Year: 2015
Notes: lemon, peach, cinnamon, orange blossom, tuberose, solar accord, vanilla, caramel, cedar
Comment: Black V is part of the Black Collection
Established by Ali Aljaberi, and using the expertise of perfumer Jean-Claude Astier (responsible for many of M. Micallef's fragrances), AJ Arabia is a relatively new niche house from the United Arab Emirates. Available as a parfum extrait, Black V is pretty much a cookie-cutter concoction.
Allegedly alluding to the creativity of the 1920s, Black V is just another derivative designer-esque floral-oriental that's unconvincingly vintage-smelling. Opening with some citrus, peach and cinnamon, the composition soon makes it way to a white floral core. With a serving of caramel, to emphasise its feminine status, the sweetness is heightened before this house's predictably bland woody-musk base sets in.
Over recent years, more and more 'niche' houses have been trying their luck, by churning out insubstantial and third-rate parfum extraits with high price tags. And just like the gradual watering down of Eaux de Parfum, one strongly believes that the general quality of parfum extraits is going exactly the same way.
Projection is modest, with average longevity.
Allegedly alluding to the creativity of the 1920s, Black V is just another derivative designer-esque floral-oriental that's unconvincingly vintage-smelling. Opening with some citrus, peach and cinnamon, the composition soon makes it way to a white floral core. With a serving of caramel, to emphasise its feminine status, the sweetness is heightened before this house's predictably bland woody-musk base sets in.
Over recent years, more and more 'niche' houses have been trying their luck, by churning out insubstantial and third-rate parfum extraits with high price tags. And just like the gradual watering down of Eaux de Parfum, one strongly believes that the general quality of parfum extraits is going exactly the same way.
Projection is modest, with average longevity.
