Shooting Stars Collection: Dhajala Xerjoff for women

XerJoff DHAJALA was my first experience of the perfumes of this house, and it was a positive one. First off, my tiny 1ml sample lasted five full wearings (on separate days), and there's still enough left for another wear! So this is more like a pure perfume than an eau de parfum, it seems to me. What matters above all, of course, is how the perfume smells.

Glorious! DHAJALA is a very complex and compelling composition to my nose. It travels through several distinct stages, each of which is beautiful. My distinct impression is that there is rose present, although it is not listed among the notes. Basically, this is a complex tapestry of scent which evolves in unexpected ways throughout the duration of a wear.

DHAJALA is one of the rare perfumes which I find myself commenting outloud about while wearing it, saying, "I smell wonderful," etc., etc. I have really savored this gem, which is a slightly spicy and dark woody ambroiental boasting ambergris and exotic balsams, and am very much looking forward to testing the other creations of this house.

The oriental basenotes of Dhajala seems to be what i detect most throught its evolution on my skin. They create for me a similar patchouli and amber combination which makes me think particularly of Prada Edp and Opium Pour Homme EDP. The difference is that what creates the patchouli-like aroma doesn't have the camphor facet and the amber seems not so loud, altough very noticeable, of a better quality here. I get a quick flowery citrus at the opening, which is almost a standard of this line, starting with something citrus. Then it goes to a spicy heart mixed with the galbanum, which is more green and grassy and lacks the bitter and difficult aspect of the note. Then, the base is all about resinous and woody notes. It's pretty good, but i already have and enjoy prada edp and opium homme edp, so i don't need this one.

Dhajala projects more sweetness on my skin than the listed notes would promise. Some combination of fruit and rose (certainly there's a bit of rose, isn't there?)--morphs into what I perceive as a pineapple note. I have the overall impression of tropical fruit and flowers over an animalic, aromatic, slightly resinous base. Not my favorite of this line. As I sniff my wrist I hear echoes of Amouage Lyric Woman, but louder, sung in a sharp key, with fewer base notes and a less subtle balance in the harmony.

Unfortunately the little Luckyscent sample sprayer that Dhajala came in was broken or malfunctioning, so instead of a spray, what came out was a few dribbles that I spread around as best I could. This is probably not the optimal way to apply perfume, but at least I was able to smell it.

Dhajala starts out a little bit citrusy, and a little bit sharp and aromatic from the galbanum and whatever other herbal things are in it. As it develops, it takes on a unique, bittersweet scent with hints of rose and some other unidentifiable flowers and woody resins. It is supposed to have “Tonkiphora and Myroswellia balsam” at the base. I have never smelled either of these resins, so cannot judge whether they are present in the mix. Like the other Xerjoff creations, it’s a good perfume, but not worth buying the expensive packaging to get the stuff inside.