Year: 2015
Notes: bergamot, blackcurrant, prune, rose, white flowers, vanilla, leather, sandalwood, musk
Comment: Black IV 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 IV does have a certain charm.
Unlike the first three releases, from the Black Collection, Black IV leans more towards the feminine side. With a wonderfully succulent citrus and blackcurrant preface, the prune and florals ramp up the jammy aspect of the composition. Featuring a vanillic core, the leather is more suede-like. In typical fashion, the base comprises of AJ Arabia's signature sandalwood and white musk cocktail.
Its sweetness calmly pulsates throughout the composition's lifespan and, although nothing unique, it's a more agreeable effort. However, the synthetic woody-musk drydown is grating and one is extremely hard-pressed to take its retail price seriously. Smelling quite similar to something from David Jourquin, projection is modest and its lasting power is at least six hours.
Based on sampling the Black Collection, it's clear that Ali Aljaberi is just another niche fragrance opportunist, with far more money at his disposal than genuine olfactory sensibilities.
Unlike the first three releases, from the Black Collection, Black IV leans more towards the feminine side. With a wonderfully succulent citrus and blackcurrant preface, the prune and florals ramp up the jammy aspect of the composition. Featuring a vanillic core, the leather is more suede-like. In typical fashion, the base comprises of AJ Arabia's signature sandalwood and white musk cocktail.
Its sweetness calmly pulsates throughout the composition's lifespan and, although nothing unique, it's a more agreeable effort. However, the synthetic woody-musk drydown is grating and one is extremely hard-pressed to take its retail price seriously. Smelling quite similar to something from David Jourquin, projection is modest and its lasting power is at least six hours.
Based on sampling the Black Collection, it's clear that Ali Aljaberi is just another niche fragrance opportunist, with far more money at his disposal than genuine olfactory sensibilities.
