Ensar Oud Sultan Red Rose Attar

#1
I thought I'd share my impressions, it's been a while since I've bought anything fragrance related but this is just the kind of thing I enjoy.

First, this is very complex. I may not describe it accurately, and probably won't... all I can do is share impressions that may be swayed by faulty scent memory. :)

How to even begin? Well, when first applied there are a few main themes that jump out. Rose, of course... a juicy red rose..fairly sweet, deep and rich smelling. Musk, which in this case smells clean, like the essence of musk with anything furry or halitosis smelling removed... more sweet and skin-like than animalic, slightly earthy. And another accord that is really elusive and complex... some descriptors are resinous, dark, woody, bracing, smoky, hard. A wild guess might include olibanum, myrrh, wood oils like teak, camphor, mint, pepper, gardenia and of course oud. At first this 3rd accord feels dark and hard, like obsidian stone, and if you smell it up close it dominates the composition. The silliage however, is far more balanced.

Over time the 3rd accord softens and recedes, the darkness starts to feel more human and less mineral, the composition transitions from Arabic to French as the rose and musk become more dominant and the 3rd accord, accompanied by the musk, becomes more like body odor in the best, most French way possible. :) I also think the oud becomes more prominent, anchoring the base. The heart of the fragrance, where everything comes into balance, is truly magical. Gradually, over hours, the 3rd accord fades even more and the fragrance softens, with the rose and musk gently dominating.

The closest comparison to a mainstream fragrance is probably SHL 777 "Black Gemstone", which is a nice composition, but like most fragrances today is marred by being too sweet and synthetic. Of course, Sultan Red Rose Attar is not synthetic at all... but also not for the faint of heart. It is a big, bold composition with plenty of silliage. The silliage is probably the best part, it's very strong, much stronger vs the projection so you get whiffs of it here and there. For the most part this is how I prefer to experience it as well, it's better to wave your wrist past your nose than smell the fragrance directly, except for possibly the drydown when you're left with a gauzy cloud of rosy musk with the 3rd accord mostly gone.

Overall this is exceptionally good, certainly in the very top tiers of Attars/Mukhs in terms of both composition and quality of materials. It's not inexpensive but I can also say it's a great value and probably significantly underpriced to be honest. If I could afford it I'd buy a tola... :)
 

Ensar Oud

Well-Known Member
#2
I thought I'd share my impressions, it's been a while since I've bought anything fragrance related but this is just the kind of thing I enjoy.

First, this is very complex. I may not describe it accurately, and probably won't... all I can do is share impressions that may be swayed by faulty scent memory. :)

How to even begin? Well, when first applied there are a few main themes that jump out. Rose, of course... a juicy red rose..fairly sweet, deep and rich smelling. Musk, which in this case smells clean, like the essence of musk with anything furry or halitosis smelling removed... more sweet and skin-like than animalic, slightly earthy. And another accord that is really elusive and complex... some descriptors are resinous, dark, woody, bracing, smoky, hard. A wild guess might include olibanum, myrrh, wood oils like teak, camphor, mint, pepper, gardenia and of course oud. At first this 3rd accord feels dark and hard, like obsidian stone, and if you smell it up close it dominates the composition. The silliage however, is far more balanced.

Over time the 3rd accord softens and recedes, the darkness starts to feel more human and less mineral, the composition transitions from Arabic to French as the rose and musk become more dominant and the 3rd accord, accompanied by the musk, becomes more like body odor in the best, most French way possible. :) I also think the oud becomes more prominent, anchoring the base. The heart of the fragrance, where everything comes into balance, is truly magical. Gradually, over hours, the 3rd accord fades even more and the fragrance softens, with the rose and musk gently dominating.

The closest comparison to a mainstream fragrance is probably SHL 777 "Black Gemstone", which is a nice composition, but like most fragrances today is marred by being too sweet and synthetic. Of course, Sultan Red Rose Attar is not synthetic at all... but also not for the faint of heart. It is a big, bold composition with plenty of silliage. The silliage is probably the best part, it's very strong, much stronger vs the projection so you get whiffs of it here and there. For the most part this is how I prefer to experience it as well, it's better to wave your wrist past your nose than smell the fragrance directly, except for possibly the drydown when you're left with a gauzy cloud of rosy musk with the 3rd accord mostly gone.

Overall this is exceptionally good, certainly in the very top tiers of Attars/Mukhs in terms of both composition and quality of materials. It's not inexpensive but I can also say it's a great value and probably significantly underpriced to be honest. If I could afford it I'd buy a tola... :)
Thank you for that wonderful review, @Dorje…

I’ve received a couple of emails about the description of the new Sultan Red Rose Attar, and I think this would be an appropriate place to address them. Please correct me @mods if I am wrong, and feel free to move/delete as you see fit.

Some folks feel that the raunchy ‘literary’ style write-up doesn't befit the decorum of a Muslim, or that it’s a distasteful new marketing approach.

Firstly, Islam is not a religion of celibacy, priesthood or monkhood. Rather, as a recent commentator remarked, it is a ‘lyrical view of life in which sexuality enjoys a privileged status.’ Muslim poets and jurists alike have celebrated their sexuality in prose and poetry so juicy it would make many modern writers blush.

Marital relations with the intention to satisfy one another’s desire is an act of worship. We know why, and which kind of foreplay is encouraged. ‘Play’ between husband and wife is a pastime that is sacrosanct. The companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) didn't shy away from even asking about lovemaking positions. Literature reflecting, in evocative imagery, the attributes of love is embroidered in of our tradition, and it’s a celebration of our humanity – humanity instilled in us by the One who made us.

A monk-minded, clerical culture has grown among many Muslims who frown at even the mention of a kiss, never mind talk of bedroom intimacy. I get that it might be a jerk reaction to the shallow sexed-up marketing we’re bombarded with, but that doesn’t mean expressing your sexuality is a lowly thing, unbefitting the pious. Rather, anything that steams up the affairs of the conjugal bedroom is beloved by and pleasing to God.

The ‘literary prowess’ of the write up doesn't illustrate that we are bad Muslims out to exploit a new angle to market a product. In fact, the description was from the get-go quite anti-marketing – it’s not the kind of writing that sells. It was uniquely personal, more of an internal process of reflection than anything else. My way of sharing a whiff of what I have found in this perfume because I know it touches that all too human carnality we all share.

I am a married man and father of three children. And I wouldn't be ashamed of what I wrote in front of my family. My wife already gets it anyway. Sultan Red Rose Attar is the only perfume I am officially forbidden to wear in public. My wife will actually walk over and sniff my neck before I leave the house, to make sure I'm not wearing it.

As for my kids, I intend to teach my son responsibility and the fear of God, but I would also want him to embrace his manhood full on when it comes to him, and not be embarrassed by it. I don’t want to blindfold my girls in front of their newfound sexuality either, nor bar them from the door to literature thinking no Muslim have never penned a sultry sentence.

Exquisite perfume, especially one composed of rose and musk, that beautifies the prayer, pleases one’s spouse and draws them to one, joins between three of the most beloved things to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). It makes it a uniquely sensual and spiritual fragrance. Some believe the two need to be divorced. I don’t.
 
#3
Thank you for that wonderful review, @Dorje…

I’ve received a couple of emails about the description of the new Sultan Red Rose Attar, and I think this would be an appropriate place to address them. Please correct me @mods if I am wrong, and feel free to move/delete as you see fit.

Some folks feel that the raunchy ‘literary’ style write-up doesn't befit the decorum of a Muslim, or that it’s a distasteful new marketing approach.

Firstly, Islam is not a religion of celibacy, priesthood or monkhood. Rather, as a recent commentator remarked, it is a ‘lyrical view of life in which sexuality enjoys a privileged status.’ Muslim poets and jurists alike have celebrated their sexuality in prose and poetry so juicy it would make many modern writers blush.

Marital relations with the intention to satisfy one another’s desire is an act of worship. We know why, and which kind of foreplay is encouraged. ‘Play’ between husband and wife is a pastime that is sacrosanct. The companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) didn't shy away from even asking about lovemaking positions. Literature reflecting, in evocative imagery, the attributes of love is embroidered in of our tradition, and it’s a celebration of our humanity – humanity instilled in us by the One who made us.

A monk-minded, clerical culture has grown among many Muslims who frown at even the mention of a kiss, never mind talk of bedroom intimacy. I get that it might be a jerk reaction to the shallow sexed-up marketing we’re bombarded with, but that doesn’t mean expressing your sexuality is a lowly thing, unbefitting the pious. Rather, anything that steams up the affairs of the conjugal bedroom is beloved by and pleasing to God.

The ‘literary prowess’ of the write up doesn't illustrate that we are bad Muslims out to exploit a new angle to market a product. In fact, the description was from the get-go quite anti-marketing – it’s not the kind of writing that sells. It was uniquely personal, more of an internal process of reflection than anything else. My way of sharing a whiff of what I have found in this perfume because I know it touches that all too human carnality we all share.

I am a married man and father of three children. And I wouldn't be ashamed of what I wrote in front of my family. My wife already gets it anyway. Sultan Red Rose Attar is the only perfume I am officially forbidden to wear in public. My wife will actually walk over and sniff my neck before I leave the house, to make sure I'm not wearing it.

As for my kids, I intend to teach my son responsibility and the fear of God, but I would also want him to embrace his manhood full on when it comes to him, and not be embarrassed by it. I don’t want to blindfold my girls in front of their newfound sexuality either, nor bar them from the door to literature thinking no Muslim have never penned a sultry sentence.

Exquisite perfume, especially one composed of rose and musk, that beautifies the prayer, pleases one’s spouse and draws them to one, joins between three of the most beloved things to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). It makes it a uniquely sensual and spiritual fragrance. Some believe the two need to be divorced. I don’t.
This is brilliant. If you ever decide to retire as a perfumer (don't), you will always have an audience in me and I am sure others as a writer. May the almighty reward your efforts.
 
#4
I thought I'd just leave that aspect out of the review entirely, lol. It's described well enough in Ensar's writing, which I can't hope to match.

Anyways, scent is entirely subjective (with few exceptions) and this is too. I totally get and appreciate the inspiration though, and IMO it is the classic French inspiration for countless fragrances.

Not being religious myself, I can only hope that the kinds of puritanical views encouraged by religion get entirely thrown out as disrespectful to our creator (if you actually believe we have one). If you look deep inside, these views are a result of fear and insecurity and not of love and light. They encourage unfortunate and dark views of sexuality and of women who are the real victims of this attitude as evidenced by abusive attitudes towards women the world over. IMO, things are going to shift the other way and the "outing" of abusive men in the US and the shift happening in Saudi Arabia are signs it's beginning. So is Trump's presidency, but we won't go there... ;)

In any case, even if you hate the inspiration the attar is still amazing. Your loss... :)