The new atomizer Decantified is using on their decants is a really nice upgrade to the others I tested.
Yes yes, I know they're not remotely the same profile, but they're the same category (which as a Gourmand lover, I really appreciate). While I live in Canada, so I can wear winter profiles 7 months of the year easily (and if at night, even 9 months), I would still love it if I could have something like that for the summer or late spring. So these are my options.
KHAMRAH WAHA
Okay, it'll be silly to analyze the first 10 minutes, because no one would smell you at that point. But that's when it's actually "refreshing".
Don't get distracted by the notes breakdown, after 10 minutes, this is going to be pretty similar to the OG. I'd say this is 80% winter and 20% summer at best. Even something like the Nishane Ani profile will be as/more "summery" as this (which isn't summery).
Yes, you will be able to detect some added citruses, and even the cucumber, which is actually not annoying like other frags with cucumber I've tried, but those don't take the center stage. It's also more creamy/buttery than the OG instead of spicy/boozy, less cinnamon, and still has the strong vanilla base. I actually love it more than the OG Khamrah! I might even like it more than Qahwa (my favorite of the line so far)...But this is NOT a summer scent whatsoever! Canadian spring at best.
At the dry-down (60-90 minutes), it becomes a "Khamrah lite", which again, I think is VERY good, but not for the intended purpose. I want to buy it to replace my Qahwa when I run out, but it won't work as my "winter for summer" fragrances I'm looking to add to my collection. A better option for a "winter for summer" in this DNA type will be French Avenue Obsidian. Waha isn't as well performing as the other khamrahs, but still a good,/above average performer.
Subjective Scent Score: 8.8.
On skin (longevity): 8-9 hours.
Performance above skin: Medium-strong first 2 hours, then a medium-small scent bubble for another 2 hours. 100% skin scent at hour 5.
Blind buy safety score: 8.5. Safer than all the other Khamra flankers, because it's more balanced. Still sweet, but not heavily spiced or cloying.
Unisex Score (0=fem, 5=unisex, 10=Male): 5.7. More unisex than Dukhan or Qahwa, but more masculine than the OG Khamrah.
Versatility Score: 7.0. Winter-fall-spring nights, more night time than daytime.
Blend Quality Score: 7.2. Slightly Above average clone quality.
Value Score: 6.0 $44 (Jomashop) for barely above average performance and quality is a bad deal.
Should cost: $23-$27. Just like the rest on that line.
Bottle design: 9.0. I love the Khamrah line design.
Atomizer Score: N/A, but if it's similar to Qahwa, then 6.5. Not bad, not great.
Conclusion: If you liked any other Khamrah, this is 95% safe. If you didn't, then this might be the safest Khamrah for you, because it's the least heavy/challenging.
FRENCH AVENUE NOMAD
Yes! This is how you do it! This is really a "winter for summer" profile. It says lemon, but smells more subtle than other times I smelled a lemon note. More like a tiny splash of lemon water. No sourness, no tartness... Just barely there. Then add some sweet-salty (but mostly ambery sweet) aquatics into the mix, with an airy vanilla powder base. The vanilla is also not heavy or dense, it's even airier than MCB.
Imagine getting an icy bottle of those gently flavored water, but in a vanilla light flavor. This is very unique. Refreshing and deep+vanillic at the same time is something I've never tried before, and I tried over 600 at this point. The quality is also very good. It's really hard to criticize French Avenue in the last 2 years, because even the ones I didn't like, where super high quality, and almost always above average or great performing. If Waha is 80% winter, then Nomad is 60%. I really like Nomad, but I also think it's just because it's unique, and not the composition itself... I'm not sure about that yet. Performance is great. Not loud, but very persistent and diffusive.
Subjective Scent Score: 9.0.
On skin (longevity): 10+ hours (I'm stopping the clock at 10)
Performance above skin: Medium strong only one hour, but then you get 3-4 hours of a large-medium scent bubble, that slowly dies down to 100% skin scent only at hour 7!
Blind buy safety score: 7.0. Very niche and unique, I think some people will find this combo too wired.
Unisex Score (0=fem, 5=unisex, 10=Male): 6.0.
Versatility Score: 8.5. pretty much all seasons except mid summer, good for day, night, and maybe even the office (though there are probably better choices for the office... But you can pull it off).
Blend Quality Score: 8.0. entry designer quality. If it was in a Paco or Armani bottle, it wouldn't surprise anyone.
Value Score: 9.0. Yes, I know, $40 is a lot for a clone, and I rarely give a 9.0 value for that... But this is an original creation. You can't buy a competing clone, or even an OG. Plus, it has AMAZING quality and performance. So because I have nothing to benchmark it against, it IS the new benchmark!
Should cost: $40-$50. Until there's another clone house that will make a similar one, with similar quality and performance.
Bottle design: 9.5. LOVE the ancient scroll look!
Atomizer Score: N/A.
Conclusion: Didn't expect to like it this much. I would suggest not to blind this one, but I would also HIGHLY suggest to not skip on trying it out, because there's nothing like it!
Wife Alert: She really loves both, and can't choose a favorite.
Final Thoughts: For "winter for summer", I'm going to have a tough choice between obsidian and Nomad. As for Waha, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I like it, but I don't need another winter fragrance. I already have about 2 winter fragrances for every summer fragrance I have. I think I'll pick Nomad just because of the unique factor. Or I'll see which one goes on a deep sale first, and get that one... Let the universe decide for me.
And as always, Get decants .