Qafiya 1

This is currently my signature scent, not because I love it the most, but because a signature needs to embody a few essential elements:-

1) Affordability - so you can apply it with a carefree attitude every single day.
2) Lasting power - so it’s guaranteed to still be there at the end of your day (you wouldn’t expect your makeup to have vanished before the end of your shift.)
3) Not too over-the-top. It’s got to be worn during boring office meetings, as well as the Sunday supermarket shop, so a signature should blend with your everyday life.
4) You must like it. It’s like making a marriage commitment, it should make you happy AND you should be able to live with it, for better or for worse.

So for me, ‘Qafiya 1’ meets all of this criteria. So what is it like…?

It’s the longest lasting fragrance that still manages to be sheer like a sophisticated feminine veil. It’s like ‘Aventus for Her’ but with the chewy, woody patchouli of ‘Imperial’ by Boadicea the Victorious. There’s nothing too sweet, bold nor scary with this, it’s just very easy and lasts. There’s only one word of warning, you must wait past the synthetic plasticky-sweet opening, after 30 minutes the airy patchouli woody wonder is revealed, to stay with you all day.

I’ve tried most in the Qafiya line, so here’s a brief synopsis; 1 is the best (for me anyway). The majority of people prefer 2, it’s much spicier but still very nice. 3 is an unsniffed mystery to me. 4 is like smoky fruity Haribo. The Sport edition is an ashy disaster. Then finally there’s a ‘Year of Zayed’ special edition which is a yellow ylang-ylang floral with an ‘Amber Aoud’ style dry-down. I’d probably just stick to 1 and 2 and maybe check out ‘Year of Zayed’.

You can find every Qafiya from around £50-£90 for the 75ml bottle. I buy mine from www.eliteperfumery.com as they have the cheapest prices for most Arabian brands, plus they ship from the U.K and they sell samples. I’m giving you an exclusive 10% discount to shop from this excellent store – just use the code EMMA10 at checkout.

TOP - Saffron, Orange Blossom, Rose

MIDDLE - Woody Notes, Amber

BASE - Woody Notes, Patchouli, Musk