If you are a Cambodi fan, you cannot pass on owning one of these. The rarest of the rare, premium stuff. Stronger than any Cambodi blend I've ever owned. Incredible depth and unfurls for hours. Extreme longevity. A triumph.
Crimson Cambodia bursts open with a vibrant chorus of red fruits: cherry, raspberry, strawberry, blueberry, and a tart ribbon of blackcurrant. It is jubilant but not cloying, the kind of fruitiness that feels ripe and mature, not candy-sweet. As the brightness subsides, the composition deepens, the juicy notes tethered by aged patchouli, rayong, and the noble density of Koh Kong. What lingers is a dignified interplay of blackcurrant and cambodi oud, a whisper of fruit woven into smoky, resinous wood. The result is a fragrance that feels exuberant in its opening, yet solemn and commanding in its drydown. It is fruit with gravitas, a fragrance that wears like a velvet cloak of color and shadow. Long wear.
The opening of Qinan Rose greets you with a delicate yet commanding breeze of Taifi rose, crisp, airy. Almost immediately, the star of the composition, the rare qinan, unfurls with a depth that is at once grounding and luminous. Its resinous warmth elevates the floral into something spiritual, contemplative, and rare. The scent wears with remarkable longevity. It recalls childhood Ramadan iftars where the air is heavy with incense and anticipation, or the tranquil presence of an elder reciting Qur’an: dignified, serene, yet luminous with hidden emotion.
This is not just a rose fragrance; it is addictive, a meditation in scent, a Kinami masterpiece. I anticipate it will be a new instant cult favorite.
What can i say that wasn’t already said?
If you’re a fan of Kodo sessions then this is for you.
Incense, rose and a beautiful base as always. To my nose the opening is almost like smelling incense while being surrounded by roses, the white rose otto is so beautiful and crisp, the superior quality of the otto used is very clear. As for the base it’s just magnificent the Taifi is there and the papaun oud also, i can pick them up individually and also as a single note at the same time! I guess thats the magic of the two souls melange that was used here.
Two Souls.
Having tried many of the “Sultani” variants involving oud and rose, This one is different to my nose. The Taifi in this one is the most beautiful roses i’ve ever smelled, the quality reminds me of a Vintage Syrian rose i had in my collection that i can’t find anything like anymore, it’s undeniably Taifi but it also has this rose liqueur vibe to it. The oud on the other hand is Papuan for sure but not any Papuan either! It’s one of the most Elegant ouds out there. It reminds me of the most famous ones that has come out of the Vault if you get what i mean 😉. As Brother Maher already explained on the website the ratio is definitely different to the other variants and it’s clear when you swipe this one.
Crimson Cambodi is magical for someone like me. The scent is super fruity at the beginning the red berries are very apparent, slowly as the scent transitions you’re met with an earthy patchouli that is to die for! The scent finally settles to a beautiful oudy base but the surprise is that those red fruity accords turn into beautiful florals that accompany the oud in the base in the most beautiful way possible!
In the world of sweet dipped syn moattars a man chose osmanthus that sinks into Civet & Musk.
Coincidence or Vision?
Smells good enough to wear neat. Dark, Dominant & Regal! This is what they burn in a Kings’ palace before war.
At this price, I’m glad it didn’t actually pass through the palaces of Oman.
Qinan Rose is an oud-rose. But saying that is like saying a great jazz performance is just the tune as written in a few lines in the book of standards. The Elkhaldi blend that Qinan Rose reminds me most of is Ghazali HIndi, but they are completely different. That's jazz for you.
To me, Ghazali Hindi is a single, luminous rose nestled in a cave of deep, rich Hindi oud. Light emanates from the rose, illuminating the oud. The oud in turn reflects different facets of the rose that we might not have appreciated otherwise. There's no cave with Qinan Rose.
This is a luminous rose that calls to mind the play of light on water. The Taifi rose is lifted, almost fizzy or bubbly. By that I don't mean frivolous at all. It dances, like light on water. As the perfume wears, that water becomes more and more the ouds, and more still. Whereas the blend started with luminous flickering, it relaxes into calm, meditative waves. The rose stays around, but as a compliment and support for the ouds. The ouds themselves are almost diaphanous. I'm no expert on Chinese oud, and haven't often enjoyed it. But there's no bitter medicinal here.
The blend is cohesive and resinous without being heavy. That's a common theme of this blend, richness and complexity without heaviness. The materials used here mean that the blend is expensive. But Maher has created something special that's unique in his work thus far.
My bottle of Crimson Cambodi has no extra oud. This is an interesting blend. It opens with the red fruit notes intertwined with mildly smoky, more incense-y oud. I'm used to stronger fruit notes in Thai oud, so this phase is interesting, as I've not often seen a mix of a strong fruit profile with more "serious" oudy depth. As things develop, the red fruits become more prominent and the oud steps back. The cherry and strawberry notes ring clear as bells. Not sweet or cloying, but intense and rather pure. The patchouli pokes its head out, grounding and providing some contrast as the oud quiets. This phase eventually wanes, and the ouds step forward as the fruit recedes. At that point, you're left with a red-accented Cambodi profile. Not too smoky, not animalic. But deep and interesting. I expect many will enjoy this blend, and if you enjoy blends that are fruit driven, but not sweet or cloying, then I especially recommend it to you.
What a treasure , rich , luxurious royal aroma. We are elevated to rich luxury.
J
Qinan Rose Qinan Rose is an oud-rose. But saying that is like saying a great jazz performance is just the tune as written in a few lines in the book of standards. The Elkhaldi blend that Qinan Rose reminds me most of is Ghazali HIndi, but they are completely different. That's jazz for you.
To me, Ghazali Hindi is a single, luminous rose nestled in a cave of deep, rich Hindi oud. Light emanates from the rose, illuminating the oud. The oud in turn reflects different facets of the rose that we might not have appreciated otherwise.
There's no cave with Qinan Rose. This is a luminous rose that calls to mind the play of light on water. The Taifi rose is lifted, almost fizzy or bubbly. By that I don't mean frivolous at all. It dances, like light on water. As the perfume wears, that water becomes more and more the ouds, and more still. Whereas the blend started with luminous flickering, it relaxes into calm, meditative waves. The rose stays around, but as a compliment and support for the ouds. The ouds themselves are almost diaphanous. I'm no expert on Chinese oud, and haven't often enjoyed it. But there's no bitter medicinal here. The blend is cohesive and resinous without being heavy. That's a common theme of this blend, richness and complexity without heaviness.
The materials used here mean that the blend is expensive. But Maher has created something special that's unique in his work thus far.
"Finale," a fitting name for the epitome of what started as one of the most delectable musk-centric ghalia base ever. This final iteration forgoes the familiar profile of Ghazali base, amplifying it with what can only be described as a galore of musks. There's apparently a lot of rose materials in here, but as we know, deers love to munch on rose buds😆 and the rose in this has absolutely been devoured by a metric tonne of musks and they are only recognizable as nuanced auxiliary notes of sweetness and richness. When I first sprayed this composition, I did get a lot of traditional profile of Nagaland oud, but after about a month of bottle oxidation and aging, even the oud profile has begun to make way for musks, only recognizable as a buzzy tingling sensation upon initial spray. Do not overspray because sillage and longevity is impressive as well. If you like musks, this might be a grail fragrance for you, and it will only become muskier as the bottle ages.
This beautiful compositions opens up with an array of fruits; coconut, bananas, apricot steal the show in the opening, creating a fruity medley. In the heart, blue lotus, fir balsam, and some fruity nuances work together to slowly transitions into a deep woody base. The Hindi and Cambodi ouds provide a grounding, earthy, and woody base. These ouds are inoffensive and work beautifully with the fruits to provide a well-rounded wearing experience.
This scent is a staple for me in the summer heat. It opens with a burst of neroli and zesty citrus. Saffron dances in the back till it cuts through overtaking the fragrance. Not leathery but delicately sweet and spicy. Tamed by the sandalwood, the saffron smells as if it's floating in a sea of milk. The oud serves as a nice backbone offering woody and incense nuances that help meld the composition together. There is one key player I haven't mentioned yet, the Boronia. Boronia is a flower that I have not smelled on its own, yet I believe it's lending its fruity and bready touches to composition. To me, this composition is a crowd pleaser while maintaining its unique flair.
The Ghazali series first caught my attention at a fragmeet. Wow. And I was pretty late to the Elkhaldi party so of course everything was already sold out when I wanted one. So imagine my delight when Maher announced there will be one last iteration of the Ghazali. Alhamdulillah very happy to finally have this in the collection.
Ghazali Finale is made for the fragrance aficionado with a penchant for florals and musks. It exudes class and royalty like a ghaliyah, but will not be out of place if worn in a casual and informal setting. Ghazali Finale is not made for occasions, it sets the occasion. The tone. The mood.
I’ve rationed the amount of times I get to wear this, as you know, Maher doesn’t do re-releases. And I look forward to every single time I get to wear it. As cliche as it sounds, this is more than just a perfume, it is a truly beautiful experience. Well done Maher my brother, Allahumma barik.
blind buy that went home and the first one from the house.
really nice.
I have a few different pure civet pastes, and this by far takes the cake. It's amazing what aging will do to what is already likely some of the best civet which was available 30 years ago. Very glad Maher was able to get more back in stock so I could experience it!
Really great Incense. Powerful, yet smooth and calming. Pairs really well with a dab of Nectar Royale being worn while heating some of this incense on low temp with a subitism burner. If I could, I would buy 1KG of this stuff 🤣
This Zabad focuses on fruity florals, as you could guess from the name. I love the osmanthus, and it is well balanced with the powerful tibetan musk which is wonderful. I don't know if there is any tobacco in this, but I personally get fresh tobacco vibes from it. Very long lasting and I enjoy it very much.
This is such an animalic, musky, and powdery beauty. As soon as I apply it evaporates so quickly and leaves distinguishable animalic, clove, and vanilla scent. I especially love the vanilla scent because it rounds everything beautifully. It’s a shame it’s sold out as I can see myself wearing it alone intimately or as part of layering with other scents when going out. An amazing build by ElKhaldi Studio.
Nectar Thai by Elkhaldi Studios. What is there to say? Well ever since smelling Borneo Day I’ve always wanted a bottle of anything Elkhaldi. Then I got an amazing opportunity to grab this and I didn’t hestitate. A 15ml was secured and now the wait for it to arrive had begun.
Needless to say I was super excited when this arrived and luckily it didn’t dissapoint: From the first whiff I got I knew this was going to be good.
In that pretty heavy opening you get sweet peaches backed by a rounded oud and some animalics. What this really reminds me of is the color orange: from the osmanthus to the peach and sandalwood, it all comes together to make a truly orange feeling. Maybe a bit like a beautifull sunset, except there’s oud and civet.
At the base the florals really start to shine and the peach is slowly fading away. I don’t think this fragrance really changes much over time, however during the base more woods really come through. Also, the animalic mix that consists of civet, castoreum and hyraceum becomes more prominent.
Finally, this scent concludes itself by becoming even more woody, and it’s at this stage that the peach has completely dissappeared.
If there would be one thing I could change from this scent however, it would be adding a bit more depth somehow. This is probably what you get in the parfum I’m guessing, so I’m excited to try that.
What a journey this has been, sweet and dark, light and heavy. Projection and longevity are above-average. And to wrap this review up I want to give a special thank-you to Elkhaldi Studios themselves, I had an amazing experience with him and he’s always super helpfull. Thank you!!
This is the last ghazali composition and Maher went all out on the musk, oud and rose. If you have smelt his previous ghazali composition, this one is quite different.
The oud and musk take centre stage, nice deep animalic smell with no barnyard smell from the nagaland oud, no fecal or urine smell from the musk either. It’s rich and has a really old school vibe to it. It’s like walking into a vintage library. The roses here is on the spicy side, as he focused more on rose de mai and Turkish rose to be the main players. With the extra musk and oud, the spicy rose complements the heavy musks and oud, where it calms everything down, without it burning your nostrils. Lastly, the sandalwood does add a creamy note to tame the animalics, where it becomes an enjoyable scent to smell that is balanced.
Longevity is 10 hours plus, with the first 4-6 hours being really strong and the next 4 plus hours being a skin scent. Projection is loud enough for someone next to you to smell.
Overall it’s a good finale to the series that is different from the rest.
As the name suggests, it’s a beautiful musk forward composition with 3 kings of musk. Kashmiri, Siberian and Tibetan. The musk here is high quality, as you don’t get any fecal or urine smell. Instead you smell beautiful floral notes with chocolate nuances and a smooth and well blended musk note. The roses here are perfectly married with the musk. You get more of a jammy scent that is not super sweet, which I love. The roses goes right through the scent profile, which I extremely love. The truffle note is the smartest thing Mahir added. It adds an extra layer of earthiness, creaminess and muskiness. The dry down is a beautiful musk that lingers for 12 hours plus. The projection is perfect, not too loud for a headache and loud enough for someone near you to smell. The oud and ambergris aren’t the main players, instead they are enhancing the musk and rose elements.
This is definitely one musk rose compositions to have in your collection.
