Review of Asad Zanzibar by Andrew R

Well, I dislike it less than I used to. Personal: 6/10 – I like this more than I thought I used to. The salt and iris aren't for me, but it's all kind of... interesting, I guess. Mass appeal: 6.5/10 – Somewhat approachable, but the salty iris won't be for everyone. Performance: 7.5/10 – Strong for the price. Good longevity with noticeable projection, especially in the opening. Value: 9/10 – Excellent value. For the price, you get a bold, distinctive fragrance that's unique. Uniqueness: 8.5/10 – Vanilla and iris isn't unusual, but with a salty, coconutty twist, it's strangely tropical. Not sure how to read it, but definitely unique. SCORE: 75/100 Full bottle buy? NO, interesting, but I don't like salt, and I'm picky about iris. Blind buy? NO, the powdery sweetness and salted spice combo could easily turn people off. Recommend? YES, to people who enjoy sweet, exotic, slightly playful scents. Date night? YES, warm, sweet, and intriguing, though not subtle. Office safe? NO, too sweet and noticeable for professional settings. Pros: Strong performance, sweet and unique profile, very good value, memorable Cons: Cloying, synthetic, limited versatility, salty iris isn't for the faint of heart Asad Zanzibar is Lattafa making something truly unique, and I don't know that it works. Overall, I'm torn, because the sweet, coconutty, resinous vanilla is really beautiful, but then that powdery, salty/creamy iris creeps in and it's not a very welcome guest, in my book. This fragrance is best smelled a bit away from the wearer. It truly launches into the air, and it maintains much of the sweetness, and much of its uniqueness, without screaming with the saltiness that I dislike. When it dries down, much of the salt and pepper are gone, leaving a creamy yet powdery vanilla behind, that I really do enjoy. I just cannot stomach the opening enough to let it sit on my skin for a few hours until the beautiful drydown comes around. Its sweetness is bold and persistent, which works well for cooler evenings but can easily become overwhelming if oversprayed. There’s a synthetic edge, but at this price point, it’s expected and mostly forgivable. I really do respect this fragrance. It's different, affordable, and something worth talking about in an otherwise rather mundane and oversaturated market, especially for powdery iris fragrances. That said, it certainly isn't something I'll ever wear, but if it was, it would be scoring *very* well. Nonetheless, I never expected a bottle I somewhat dislike earning a 75.