Nora. Noted, with thanks. Confirm: Amjal or Ajmal? Ajmal, I can find all over the place but I don't think it's what you're talking about.
Right! I'm really "getting" this now. There is a joy to layering and to spicing up western sprays. I read a wonderful introduction to middle-eastern perfume where the author spoke of sitting in a mall in Dubai and almost seeing signature scents as people walked by - all completely different, yet clearly of the same family: layered oils. Furthermore, incense bathed hair and clothes added further depth and more characters to the story.
Layering ...
I am so glad I didn't just jump in and try to find western perfume alternatives, although I suppose I did with Lord/Kouros and Dakar/Drakkar Noir but that was just to see; glad, also, that I didn't just go for pre-blended perfumes although I will. With a wide sweep across black musks, white musks, ouds, amber scents, patchouli, rose, saffron and other florals, I quickly found I that I absolutely LOVE black musks and can really feel the character of each (likened above to single malt whisky) and love how that ingredient completely changes the character of ludicrously floral rose, be it Ottaman, Damask or Taifi, melllows with oudh to let out the vanilla, coffee and caramel notes, and puts some proper animalic notes into already strong, but could be stronger scents. Ha! Black musk under Pino Silvestre turns it into something even Polo will shy away from!
Sultan Pasha's Âme Sombre and Caffè Ambre Noir really are calling, though ...