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maks200997 – :
Kismet is well named, at least as far as my own experience with it is concerned: based on the note list I never would have picked it out for myself, and when I got my sample I was quite ready to place it in the category “good, but not my thing” – but instead it ended up broadening my definition of “my thing”, because I really fell in love with it. Reading this page of reviews, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, because it seems like I’m far from the only one who feels this way about it.
It’s such a wonderful, warm scent, at the same time super comfortable and wearable, and very complex and elegant. It’s very much an oriental fragrance to my nose, which is a category that usually leaves me cold, but Kismet is exceptional in every sense. Opoponax and labdanum are prominent from the very start; at first they’re joined by rather bitter citrus notes, which is nice, but the magic starts to happen a little later on when the vanilla joins the party. It settles down deliciously powdery and sweet, but in a balanced way – the resins make sure of that, and this combination is really a match made in heaven, and executed to perfection. This balanced character makes it very versatile as well; I can imagine wearing this in almost any situation and even any type of weather except high summer, and never getting tired of it. It also projects just right, and lasts all day. For me, it falls into the category of scents I could imagine having as a signature if I were still that kind of perfume wearer.
So I’ve found a new indisputable love – I mean to get a bigger amount of this as soon as I can, and I definitely see a full bottle of Kismet somewhere in my future. This is my second sample from Lubin, and the second one that’s a big hit with me; I have to dive deeper into this house as soon as possible!
Also, I’ve never given Shalimar much thought, but if it’s anywhere in the vicinity of this one, I guess I’ll have to remedy that…
HardRain – :
Agree it is very shalimar without the fecal note. Big citrus burst which is very enjoyable at opening, and on drydown I get a concrete smell, like the material concrete.
yuppic – :
There is definitely a resemblance to Shalimar but this is of course minus the leather and is more warm, approachable and resinous. It bears some similarity with The Shalimar of my youth in the 80s. The labdanum is now very evident along with some rose after half an hour. If Shalimar is too strong and too leathery for you then you should love this. This is an easy fragrance to love. Warm and sweet resins which smells natural.
A very warm fragrance that would be perfect on a chilly day. Moderate silage with very good longevity.
spaun – :
oh wow, this is beautiful from the beginning! i get some citruses, vanilla and resins. it doesn’t seem to change much over time, though the vanilla becomes a bit less pronounced and the resins become stronger. i believe i get a hint of rose, but it’s not a strong or sweet rose. i don’t seem to get much patchouli from this, but maybe that’s a skin chemistry thin. it’s a rich, gorgeous, soft, deep, warm scent. immediately shot to the top of my want list.
Michael_Seva – :
What a elegant one this is. The first 10 minute are nice. But after that Magnificent. A king may wear this. This is unisexy. This starts cordial classy. Then midway attreactive and more and more prestigious.
This is a universal beauty. The kind thats beauty doesnt fade
It could easily be the royal kin to my beloved Shalimar. Yet very different with glimpses of some how resemble. The opening has a few moments that reminds me of Creed.but wayyy better. Then neither Shalimar nor Creed. Even Chanel Exclusive lind but Better. this is a low key extremely anytime appropriate perfume. Its very lovely.
Would i buy this. I hope so. this is really easy for someone to get attached and never tire.
10/10
Nurik94 – :
This smells like the gourmand parts of Shalimar without the funky leather bag note. Smooth, powdery vanilla and opoponax, warm, rich and intoxicating. The lemon and verbena lifts it into the nose where the balmy sweetness disperses and lingers gently. No rough edges here, all soft and diffused. Very lady-like and charming.
aviaposter – :
I LOOOOOOOOVE this perfume.
I meant to write a review last time I wore this; I’m not wearing it at the moment so can’t really do it justice. However…
Having drifted to this page, I felt compelled to mention that Kismet is stunningly beautiful.
Fragrantica editors have allocated this to the “Floral” category; if you buy it on the basis that it’s a floral perfume, you are going to be desperately disappointed. Kismet is an Oriental. It DOES bear similarities to Shalimar (allocated to the Oriental Spicy category); they also smell as if they’re from the same era. It may even be that the original Kismet helped inspire Jacques Guerlain’s Shalimar, as it predates it by four years or so. This Kismet is more “user friendly” than the current Shalimar. I’d love to get my hands on the original in that gorgeous bottle, to compare it to its current formulation.
Finally, I do wish people wouldn’t think that “Reminds me of…” = Dupe. Unless a company (Alexandria, DUA, La Rive, Armaf etc) is going out of its way to produce a dupe, the designer and niche houses strive to bring something new to the market, albeit in line with current trends. Niche houses – obviously – are often more experimental. Producing dupes of other fragrances (in the same price range as the original) would soon force companies out of business. For example, no one would be interested in buying the same fragrance from Dior when it was available from YSL for the same price. The reason Armaf etc are thriving is because they produce – what are often – very good quality dupes of high end products at a fraction of the £££$$$$£££.
AndryHA88 – :
TFW you order $75 worth of samples from luckyscent and a wild card turns out to be a love. I have already ordered a bottle. I thought I didn’t like opoponax, but it turns out I just hadn’t met the right opoponax because I love it in Kismet.
Kismet opens with sparkling lemon & bergamot. Next, a creamy vanilla & deep opoponax accord with a touch of herbal patchouli, with the citrus top notes in the background. It’s really beautiful. As the top notes fade, the vanilla becomes powdery. I don’t really get that much rose, maybe just enough to round things out. Edit: I have a white blush rose called Earth Angel in my garden that has just begun blooming. Earth Angel has a fresh lemony scent, and I can now see the rose in Kismet’s pyramid.
Kismet reminds me of Sublime Vanille by Creed, but so much better! Kismet is more complex, has superior longevity and sillage, and doesn’t cost as much as down payment on a house. I see also comparison to Shalimar…I haven’t smelled Shalimar in a million years, but I remember it being leather and incense laden, and so to me the two are very different. It’s like people who point out that Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin are both British bands that originated around the same time, both playing doomy blues rock. Yes they are contemporaries in a similar style, but they are still very different.
Speaking of longevity and sillage, I sprayed my sample onto a T-shirt yesterday. Tonight, my boyfriend smelled it from a couple feet away and told me he loved it, that it was sexy. Did I mention I’ve already ordered a large bottle? 😉
Update: although a lot of folks feel the opoponax resin & vanilla accord of Kismet denotes winter time, I have been wearing this in late May and don’t plan to stop until I can’t stand it. Kismet hasn’t turned heavy or cloying, and the citrus is seasonally appropriate.
altagir – :
The very opening is too much for me, but once I get past that, this perfume is very interesting and mysterious. It’s quite serious, and not particularly feminine, but I really like it. This perfume has a more “intellectual” feel to it, is it weird to say that? I would imagine a smart librarian wearing this. Or Tilda Swinton in Michael Clayton.
Dorceadelina – :
I am really enjoying this latest release from Lubin. Kismet is a delicious, balmy vanilla scent, super cuddly and perfectly suited to the cooler months.
Despite the rose note featuring prominently in Kismet’s official scent pyramid, I honestly wouldn’t classify this fragrance as a rose scent. The rose accord is very subtle and smells more like dried potpourri, which mind you works beautifully alongside the opoponax, patchouli and labdanum notes.
The vanilla accord is at its most fascinating in the drydown of Kismet. On my skin, it is velvety smooth, sensual and dusty. Kismet is easily one of the prettiest oriental vanilla scents I have smelt in a long time. I don’t, however, find any similarities between Guerlain’s Shalimar and Lubin Kismet. Shalimar is far more powdery and has a much more prominent lemon accord. Kismet is its own stand-alone scent.
I patiently await the cooler weather so I can start wearing my generous decant of Lubin Kismet. The rich, resinous notes found in this fragrance do unfortunately nauseate me if I attempt to wear this perfume during Summer. It’s also important to go light on the sprays, as a little bit goes a long way.
I am pleased to find Lubin still creating outstanding fragrances worthy of their niche standing. Their scents pair beautifully with their stunning bottles and intricately detailed packaging.
vladisha – :
I own both Shalimar and Kismet and I have to say that there is not much resemblance between the two. However, this beauty is much closer to Shalimar Parfum Initial, my beloved Guerlain.
I dare to say this is improved, stronger and better blended PI.
When I first tried Kismet I fell in love the same moment. I was in a store, searching for musky fragrances (it was (still is) my mission, to find the perfect musk- my favourite note. haven’t found one yet)
Anyways, I randomly tried this one and big, stupid smile froze on my face. Like people when they are desperately in love over heels.
Planned musk shopping ended with Kismet, yet another vintage-powder-vanilla fragrance, along with all Parfum Initial versions I already have.
I admit: I bought this beauty because PI is discontinued and I am making backups of anything even similar.
Fresh, citrus/powdery opening, like a sunny morning in a vintage bedroom.
Then the warm mid notes and base pop out. The vanilla, opoponax and labdanum create that delicious waxy vintage make up smell, which i adore.
Kismet is warm, but the vanilla is not sweet and eatable , it is powdery and classy. Later becomes creamy, complex … like a mixture between otherworldly and “something old and comforting” . The creaminess makes it feel like there is tone of musk in it, but other notes create the feel.
Kismet has that magic, that uniqueness you will not find in other fragrances.
Dmitry_VZ – :
This is a very complex, oriental and sweet perfume. Definitely not my kind of fragrance, but I got a sample from Fragrance Counter, and I just had to try.
Tons of balsamic notes and a lot of vanilia with a little citrus, and noticeable myrrh accent, which is trying to balance out the sweetness. I also can smell a little patchouli in it, but unfortunately no rose on me.
It is a warm perfume, great for winter, but you have to like vanilla, otherwise this is not for you.
The sillage is moderate, the longevity is 6-8 hours on skin, more on clothes.
Andrey-75 – :
Got a 100ml of that very beautifull flask now, a christmas gift to my wife. What a wonderfull oriental, enlightened by citrus peel and subtended by and old powdery rose. A great creation with great materials and performances. Agree with what Stelladoro wrote, not so close to Shalimar or Habanita, more elegant and complex, more luminous as well. Brilliant !
Ruin – :
I purchased a sample of this beauty from Lucky Scent and what a delight she is. The breezy crisp opening blossoms into an unusual and luscious combined note of lemon and petitegrain. Very different from a Guerlain accord. Then the deepest, spiciest blood red roses emerge in a bed of patchouli. And it gets even better with a haunting but warm base of labdanum entangled with a restrained vanilla. Very complex, rich and satisfying. Longevity is 10- 16 hours on me with moderate to enormous sillage. I can’t compare Kismet to Shalimar – Shalimar is cloyingly sweet and powdery on me, while Kismet is surprising at every turn; fresh, crisp, spicy, velvety rather than powdery with that stunning labdanum drydown. Nothing compares to it – the closest relative to Kismet is probably Papillon’s Salome. Perhaps her darker sister?
konovalov123 – :
The original Kismet was released by Lubin in 1921. It was housed in a bottle in the shape of an elephant, which is today a very sought item by collectors. I have never had the chance of testing the original Kismet, and I haven’t been able of smelling this new rendition, but, according with the French site Auparfum, they have done a good job, being the new Kismet a close relative to Guerlain’s Shalimar.