Al-Khalta al-Khasa by Rasasi: A Warm, Oriental Nose Punch

Al-Khaltat al-Khasa; Arabic for “the special blend” and special it is. Fighting straight out of Dubai, this unisex fragrance packs a big punch.

• Overview

Al-Khaltat al-Khasa is a spicy floral oriental unisex fragrance from the Emirati perfume house Rasasi. While it is technically a unisex fragrance, I would say that it leans more towards the masculine side of the spectrum. It comes in a concentration of Eau de Parfum (EDP) and is available in 50ml size.

• Presentation

It comes in a small clear cuboid bottle that’s highlighted with gold accents. The cap is gold, the juice is gold, the sprayer is gold, and the marking on the bottle is gold as well. I like the fact that the marking stretches across one of the edges of the bottle to continue onto a second side. It’s as if the intent of the bottle is to be off centered which is pretty cool and unique. The cap can play along as well by easily twisting to match whichever orientation you prefer. Score: 7/10

• Juice

Main notes in this one are rose, saffron, bergamot (barely a hint according to my nose),  and spices all sitting on a base of sandalwood, warm amber, musk, and of course oud oil AKA Dehn al Oud. It’s a pure prototypical Middle Eastern, Arabic, Emirati scent that evokes thoughts warm desert tradition and hospitality.

In Layman’s terms, it smells like rose + sweet wood.

It smells wonderful but the feeling that it brings to me when I smell it is even better. Definitely one of my favorite oriental scents. The rose and saffron combo makes it stand out.  8/10

• Performance

Projection: It projects very well (like most Emirati fragrances) and can even be headache inducing if applied liberally. You will have an oud and rose force field surrounding you for the first few hours after application. 9/10.

Longevity: Two words: beast mode. It lasts all day. Well past 10 hours on the skin and a few days in clothes. 9/10

Impressions (compliment factor): Compliments rain down on me when I wear this one especially from people not used to Arabic/Emirati fragrances. It’s kinda weird getting asked what you are wearing and you reply, “Al-Khlatat al-Khasas from Rasasi”. Like, English, please? 🙂 But, yeah people do ask. One of my buddies asked me and then proceeded to buy it the next day. I’m already on my second bottle and plan on keeping this one in my permanent collection. 9/10

Best used in: Fall and Winter (cool weather).

Best used on: casual dates/outings

• Recap and score:

Presentation  7/10

Scent Composition  8/10

Projection  9/10

Longevity  9/10

Impression (complement factor) 9/10

Overall score: 8.4/10

• Is it right for you?

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Definitely give this one a go if you like: Oriental fragrances, Oud, Rose notes, Saffron notes, warm and mysterious vibes.

What are your thoughts? Have you tried this one before? Let us know in the comments below.