Widian / AJ Arabia
A unique visual signature based on accords, character, and seasonality
Pink pepper and cinnamon explode first, catching the back of your nose with their sharp, peppery bite whilst bergamot provides bright citral contrast. Within moments, the spice softens, becoming less aggressive and instead warming the skin—a peppery embrace rather than a slap.
The florals emerge gradually, tuberose and jasmine developing in concert rather than jostling for prominence. The creamy coconut milk has now become apparent, smoothing the white floral edges and creating an almost gourmand character that's decidedly non-linear for a traditional floral composition. Coriander adds a subtle herbaceous thread beneath the sweetness.
Tobacco leaf and cedarwood take command, the patchouli adding earthy weight whilst sandalwood contributes soft, woody skin-scent quality. Vanilla and amber layer beneath, creating something reminiscent of talced skin warmed by amber resin—intimate, lingering, and decidedly non-volatile.
Hili arrives as a masterclass in tropical opulence wrapped in spice. Jordi Fernández has constructed something genuinely unusual here—a fragrance that refuses the expected path of its lush floral heart. Yes, there's tuberose and jasmine aplenty, but they're corralled and seasoned with pink pepper and cinnamon that lends an almost savoury quality to what could otherwise be a conventional white floral. The spice doesn't compete with the flowers; rather, it seasons them, much like cardamom might enliven cream in a dessert.
What distinguishes Hili from its competitors is the creamy infrastructure underlying everything. Coconut milk forms the true backbone here, its buttery, slightly nutty character lifting the florals into something almost edible. There's a suggestion of tropical decadence—think less Hawaiian beach bar and more the interior of a high-end perfumery in the Emirates, which is precisely where this fragrance originates. The base reveals tobacco leaf and cedarwood, those traditionally masculine anchors, which ground the sweetness and prevent Hili from becoming saccharine.
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Nicolaï / Parfums de Nicolaï
4.0/5 (158)