I was around 14 yrs old when I got a bottle of Preferred Stock for xmas. I probably went through 5-8 bottles of the stuff during my high school years. Then when I moved out on my own, perfume was a luxury a poor working teen couldn't justify spending his money on... so i wore nothing, but deodorant, for many years. Wearing Sauvage Elixir today, and it has a faint resemblance to my old favorite. (They share a number of notes) What was you first fragrance? Is there a modern scent that reminds you of it?

The Spirit of Dubai is one of those houses that reminds people that Middle Eastern perfumery is much bigger than inexpensive clones and loud synthetic fragrances. This is the ultra-luxury niche division of Nabeel Perfumes, created to capture different sides of Dubai through fragrance. The first thing that stands out is the presentation. These bottles are elaborate, heavy, and unmistakably Middle Eastern. Some people may find them over-the-top, but this house isn't selling subtlety. The presentation, ingredients, performance, and pricing are all intended to feel luxurious. The fragrances are usually dense, complex, and built with materials such as oud, rose, saffron, leather, incense, amber, spices, and rich woods. Even their fresher creations tend to have more weight and depth than the average fresh fragrance. These are not fragrances you completely understand from one quick spray on paper. They need time on skin because there is usually a lot happening from the opening through the drydown. Performance is one of the strengths of the house. Most of these fragrances project strongly, leave a noticeable scent trail, and last for many hours. You normally do not need many sprays. In the Arizona heat, I would be especially careful with the darker oud, leather, and amber fragrances. Many of them make more sense during our cooler months or on cooler evenings. Meydan is one of the best-known fragrances from the house. It is dark, smoky, leathery, and animalic, with enough power to fill a room. This is not a safe blind buy, but it represents the bold personality of the brand very well. Turath is another standout, built around oud, rose, spices, leather, and amber. It has that rich Middle Eastern character, but it also feels polished and expensive. Bahar shows the fresher side of the house. It still has plenty of substance, but it is brighter, more aquatic, and easier to wear in warmer weather than many of the heavier releases. This will be my scent for the afternoon and early evening, going to dinner.