Junoon Leather

Junoon Leather opens with a big hit of cardamom over a sliver of oud and soft florals - the spicy, aromatic blast that defines the Rasasi original. It settles into a dense amber heart peppered with spice, sweet and dry, before a base of white musk, amber and agarwood rounds it out. Against the original this budget version reads flatter and less pungent: the resinous richness and the smoky nuance that gave Junoon Leather its wake of mystery are softened, and the overall intensity is dialled down. It wears as a bold, characterful Arabian-style masculine - built for cool weather, evenings and dressier occasions. Projection is moderate and longevity skin-close after the opening hours, the usual budget trade against the famously intense, 8-plus-hour original. Note that despite the name, leather is barely present in either the original or this dupe - the real story is cardamom, spice and amber. As a smell-alike it captures that spicy-amber-oud signature while losing some of the density and tenacity.