting to note that when it comes to Arab perfumery there is more to be explored than the triplet of oud, saffron and roses that have dominated the launches year after year. Even though I am not a specialist in Arab perfumery, I say that this is a perfumery based mainly on the richness of the aromas, without fear of exploring the weight of base notes, a ferar that Western perfumery acquired after the decade of 90. And in this richmess of aromas we have a versatile world of hot resins, low-pitched and diversified nuances, capable of creating beautiful exotic auras and bestowing the performance attributes so desired at the present time.
I like that in Barkhane Teo Cabanel does not go straight to the obvious, neither thematic nor the ingredients. Barkhane makes a direct reference to the desert, with its name being reference to the arc-shaped sand dunes that are formed through the winds. And for a perfume that honors the desert and the sands nothing better than focusing its Arab exploration on two exudates directly extracted from species that survive in this environment: myrrh and labdanum.
Barkane is indeed what his description promises, refined, elegant, powerful and subtle at the same time, as if the heat of its multifaceted resins were carried by the biting winds of the desert. Although the composition has citrus and floral, the center of its aroma is in the richness of labdanum, myrrh, vanilla and tonka, which create a dry amber aroma, with fruity nuances, a dry and somewhat subtly sweet aspect. We have rose, geranium, cumin and curry here to give a more sensual and warm side to this desert and the oud despite being present in the composition ends up merging with the resin scene and helping to compose the amber incense aura that surrounds Barkhane from the beginning to the end. Certainly in days of very intense heat Barkhane will favor more its powerful side than the subtle aspect, but with a less muffled atmosphere its aroma reaches the mysterious and rich harmony of a perfume that touches on classic aspects of the Arab perfumery with a balance thing of French one.
nrh682bedyWelty – :
This is a dark, smoky, mysterious fragrance but it has a very subtle, very seductive invitation, carried with the musk and the cumin. I was expecting to read more wood notes, or even a bit of tobacco in the notes, but this is resins and hushed spices.
30071991 – :
عطري بسيار خوش بو و ادويه اي كه عربي هم نيست اما حيف كه پخش بوي اون بسيار كم هست.ماندگاري خوبي هم نداره.
بوی سمغ در این عطر از بهترینهای این بو هست و با وجود اینکه در نوتهای این عطر تنباکو نیست اما تدایی بوی شیک تنباکو و توتون داره.
edik13 – :
Now this is Quite a fancy type! something weird and not commonly known! Although i think i have smelled this somewhere but i can’t remember when, where, or what! but maybe Parfam D’Empire Ambre Russe & Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan! that’s after the calm down but still not sure!
It is dark sweet with some myrrh, tonka beans, patchouli and vanilla. Something like a dark wooden painting room with low lights, The room is cold heavily stuffed with painting.
Dark, heavy and feels Gothic a bit.
Xeroxmjrdz – :
This is very nice. On me it’s very much a myrrh fragrance with root beer and tobacco overtones. I can understand why people keep describing this as an amber because it’s similar.
I find the curry to be very subtle so that it’s almost a solinote perfume. Fortunately myrrh is so complex that there is plenty of evolution and complexity even as it stays myrrh based. Projection is good but persistence seems weak. Perhaps others can still smell it.
Ignore the Luckyscent gender meter. This is completely unisex.
dentawin – :
nice every day scent. won’t blow you away. soft, powdery, sweet and a little leathery.
F.Semago – :
Upon opening Barkhane reminded me so much of Ambre Narguile, a perfume I just paid like $300 for. I could have slapped myself! The sweetness, spices, and tobacco are simply mesmerizing. With some time however, the perfumes become very different. While Ambre Narguile becomes like sweet tobacco, Barkhane becomes more strictly a play-do amber, which I really like, but is not as remarkable as Ambre Narguile. Still I love Barkhane. It is not so sweet in the drydown and does not smell like curry to me in the least. Smells herbal and dry, not gourmand.
I see a comparison to another expensive one I own, Oriental Lounge. I can appreciate the comparison. They are both strong in amber and they have the curry tree note. I find OL to be smoother and a bit floral. The amber doesn’t smell like play-do. I think OL smells slightly more synthetic. In Barkhane you can really smell the spices more readily. I prefer Barkhane.
Highly recommended for those who love Middle Eastern spices and are tired of rose.
hlu198JeomiWogkig – :
لن اكتب وصفا مطولا
محبي عنبر سلطان ربما سيروق لهم هذا العطر وان كان عنبر سلطان الجانب التابلي فيه بارز بشك تشعر انك بمحل عطارة بخلاف هذا العطر وان كانت التوابل فيه متواجد الا انها خففت بعبير الفانيلا
فهنا تواجد واضح للمرامية اللذيذه بفضل لمسة الفانيلا وهنا تواجد واضح ايضا اللابنديوم برائحة الزهرية الحلوه
فبداية العطر امتزاج جميل بين الثلاثة العناصر التي ذكرت مع لمسات من الكاري مما اعطى العطر اشراقا وحيوية بجانب الكمون الغيار حاد هنا والغير مزعج اشعر من بعيد مع هذا المزيج برائحة خشب العود المبلل ؟
العطر جميل ولكن افضل عليه طبعا عطر عنبر سلطان ذو الاجواء الشرقية بامتياز والذي ياخذك لرحلة للوراء.
فعنبر سلطان ذو تطور رائع بخلاف هذا العطر الذي يكون نوعا ماء تطوره بسيط ولا تفرق كثيرا مقدمته عن قاعدته
جمال الرائحة 7.5/10
الفوحان/لم يختبر
الثبات/8/10
العطر ايضا قد يكون به جوانب بسيطة من عنبر 114
هذا العطر الجانب السويتي الفانيلي فيه اكثر من عنبر سلطان الذي تشعر بانه جاف ومن وجهة نظري ارى لو قللت جرعة السويت (الفانيلا+ التونكا حلاوة اللابنديوم) في هذا العطر لاصبح مقاربا كثيرا لعطر عنبر سلطان الذي هو سلطان العنبر النباتي.
حق لقد اتعبت من جاء بعدك ياعنبر سلطان.
maslik911 – :
Many thanks to Fragrantica for the sample.
Extremely well balanced fragrance: a clear display of mastery on perfume making. Looking at its notes on paper, before trying it, I was not too sure if geranium and vanilla were a good idea. Well, yes, they are, if you know how to combine them. Delicious.
Supranik – :
Kinetisphere, I wrote to Teo Cabanel (practiced my French, yay!) a week ago and last night I received the sample. I hope everyone will get theirs soon.
What can I say, it is magnificent and well blended. The opening is quite aromatic and spicy, but the balmy and incense notes are present from the start. Myrrh is strongly pronounced, perhaps even a bit too well in the middle notes. It gives me the impression that Barkhane has ambiance, it is somehow detached from the idea of perfume as something that compliments a human being. A bit remote, spectacular in its detachment, albeit warm in character. I believe other reviewers refer to this stage as the “church” reminiscence. This feeling lasts a good hour, then Barkhane moves into the more secure territory of vanilla and tonka bean dominated warmth with a touch of spiciness. The fragrance is overall a dry one, not creamy or particularly amber-musky, nor too sweet. I detect no pachouli, thankfully. Or is it part of the aromatic opening and the woody background along with oud which I could not discern as well? I am not sure.
For me it is more on the masculine side of unisex, although I enjoyed wearing it lightly. I will try layering as well, but I do not see myself wearing it often.
The lasting power is excellent, the projection softens a bit with time.
While it is not entirely something I have never smelled before, it is easy to tell that it has been carefully crafted with fine ingredients, so that the perfume stands its ground. I would love to try other scents from Teo Cabanel, I have my eye on Meloe.
Barkhane reminded me of Estee Lauder Sensuous Noir – a variation on a similar woody incense theme, alas, drowned in pachouli. Also a bit of Hermes Elixir des Merveilles.
yana-8 – :
lulu coconut i feel you.. i also was a winner and sent my information twice and got confirmation of the acceptance “it wouldn’t let me add my info again”
i’m with you it has been almost 2.5 months and still no barkhane 🙁 i noticed people a couple of states away have gotten theirs last month. i kinda gave up on it.
maybe one day i’ll open the mail box and it’ll be there. i assume since they gave away so many maybe they ran out.. who knows.
thank you for pointing this out.
vkomissarov – :
Sounds very intriguing, I hope I get to try it, if the sample from Fragrantica’s game arrives finally. I hoped it would be a Christmas present, but still no Brkhane for me. I’ll be enjoying your reviews by then…sigh.
grinin68 – :
Thank you fragantica for this lovely sample. My initial impression was that it reminded me of an earthy, woody tea. I ran about the house and must have washed it off, as I did not get much of an impression after that. The second time I tried it, I found it perhaps a bit strong, which is interesting as the first time I did not smell it much at all.
So today I decided to actually take the time to sit with this beauty and understand it. And what I realized is that this is a master piece. A true work of art that evokes and becomes one with you, and whatever your story may be, rather than make a statement that is linear and on its own. This fragrance is a memory. And THAT has got to be one of the most moving experiences for a perfumista and why I love the art of perfumery so much.
The opening is absolutely fabulous. Vanilla does not get anymore authentic than this. This is the scent of vanilla bean when it is fresh and woody, when it’s sweetness is more like a tobacco leaf than the liquor like extract. It reminds me very much of very fine vanilla beans that were used in a photo shoot for a food magazine where a friend worked. They allowed her to bring home the vanilla, and I put several in a silk sachet and gave them to my step daughter. Years later, the little sachet and vanilla beans still smell of the sweet earth, just fainter. This is what the opening smells like. Just underneath this one can sense the labdanum here and there. Not outright. But the occasional whiff. There is something very warm, comforting, and earthy to this composition. Something like sipping a hot cup of rooibos tea. I feel as if I am delighting in the rawness of authentic ingredients. Not overwhelmed by synthetics but rather, appreciation for the subtlety of nature. That being said, it is not a skin scent. It certainly projects and no more than a dab is needed to enjoy.
When the heart comes out, I get whiffs of the curry spices. Not so much the cumin, although I do get but the faintest occasional whiff, but what I get is perhaps the sweetness of something like turmeric. A dry sweetness. Such as one would expect when smelling the spices in a curry when still dry, and no creams or moisture has been added yet.
This is also when the myrrh really shines. This is real, Catholic Church, myrrh. Absolute flashback! But always tempered by that vanilla bean. Keeping it warm. Safe. The memories are more like impressions of laying on a mothers shoulder during mass. Completely unaware of the surroundings other than it is safe. Warm. And the aromas of the surroundings are really what becomes ingrained in memory. That being said. This fragrance is in no way more feminine than it is masculine. Rather. It is truly the scent of comfort, impressions, sleepy memories, and places you can only recall in those moments between wakefulness and sleep.
Upon the dry down, I do catch the very light aroma of vetiver. The vanilla bean remains throughout. The labdanum is still present, as is the lovely vanilla bean. Although not listed, there is a faint amber in the dry down.
I do not find this fragrance animalic at all. Rather it is quite sweet and still spicy. It is not linear and evolves beautifully.
5/5 I would love to purchase a bottle of this.
Edit: @ClaudiaA
Wow I just read your review and I see we get the same impressions!! This does not smell like rooibos yet. I imagined myself sipping it. Very interesting!
swb059Negeltzex – :
This is quite a unique perfume. The curry leaf note gives it a very distinct quality. The amber note is tempered and very pleasant. It manages to last over a very long period of time without starting off with overbearing projection. There is also a very interesting evolution of notes and accords throughout this period of time. I’m very pleased to have been one of the winners. Many Thanks to Teo Cabanel and Fragrantica.
tanka – :
what can i say about barkhane? a perfect winter scent! this perfume does not overpower… it’s soft, sensual and oh yes, very pleasant; something which does not make me dizzy or light-headed. thanks to the sample kit i am able to enjoy this fabulous perfume and i strongly considering to get myself a bottle! magnificant!
ПоФиГиСт – :
Thanks so much Fragrantica and LuckyScent for opportunity to sample this beautiful fragrance! To me it is a nice, warm and spicy winter scent. I really like it & would consider buying a bottle of this perfume!
wkg827speagoessenda – :
First, I would like to thank TEO CABANEL for their generosity and Lucky Scent for this wonderful sample. It is much appreciated and a real treat!
If you’ve read any of my reviews, you may have noticed that I don’t get into the interplay between the notes and the alchemy of ingredients. Other reviewers are really good at that and likely do a better job than I would.
Instead, I choose to focus on the associations the fragrance brings to mind or the appropriateness of their use. Obviously these are just my opinions of course, as I am not an expert or a nose.
But, when I saw the ingredient list here and began to intellectualize and ponder ingredients, I got worried. I was scared that the “cumin” and “curry” would have me smelling like Mid-Eastern or Indian food. Not only that, but other fragrances I’ve sniffed with “cumin” in them smell like body oder.
So I waited to wear this while at home, not planning to go out in public, just in case. “I have done my fellow man a disservice by doing so,” because they missed out on smelling this wonderful fragrance!
I was delighted to find that this Barkhane isn’t BO’ish at all! While it has a slight animalic under-tone, it is mostly warm, a little dry & woodsy, with a nice subtle, vanilla-ambery sweetness.
Maybe the bergamot and geranium neutralized some of that bite from the spices?
Over-all it a nice smooth composition, with nothing too overpowering, unlike some eastern inspired fragrances.
I think this is an oriental fragrance that can be equally at home in cool and hot weather.
Barkhane really does bring to mind Arabian adventures and mystery, without leaving you smelling like a Shawarma or a Gyro.
This is a fabulous scent!
reza932 – :
I was so pleased to be one of the lucky winners of a sample of this lovely perfume. I just received it in the mail today. So nice of Fragrantica and Luckyscent!
Anyway, about the scent. I put a dab on my forearm as soon as I opened the package, which was about 4 hours ago, and the scent has lingered beautifully. It is very spicy, woodsy, heavy and rich in an enchanting and not overpowering way. This is the perfect time of year for this scent. This would work well for both sexes, certainly. As a woman I love wearing scents that are unisex or that veer towards the masculine so this is right up my alley.
mvictor – :
I am in awe of how a small dab of Barkhane on one wrist seemed to fill an entire room with it’s fragrance, not in an overpowering way, but in a way that is more warm and enveloping. However, being that I live in a year-round warm climate, I’ll have to be really careful with this one, though the scent does shift into a kind of icy coolness at some point during the drydown. The warm and exotic amber and myrrh notes make it an ideal holiday fragrance though.
Thanks so much to Fragrantica and Lucky Scent for giving me the opportunity to sample this.
mengold – :
This is Cuir Mandarine minus the citrus note. I was almost in love with Barkhane but my BIGGEST problem with this frag lies within the projection. This smells waaay too good to be soooo quiet. Don’t get me wrong….Scent-wise, this is everything you would want out of a sample giveaway. Nice size vial, oohs and aahs etc. This scent actually has underrated longevity. Right when you think you can no longer smell this, it seems to reappear in the most unlikely moments. Impressive. All in all, Barkhane is a fragrance, but it just isn’t “the” fragrance.
Update: I think im gonna pull the trigger and purchase this. I hate the lack of projection but the scent is too damn good to ignore.
888357b6 – :
I’ve got to say that I really don’t understand how several people can complain about this not lasting. It does last, it just changes from head & heart to base notes. I apply it behind my ears and at the base of my neck, as well as on my arms (I have combination skin, but don’t use moisturiser on these parts), and I’ve received compliments five hours in, it’s obviously still there, and I can smell the tiny bits on my arm where I applied it when moving my arms. After eight hours, it’s just the base, but what does “just” mean in this context anyway – this is a gorgeous perfume.
Barhkane lasts, it just really goes through the phases, and the end is beautiful, but of course different from the start. It’s not just a “skin scent” at the end, it’s lovely, myrrh and tonka still playing with the musk and oud.
farens – :
Firstly, thank you Fragrantica for the sample!
I’ll admit that I was a little scared to try it since it has oud in it. My skin does horrible things with oud! Thankfully, there’s just the right balance in this that my skin doesn’t turn it into a mess. It’s rich, warm and resinous and I can smell nuances of oud but it’s never overpowering; it’s just right. I got very good longevity out of it with next to skin sillage. On my skin, the dry down smells similar to Cartier’s Baiser du Dragon, but of course this is just my opinion. Similar but not an exact smell. A very lovely perfume for those who want to try out an oud scent but don’t want it to overpower the perfume.
skargebra – :
warm woody… an image instantly pops up in my mind: the smell of burning beech wood in the fireplace and a cup of roiboos tea in my hand.
But this fragrance is so much more than a nice smell in the wind.
Upon opening the bottle, I detect bergamot, vanilla and oud. On my skin, there’s a lot of bergamot, patchouli and something super spicy – is it the cumin + curry combination maybe?
I don’t know, but it still takes me to my cozy dream rather than to the Arabian nights.
It is a very pleasant smell, which even calms my stomach aches!
Thank you Fragrantica for the giveaway and Teo Cabanel for sending me the sample!
oksi – :
I tend to wear a lot of unisex fragrances, and I like many of the notes listed, but this scent is definitely masculine IMO. I can’t pick out a note that makes me think “it’s for men”, but this one is not for me. Could just be my chemistry.
Roma2390 – :
Heavy without being cloying.
Spicy without crossing the border of edible gourmands (will not be joining Angel there).
Warm and sweet without becoming sleezy sexy.
In not so many words: great balance. Truly unisex.
Perfect for winter as it brings, like a desert wind,
the far away smells, impressions, memories…
Happy traveling!
lexa277 – :
As another recipient of the giveaway, I was thrilled to be able to try this fragrance. I enjoy oriental fragrances, and found this one to be an interesting and lovely fragrance. I do not sense the bergamot, but find the opening notes to be the cumin and curry; this is a spicy combination unlike a typical gourmand (not cinnamon-nutmeg) and unlike a savory spicy (not a BBQ-blend type spice).
This is also a cool spicy fragrance (vs warm spicy), which I find unusual and intriguing. I enjoy amber in scents, and have learned that a labdanum-based amber is cooler than other styles of amber which can be warmer, more vanillic and golden–this is a soft “grey” amber, if you will, as a result of this strong labdanum note. In that regards, I find it similar to Ambre de Cabochard Gres, another labdanum styled amber (with cardamom and ginger, giving it a similar atypical spiciness).
This is a cool, dry scent like the desert at night. There is something in it that reminds me of pipe tobacco; I think its the combination of myrrh, patchouli, tonka and vetiver–not quite an incense, and not truly woody, but in that vein. I do not detect the oud, at least not in an obvious way (I am not a fan of oud, so this is good for me).
The packaging of the sample was delightful. The little wooden stopper and gold foil label made me half expect the appearance of a magic genie when I opened it up! Sillage is low to moderate, longevity only about 2-3 hours before I can barely smell it. Nicely done, and a lot of fun to sample; thank you!
wxs702intitytek – :
I have worn this beauty for 3 days and nights now and I really like it. It has been growing on me steadily. I ordered a full bottle and it’s not too expensive, which is wonderful! I love the first notes when you put it on and the juice is still wet on your skin. It smells like a Guerlain with heavy boozy vanilla and tonka in its first moments on your skin. That hooked me initially and I found that I love the rest of the scent’s development as well. It is soft, dry and heavy on the myrrh and spice. The resins are deep and salty but not as warm as some ambers. This is more like a veil of labdanum and resins.
As the fragrance develops, I smell the bergamot not as a separate note but as a balance to the deep spices. The curry tree notes do not smell like curry powder. It’s more of a cinnamony type smell and the cumin is done with a light hand as well. This is the best myrrh scent I have found. Most seem to be too heavy and the myrrh seems to end up with a bitter note. Not so here. This is not a sweet scent, as in gourmand sweet, but it is soft and caressing. The longevity of this scent is good- I wore it to bed one evening and woke up the next morning with still a good skin scent remaining, soft and spicy and delicious.
I had originally thought this scent had little sillage but I was wrong about that. I had just not put enough of it on my body in the initial tests. When I wore it to work for the first time I got 2 compliments the minute I walked in the door. One person told me, “You smell like a million dollars.” I’ll take that any day! Thank you, M. Latty. I think I have found the perfect medium sillage amber that I can wear to work.
chz996elipseskism – :
Fragrantica and Lucky Scent, thank you so much for the sample! I love it! It is gorgeous and transports me to desert with caravans carrying fragrant spices. It reminded me of discontinued Serge Lutens Fumerie Turque and in the same style as Tauer L’Air du Desert Marocain. It does not smell the same as above fragrances but conjures similar images.
olega_78 – :
This reminds me of Hermesscence Ambre Narguile and Brecourt Haram, but it is more woody and less sweet.
pot555Diobtetty – :
A very well put together fragrance. I was the lucky winner of a sample of Barkhane. My initial impression was a classy well put together spicy and sweet fragrance that is truly unisex. I don’t find this super masculine but I do feel both sexes could wear it comfortably. I absolutely get Patchouli in this as well as what appears to be honey and the other notes listed I also smell in the background. I might compare this slightly to Prada’s intense. Although the two are not amazingly alike they do share some similarities. Barkhane feels like a well done well rounded perfume. I would even enjoy this on my husband. Personally I doubt I would purchase a bottle for myself as I tend to go a tad more feminine but my overall opinion is this is a very rich, classy and extremely well put together unisex spicy fragrance. Thank you Fragrantica for picking me and allowing me to sample this fine fragrance.
ohh121elipseskism – :
Barkhane is truly unisex thanks to the gender-less notes that I find utterly beguiling, wearable and warming. My skin loves heavy notes and this perfume has got plenty of them that are blended well and smell great when applied to my skin. My only complaint, and this could be because I have a sample requiring dabbing rather than spraying, is that it doesn’t last very long…maybe an hour. Then again, I’m pretty certain it’s due to dabbing rather than spraying. A lovely addition for anyone who loves oriental spicy perfumes.
wmz620speagoessenda – :
i got this as a sample winning a give away here at Fragrantica. Sadly the vial was smashed to pices when i got it so i did not get a chance t test on skin. But the smell from the envalope was amasing. strong amber and spice, quite a bit of herbal going on aswell. it smelled pretty dry to me . not as sweet as Hermes Ambre merveilles for shure .
Wanted to say thank you for the sample although it did not Reach me the way it was intende to 🙂
PaoloKriћmanic – :
Another rewiev from a lucky winner 🙂
Teo Cabanel says: amber wood, what I say: amber forest.
After the first blast of refreshing bergamot the woody notes accompaigned by geranium and coriandere start to be prominent. And then suddenly cumin+myrth+civet join hinting on the animal, hence the forest rather (with animals) then wood. Do not get me wrong, as many reviewers wrote before me, this is just a tiny bit of dirty animal, a glance into the path which leads to the dark part of the forest… But Barkhane doesn’t take this path and leads you stright out into the sunny and warm vanila+tonka+patchuli terytory.
Very enjoyable, very wearable, tempted me into ordering the Teo Cabanel discovery set (which btw is very reasonably priced + free shipping in EU)
hvarts – :
When Barkhane arrived a few days ago I was very happy as I was wishing to test this candidate quite badly. “Oriental-spicy” is right up my alley. So far, so good.
I dabbed on the first drop of Barkhane and let a few seconds pass so that the liquid could dry. My nose went closer and closer to the back of my hand where Barkhane waited….first impression : Wow, this is just what I hoped it would be. Spicy with nutmeg, coriander and cinnamon, luscious with a small hint of oud in the background, medium sweetness, not overpowering.
On me the scent turned into a slightly powdery oriental, the spiciness never fades but will be supplemented by vanilla later.
I was a bit worried about the cumin mentioned in the notes but luckily I did not notice any. No sweaty armpit note, no harsh medicinal wafts, just a sexy “Sheherazade” scent with the feel of 1001 nights waiting for me. I like scents that transport a story to me. A fairytale, a love-story or simply an adventure. Barkhane certainly is a story-teller.
Longevity is medium (my skin swallows even eau de parfum like nothing) on me but that is no issue for me. I like refreshing a scent in the late afternoon so that I can enjoy it again with its top notes.
Sillage is decent but not overwhelming. However, I would nonetheless be careful with the dosage, like with all orientals.
What makes Barkhane unique amongst so many other nice oriental fragrances out there ? It is soft and refined despite some crispy spices involved. I mainly wear quite strong scents and find this one refreshingly light (in comparison to Montale´s Black Aoud or Sahara Noir i.e.). It will not punch you down to the ground, it will accompany the wearer on par.
Unisex ? By all means, yes.
Enjoy !
smbivuga – :
Another recipient of the free sample, and many thanks for that; this smells like a better class of Spicebomb on me. Just a small amount on my wrist enveloped me in an intense labdanum/tobacco cloud. It seemed quite strong to me, but beautiful so I didn’t mind. The welcome difference from Spicebomb is, I think, the oud and curry that gives Barkhane more of a focused core. I wish it were more in focus, I’d like more of it and the geranium/vetiver, it’s hard for me to get much beyond the high volume labdanum. I didn’t get much in the way of evolution to a heart or drydown– it was rockrose from start to finish.
Experience has taught me that my skin seems to amplify labdanum to the point that any perfume that features it is very different on skin than on paper or fabric. Unlike the others on this page, I would never wear this to dinner, I wouldn’t be able to taste my food. But there you go- light to many, heavy to me. The beauty of perfumery, QED. Similarly, I didn’t think of M7 or Amber Sultan, both of which I own and love.
Masculine for sure, but I couldn’t resist a woman wearing it.
Pukla_Inhingeunwike – :
Thank you to Luckyscent for the gift of this sample of Teo Cabanel’s Barkhane. I love my amber’s, incenses, and spicy Oriental’s, and knew I would also love this fragrance. Even though ‘amber’ is not listed in the notes this fragrance reads amber on my skin. It’s soft, cozy, warm, a little spicy and very delicious. I was initially concerned about the cumin, and though I can detect it, it is so well-blended that it does not stand out or get ‘dirty’ like the cumin in other fragrances, such as Vero Perfumes Rubj (not that ‘dirty’ is bad mind you). I also do not detect ‘curry’ as in the combination spice – it’s actually listed as ‘curry tree’ which I suspect is something altogether different. The labdanum comes through and adds a soft powderiness, and the oud is restrained, so I just get a suggestion of it rather than full out pungent oudness 🙂 There is also something tobaccoey and likened to dried fruit in the background. The bergamot at the top is fresh. The resins add depth and an incense quality to the dry down, and the musk adds a soft sensuality.
This is not a heavy amber, nor is it loud or cloying. It’s actually a little understated though the sillage is perfect for me. It is absolutely unisex, I am looking forward to having my dh try it so that I can see what it’s like on him. The only criticism that I have about it is that it is not overly long lasting. I would be over the moon if it had increased longevity. But other than that, I love this fragrance and am likely to purchase a full bottle. Thank you!
Troy7 – :
Thanks for the sample, well done fragrance, but as others have mentioned, i prefer my ambers a bith smoother, warmer, this is a tad too masculine for me. I will stick with my beloved Alahine.
arunus – :
I’ve been wearing this for several hours now and I’m not a tremendous fan. My skin seems to be enhancing only the Oud, Curry, and Cumin; thus, making it rather masculine on me.
I think if your chemistry does well with these notes (they are notoriously troublesome for me) it would be rather spectacular.
I do thank Fragrantica, LuckyScent and Teo Cabanel for the opportunity to try this scent, as I would have never had the chance otherwise.
Broaxarne947 – :
Love this! his is totally up mu alley! Very warm rich amber that reminds me to SL Ambre Sultan. AS is deff more dense and sweeter, while Barkhane is slightly lighter (tho it still feels like a dense perfume) and more in the woody side, so i would say slightly more masculine, tho it is totally wereable for ladies as well.
The oud, which is hardly there, adds a tiny tiny bit of sourness when it dries down, which tones down the sweetness just a tad. The labdanum also adds a tiny bit of powdery softenss, but overall the “main” feeling it gives you is that dense, slightly herbal (less herbal than Ambre Sultan for sure), sweet, spiced up warm and rich amber.
I am not saying both perfumes are identical, but they deifnately fall among the same category and give a very similar vibe. Lets say they are close relatives haha! Sharing a central string of DNA which is adorned differently for each of them.
It might not be very original, but it is deff a very nice amber-resins perfume, perfect for autumn and winter.
Thank you for the sample both Fragantica and Teo Cabanel!
lenin2011 – :
I really liked it and I don’t feel it’s too masculine. It’s very