Review of Ishq Al Shuyukh Gold by Yaroslavna Lasytsya

Ishq Al Shuyukh Gold opens with caramel, - the thick, syrupy kind. It is lightly intoxicating and spiced by saffron: sharp, golden-ochre, and unmistakably oriental. From the first moments, there is leather—well-aged and worn, like a favourite saddle that remembers every curve of its rider. A fresh, almost citrus-like flash darts through the early composition. It is strangely reassuring and bright-sweet without becoming sugary or sticky. The contrast is peculiar, exciting, and remarkably well judged: brightness against depth, a polished sparkle over the gravity of aged leather. As it settles, the leather becomes smoked and softens towards suede. Yet this is never the taut, pristine “fluff” of a new suede accessory. It remains lived-in and tactile, with the quiet authority of something of excellent quality that has been loved and used. Vanilla rounds the sweetness without overwhelming it, lending warmth rather than dessert-like excess. Leather, ambrettolide musk and vanilla are interwoven like the finest tweed: textured, classical, captivating and evocatively embracing. With warmth from the skin, the leather gradually melts into a buttery and lightly dusty suede. The effect is slow, assured and very elegant. This is a genuinely convincing unisex fragrance, with an enrapturing intensity balanced by controlled, considerate projection. It has the character of a great-quality leather perfume: bright-spicy, golden, and somehow reminiscent of old Hollywood—tailored glamour, amber light, polished wood, cigarette smoke lingering in velvet-lined rooms. The dry-down is particularly beautiful: a deep, smoky, lightly vanillic suede that feels luxurious, aristocratic and sophisticated. There is also a small trick up my sleeve with this creation: it layers exceptionally well with raspberry-based fragrances. Raspberry lends Ishq Al Shuyukh Gold a vivid lift and an elegant, almost mischievous spark, illuminating its supple golden leather; in return, the leather tempers the fruit’s wild sweetness, transforming it into something more poised, sophisticated and distinctly grown-up.