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Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Al Shomoukh Attar by Amouage

By Marian

Although I’m not generally fond of smoky fragrances, I am enthralled by Al Shomukh’s smoldering sensuality. The note of pitch tar is a sultry foil to the fruity sumptuousness of davana, and the balsamic freshness of resinous woods beautifully contrasts with the ripe, honeyed rosiness that pervades this voluptuous composition. Vetiver adds an herbal earthiness to the scent, and there are even hints of citrus and cinnamon that keep the sweet, glowing warmth of this lush attar from becoming cloying.

Are you a fan of musk? Entwined with the animalic sensuality of oud, musk abyadh, though lacking in true smut, adds a lustiness to the scent that puts it in the sexy, rather than beautiful, category. Al Shomoukh is not a scent for the timid or feint of heart- it is a wild, alluring, and provocatively mysterious blend that is as complex as it is unusual.

Slide beneath some satin sheets, change your white light bulb for a pink one, allow Al Shomoukh to penetrate your skin, and see what happens!

Notes: Silver Oudh, vetiver, musk abyadh, Taifi rose, davana

Available at Selfridges, London $350.00 for 12 ml.

Image source, unknown, please let us know if you know the author.

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31 Comments:

Blogger popcarts said...

Okay, now I really might be in deep kimchi with this one, HA freak that I am. Is it an oil, like Homage? How do they compare?

1:04 AM EDT  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I love Homage so my guess is that I'd like Al Shomukh as well. Oud and taif rose sounds just heavenly! I wish this were available in the States. As tempting as it is, I'm not about to hop on a plane to London just for a whiff.

1:11 AM EDT  
Blogger Madelyn E said...

Oh my - I feel as if I have been transported to another time , another place in the Middle East.
This review beckons my inner sensuality.
Luscious Satin sheets, pink light shimmering over a velvet couch - made intixicating by this potion called Al Shomoukh.
I am fascinated with your concept of sexy versus beautiful in the realmof fragrance,
There is a difference , it is true.
Rose, Musk , that hint of earthy darkness - creates an ambiance akin to romance and more.
For me this review paints an vivid olfactory image of seduction.

1:13 AM EDT  
Anonymous Marian said...

Popcarts: Yup- this is another dreamy Amouage oil. Homage is a golden floral, shining with rose and hints of buoyant citrus above an oud-laden, woodsy base. Al Shomoukh is more herbal- darker, dirtier and more complex. Where Homage glows, Al Shomoukh smoulders. If Homage is brilliant light, Al Shomoukh is a bed of embers glowing in the moonlight. I love them both, but if I had to choose one, Al Shomoukh would be the one on my bedside table ;-)

1:39 AM EDT  
Anonymous Marian said...

Madelyn- your comment really captures the essence of this scent. I'm not going to tell you what goes through my mind every time I smell my wrist ! ;-)

1:48 AM EDT  
Anonymous Trina said...

Your description is so evocative- if a whiff of any scent were worth a trip to to London, this might be the one!

2:29 AM EDT  
Anonymous Marian said...

Anonymous: I really hope they release more of their attars in the States. Perhaps an expression of interest by US customers would be an incentive?

2:50 AM EDT  
Anonymous Marian said...

Trina: I agree! Think I'll grab my wellies and check out the flight schedule ;-)

2:52 AM EDT  
Blogger Unknown said...

Al Shomukh? The name would make me recoil, because of the Sh and the Kh, too much. I wish they'd had given it a more promising sound. Does anybody know what Shomukh means in Arabic?

7:05 AM EDT  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This review definitely makes me want to try this perfume. The description of the sensuality of the fragrance is itself alluring, and the clarity of Marian's description encourages me to trust her judgment about it. The evocation of the mood of the scent by the description of sheets and lighting enables me to imagine the effect of this attar--thanks, Marian! N.

8:17 AM EDT  
Anonymous Marian said...

Eleven European Mystics- I've been trying to get a translation of the name, so far without success. I'll post it if find out.

9:26 AM EDT  
Anonymous Marian said...

N- thanks for your trust ;-) I appreciate it!

9:27 AM EDT  
Anonymous Marian said...

Eleven European Mystics- A kind woman at the Jordan Mission to the UN said that Al Shomoukh means "The Very Good One". It implies having an elevated status. I'm glad you asked ;-)

9:39 AM EDT  
Blogger Unknown said...

Great review as always Marian, you've given us a good idea of how the shomoukh smells, that combination of notes sounds very interesting.

11:01 AM EDT  
Blogger Unknown said...

Thank you Marian. What a lovely name indeed. Your article, Amouage treasures, and now the name, make me prey for a try. :->

11:19 AM EDT  
Blogger Unknown said...

Ahmed, do you know what is the word for perfume in Arabic?

11:22 AM EDT  
Anonymous Marian said...

Ahmed- Since you enjoy mukhallats I think you might consider giving this one a try on your next trip to London.

Eleven European Mystics- I'm glad the name is no longer a turn off! I think it does live up to its appellation!

11:46 AM EDT  
Anonymous Marian said...

Eleven European Mystics:
I was told that in Arab-speaking countries one says "parfum" (using the French) or "attar" or "itr". But, as far as I know, "attar" refers to a perfume oil- not an alcohol-based scent.

11:55 AM EDT  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Extraordinarily compelling review. I hope the reviewer uses her wonderful writing talent for something else as well!

12:04 PM EDT  
Blogger Flora said...

All I can say is: uh-oh, I think I am in trouble! Amouage, another attar, birch tar, davana.......wonderful review, perfectly calculated to create the mood of this perfume!

12:12 PM EDT  
Blogger popcarts said...

Yeah, this is terrible news.

4:19 PM EDT  
Anonymous Anna Mae said...

This is a beautiful review, Marian. Is this oil available in the US?

10:13 PM EDT  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wow! The description alone puts me there! I can smell it already, the scenery , the atmosphere. Excellent, thanks

10:41 PM EDT  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I loved the descriptiveness of this review. I would like to see more perfume reviews by this writer!

12:48 AM EDT  
Anonymous Marian said...

Anna Mae- no, it's not available in the US, and Selfridge's shipping charges are pretty hefty. Homage was so so successful here- I hope Amouage makes more of their attars available to the US market in the future.

2:12 AM EDT  
Blogger Unknown said...

thank you for this sensual and evocative critique of al shomoukh. it is sublime to delve into this review. it brings this luscious fragrance into the evening air. now! to have it on my skin! ......divine!

9:54 PM EDT  
Anonymous Susane said...

After reading this enticing review, how could one not want to experience for themselves the sensual pleasures of Al Shomoukh. The reviewer definitely has an uncanny ability to capture the embodiment of a scent and transform its essence into words!!

11:43 PM EDT  
Blogger Unknown said...

The review is such that is incurs a wonderful string of reactions: Lovely.

6:50 AM EDT  
Blogger amola-tesouras said...

I'm definitely trying a whiff of this next time I'm in London. But the price... ouch!

7:03 AM EDT  
Anonymous kwdarlene said...

There is a website that sells decanted samples of elite perfumes (they have this one) called
theperfumedcourt.com

10:32 AM EST  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

If you can not obtain Amouage or other Arabic Perfumes, contact the largest offering on the Internet:

http://perfume.zahras.com
info@zahras.com

2:02 PM EST  

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