Musamam is available as a 100 ml eau de parfum from Lattafa. Its bottle stays sober, without gilding or pronounced relief, where part of the range leans more towards ornament — and that sobriety says quite well what is inside.
Fragrance pyramid
Top notes: saffron, lavender, Italian mandarin
Heart notes: amber wood, Virginia cedar, geranium
Base notes: akigalawood, incense, labdanum
How it unfolds
Mandarin brings the only frankly fresh note of the opening, immediately contradicted by saffron and its leathery facet, and by lavender, herbaceous and slightly camphoraceous. A dry opening, more aromatic than fruity.
The heart sets in the woods: Virginia cedar is the driest and most pencil-like of the cedars, while geranium adds its green, slightly rosy note.
The base is the most interesting part. Akigalawood is a relatively recent material, obtained from patchouli through an enzymatic process: it keeps patchouli’s earth and wood, but with a peppery facet and a clarity that raw patchouli lacks. Combined with incense — resinous, slightly lemony, with that church-smoke side — and labdanum, a warm, leathery resin, it gives Musamam its characterful base.
Who it’s for, and when
Unisex, with a masculine lean. Autumn and winter; the incensed-woody register suits day as well as evening.
Usage tips
Two sprays: the resinous base is tenacious.
Let the quarter of an hour of the opening pass before judging.
One spray on clothing noticeably prolongs the sillage.
Store away from light and heat.
Details
Size: 100 ml, eau de parfum, spray
Brand: Lattafa
Gender: unisex, masculine-leaning
Family: woody spicy incensed
Precautions: flammable, external use, do not spray into the eyes, keep out of reach of children
