Wisal For Women

Wisal opens with a brief floral-spicy flourish - a wash of soft florals threaded with warm spice - before the rose takes centre stage. That heart is the whole point: a deep, dark-red rose dusted with clove and a faint smoky edge, rich and a touch oriental, exactly the bouquet the Ajmal original is loved for. Sandalwood, musk and quiet woods anchor the base, lending a creamy, unisex warmth. Compared to the Ajmal it imitates, this Perfume Parlour version reads softer and rounder: the rose is a little sweeter and the smoky, spicy facets are gentler, while the legendary all-day-and-into-tomorrow longevity becomes a more ordinary several-hour wear. It still presents as an elegant, grown-up spicy rose - lovely for cooler evenings, dates and dressed-up occasions - delivering the heart of Wisal at a fraction of the cost, if without its remarkable tenacity.