This isn't a shy scent, so if you're not into big, bold rose-ouds, steer clear. Some find it a chemical mess, others hail it a masterpiece. For the price, it's a stellar entry into traditional Middle Eastern perfumery, but it's divisive and definitely not a safe blind buy.

Tahrir channels Penhaligon's Cairo with its radiant saffron-and-rose desert opening drying into sweet vanilla and woods. The warm, spicy desert-rose character comes through, though it projects softer and reads flatter than the niche original.