Qasida

Qasida opens with ripe, juicy fruity notes that the brand describes as glowing "like dates under the setting sun" - sweet, inviting, yet unmistakably bold rather than a light citrus-fresh introduction. At its core, soft floral notes bloom like jasmine and rose in what Ajmal's own copy calls "a private courtyard," adding warmth and femininity without softening the composition's underlying boldness. This jasmine-rose pairing is the fragrance's most concrete, recognisable stretch. The base dives into musky, leathery and oud-infused tones, grounding the composition in a scent that lingers for hours. The oud in particular ties Qasida to Ajmal's wider Middle Eastern oud heritage rather than a purely Western floral structure. Overall Qasida - meaning "ode" or "poem" in Arabic, referring to the narrative power of storytelling through scent - reads as a fruity-floral-oud unisex composition. The date-like sweetness and jasmine-rose heart give it an inviting warmth, while the musky-leather-oud base provides the lasting, moderate-to-strong sillage the brand markets it on, best suited to fall and winter wear.