Kajal Perfumes Dahab, Kajal Perfumes Homme II, Kajal Perfumes Lamar photo by Steven©
Kajal – meaning kohl in the Indian culture – a natural product that protects and beautifies the eyes; or from the Arabic word “khajal”– modesty, humility, and kindness-Moe Khalef
My first encounter with Kajal fragrances was at Esxence 2019 where I met Moe Khalef, the owner and creative director of Kajal Perfumes (a truly great man, so humble) and I quickly became a fan. He explained art in all its different forms are all sources of inspiration for his perfumes. This is apparent not only in the quality of the perfumes but in the flacons and “signature” intricate stoppers.
Kajal Perfumes Lamar photo by Steven©
Kajal Perfumes LAMAR (Mark Buxton) 2020: Liquid gold, known as “lamar” in Arabic, was used in many aspects of decorating artworks: in architecture, jewelry, and manuscript illumination. In the creation process of Kajal LAMAR, the brand engaged the versatile and renowned master perfumer Mark Buxton, (whose fragrances include Comme des garcons EDP , Le Labo Vetiver 46 and his own line of eponymous fragrances to name a few). “My inspiration for Kajal LAMAR, was to create a rich, natural, warm, long-lasting fragrance, by using high quality natural products”. Straight out this is a fruit-centric fragrance. It’s not Carmen Miranda fruity-much more urbane and sophisticated, with hints of spices (coriander and cardamom), a touch of toffee and rich rose. If you think these ingredients are for women perfumes only, perhaps you need to rethink your ideas of “gender” in fragrance. Mark Buxton was a great choice for perfumer as he’s able to balance the explosion of tart fruit (pineapple, bergamot, berries) with an ambery vanillic, honeyed base. And, as everything with Mr. Buxton -it is a true original You can read more about Kajal Lamar in Editor Ermano Picco’s Pitti 2021 report (a Best of Show Award) here
Kajal Perfumes Homme II photo by Steven©
Kajal Homme II (Christian Carbonnel & Rosendo Mateu) 2021: When I saw the “II” after Kajal Homme II, I thought it might be a flanker of 2005’s Classic Kajal Homme. What they have in common are the perfumers (Christian Carbonnel aka Chris Maurice known for such scents as Masque Milano Mandala, Xerjoff More than Words, to name just two) and master perfumer Rosendo Mateau and a sense of classic elegance. Kajal Homme II is a completely different fragrance. It is a fresh woody-aromatic EDP and notes of bergamot, lavender and atlas cedar wood predominate. The twist is the peach and cinnamon that adds a bit of sweetness and in my opinion it is gender fluid.
Kajal Perfumes Dahab photo by Steven
Kajal Perfumes Dahab (Christian Carbonnel & Rosendo Mateu) 2015: I have never smelled Kajal Perfumes Dahab. But judging from Steven’s video and Editor Nicoleta Tomsa’s review, (an excerpt from what she wrote “Kajal Dahab (translated as gold) promises and delivers an opulent fruity overdose fit for the appetite of a god”). I need to change that SOON..
Top notes are bergamot and granny smith apple; middle notes are passionfruit, coriander, and cedar; base notes are patchouli, musk, and amber.
Photo of Islamic art piece on display at the Louvre Paris courtesy of Kajal Perfumes
I asked Steven Gavrielatos aka Redolessence, CaFleureBon Video Journalist Contributor, to review three of his favorite Kajal Perfumes (which are also two of mine) Kajal Homme II, Kajal Dahab and Kajal Lamar. -Michelyn Camen, Editor-in-Chief (wafting Lamar)
Disclosure: Steven received Kajal Perfumes Homme II for this review; Michelyn received Lamar; opinions our own
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Thanks to the generosity of Kajal Perfumes and Moe Khalef we have a readers’ choice of 100 ml bottle of Kajal Homme II or 100 ml bottle of Kajal LAMAR or 100 ml of Dahab bottle for one registered reader in the USA, EU, UK You must be a registered CaFleureBon reader and Redolessence subscriber in the countries above (if you are not sure if you are registered click here To be eligible please leave a comment ON THIS SITE with what you enjoyed about The Three Kajal Perfumes you should be wearing from BOTH Michelyn ‘s Introduction and Steven’s video and which you would like to win (name one, be specific please) and where you live. There is only one winner. Draw closes 11/14/2021 and will be announced within a week or two.
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