Review of Habik by Yaroslavna Lasytsya

Habik for Women by Lattafa reads like a summer sprite with a glint in her eye: bright, brisk, and just a little stroppy. It may benefit from a bit of maceration, as the opening can show a noticeable alcohol edge, but once that sharpness softens, the fragrance reveals a far more graceful and enchanting character. It opens with dragonfly-like immediacy, bergamot catching the nose at once with sparkling sharpness. The pear is juicy and crisp without ever becoming nectarous, held in elegant check by bergamot’s watchful brightness, while the white florals are beautifully blended, with freesia rendered in one of the most photorealistic ways of its kind. Pear and freesia lend the scent a tart, vivid facet that keeps it sparkling, refreshing, and alive. The real masterstroke is the musk-and-oakmoss base, which gives the fragrance structure without weighing it down. It is sharp, fresh, and lightly spicy, creating the perfect framework for the white florals and preventing them from collapsing into yet another familiar summer cliché. Instead, the pear stays bright and juicy, the florals feel satin-smooth and cool to the touch, and the base brings a poised, elegant backbone that makes the whole composition feel composed rather than merely pretty. Amber appears only as a glimmer on the skin, like fairy dust, never heavy or dark. For a composition that reads as airy and light on paper, it projects remarkably well, lasting at least 6 hours on skin and 10+ hours on fabric. The result is a very un-Arab-like Arab in the best sense: luminous, playful, and subtly unruly, like a summer sprite that refuses to sit still.