Layali
Agar Aura

Layali from Agar Aura. I am ashamed to have discovered this one so late. The attar, not the extrait. The first preceded the latter, but because of the "attar phobia," the second is the more popular version of the two. I have tried the parfum extrait version, and I didn't like it. I blind-bought the attar recently, and it has become not only my favorite perfume composition from Taha but also my favorite take on the oversaturated Oud-Rose genre. To me, it takes the extrait from a 4 up to an 11.
What got me into chasing this composition is the peculiar use of Davana here. A fascinating ingredient. I'd never thought it could work so well in an oud-rose composition, as it does here. It is the key ingredient and what I felt the extrait was lacking to showcase properly. It shines in the attar. The choice of oud is also unique. It is as requested by such an attempt, a heavier profile but it has none of the barny, fermented, or musky qualities that usually come with heavier ouds. It is "Taha" clean presenting three distinct facets. An antique wooden chest smell, a leather facet, and a medicinal, turpentine-like smell, in that order. The rose used also features the best balance of its facets like it was isolated in a laboratory to make sure it fits the composition seamlessly. The Davana creates the most intoxicating plum liquor accord that radiates strongly for the first half of the wear. An incredibly multi-faceted material that usually showcases green, earthy, sweet, boozy, and fruity facets. Here it helps to create the imagery of a fruit liqueur that was aged in agarwood barrels. And lastly, the tobacco. To my nose, it is the least prominent note although it does become a major player in the dry down. A quite simple note breakdown and choice of materials, however, due to their nature and quality they seem to create an endlessly more nuanced and multi-faceted blend that, in my opinion, puts all rose-oud perfumes to shame. Its evolution on the skin has two parts. The first half is dominated by this velvety, sweet red rose drenched in boozy plum liquor, old wooden chest smell, and leather sofas. In the second part of the perfume, the rose-liquor pair is consumed to allow the oud and tobacco duo to shine. In contrast to the complexity of the attar, the extrait unfolded mostly as an airy, mentholated rose with a turpentine oud. None of the boozy plum liquor, the tobacco, or the other two facets of the oud which I much prefer. Hence, if you are a fan of the extrait, I highly recommend that you get a sample of the attar. It feels richer, deeper, and endlessly more complex. And just when I thought this particular genre had nothing more to offer, I stumbled upon a new favorite. That is why I feel this hobby is a bottomless rabbit hole. I don't complain much though, as the journey is thoroughly enjoyable.

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