Al Haramain - Maze

I took a special trip to the Al Haramain store in south-east London. Why it’s located in the more feral areas of greater London, I don’t know. It was either a complicated voyage to the very unremarkable Upton Park area, or far-flung Dubai (as it turns out, Dubai would have been only a little less inconvenient to get to). Al Haramain needs to take a leaf out of Arabian Oud’s London store locations.

After two hours of trains and the musty London underground, I arrive at my first fragrance destination. I was originally intending on visiting another specialist Arabian fragrance store in London's Whitechapel (another location which seems to have gotten worst since the murderous and impoverished Jack the Ripper days). But the store (although was listed as being open online) was in fact shut-down (and seemingly ransacked), so don’t bother with ‘Our Choice’ store, as it offers you NO choice (apart from urine-stained storefront shutters.)

So now I’m feeling hangry, let-down and lost in the sprawling urban jungle of outer London. I seek cover from the torrential UK rain in a random Asian fashion store, where I unexpectedly find some Al Rehab and Rasasi fragrances. The nonchalant shop assistant keeps calling me “sister” whilst showing me the fragrance oils by accidentally touching them AGAINST MY NOSE then immediately asking if I’m going to buy them. With my almighty nose scent-sabotaged (by someone who is NOT my sister), I’m having to remind myself to eat something before I either cry or start hitting-out (or both.)

A few tube stops later and I finally get to the official Al Haramain store, which is glamorous and more upmarket than the entire area combined. The shop assistants are brilliant and find all of the fragrances which I’d written-down to finally smell, after years of wondering. Like many of us fragrance-lovers, I’m a blind-buy addict, and waste a lot of time and money obsessively reading about fragrances, then buying them, only to be disappointed. Actually visiting a shop and smelling items from your ‘want’ list is so beneficial (especially when you discover that you actually hate them) but it also allows you to stumble across those magical scents that you’d normally have ruled-out just from reading the notes alone.

This (finally) brings me to my discovery of ‘Maze’. Entombed in its satin-lined box, was the majestic and dazzling bottle of ‘Maze’. The heavy geometric glass lid, turns satisfactorily between your finger and thumb to unleash the aromatic, musky, woody, balsamic and fresh-spicy nectar within. It’s floral enough to delight me endlessly, but not in a flouncy, whimsical, feminine way, since the wood notes ground the floral-fantasy back to being rational and focused. There is a medicinal oud element, but only enough to invite intrigue and a sharp freshness. This oud doesn't smoulder nor smoke, it's clinical, clean and almost surgical, so adds a metallic brightness. Juxtapose this spirited oud against the calming musk (which comes through with more vigour when your skin is warm), and the fabulous florals, then 'Maze' becomes amazing.

The bottle isn’t cheap - it’s heavy glass and bejewelled with large green and yellow (gem-like) mirrored squares. The oil inside isn’t entry-level either - at £45, it’s a mid-price Arabian marvel, and lasts for the bulk of the day. I bought the 15ml oil (there is also a £20 40ml spray but apparently it smells very different). It’s unisex enough for all to wear (I never like them too strictly masculine nor too sickly feminine) and I’m loving it against my summer skin as it makes me feel clean, fresh, exotic and fabulous.

I found many amazing scents at the Al Haramain store. The most remarkable was ‘Omry Due’ which has a stunning glass bottle containing a fascinatingly rich-spicy scent. For me it contained vanilla, so was a deal-breaker, but it’s my top recommendation if you love rich, sweet and exotically spicy scents.

For now, ‘Maze’ is my favourite Al Haramain fragrance – it’s concentrated and dazzling freshly-squeezed jewel-juice.

TOP - Lemon, Bergamot, Wormwood

MIDDLE - Rose, Jasmine, Orange Blossom

BASE - Cedarwood, Sandalwood, Patchouli, Amber, Musk, Praline, Tonka