Walimah II
Areej le Doré (2023)

Walimah from Areej Le Dore. This is my favorite floral composition from the house, alongside Civet de Nuit. They both showcase powerful contrasts, where the florals are deeply grounded by the base. The other ones felt a bit bland for me or too "feminine". Also, both of them are highly complex perfumes, with intricate builds. I'm certain Civet de Nuit will become one of the most sought-after Areej perfumes once it sells out. In my opinion, people take it for granted.

And like the first iteration of Walimah wasn't great already, Adam managed to pull off what, in my opinion, is an even better version, with Walimah II. They are almost identical, but the second one is slightly better. It feels like 110% of the first one. What changes the game is the addition of Indian Oud, which gives it more depth, a nice oomph and spicy kick to the opening, and deepens its colors further. Yes, I believe Walimah is a perfume of many colors. An Oriental-Floral composition that is hard to match. Feminine and inviting, sweet materials like florals, cocoa, and cinnamon meet masculine, rougher ones like vetiver, tobacco, oud, and musk. The most prominent floral note is the champaca, heady and wet, almost fleshy. The magnolia is a minor player, lending a hint of crisp fruitiness. There are warm spices that open the perfume and cocoa. The latter makes for a unique and delightful addition. It also pairs very well later on with the musk and the tobacco. The oud is a minor player in part I and more noticeable in part II, making for a fuller and rounder scent experience. The signature powdery musk of the house adds the final touch, alongside the resins in the base and the vetiver. Yes, the vetiver is a major player in this perfume. More so than the oud. Just like the cocoa, it is a unique and more than welcome addition that works incredibly well. It gives off this earthy-verdant quality that grounds the florals and contrasts them. I say it's unique because usually, Oud, Musk, or Ambergirs are used for that purpose, and this is where Adam's way of thinking outside the box comes into play.

A terrific Oriental-Floral composition, among the best I have tried. I prefer Part II over Part I, and I believe it will get even better with time. Hence, I am not planning on keeping both, as one is more than enough. Anyhow, you can't go wrong with either.

IG:@memory.of.scents