Takween

Takween's opening is one of the more surprising combinations in Zimaya's perfume-oil range: dark, smoky oud paired directly with juicy passion fruit and a touch of rose. The retailer's own copy calls it 'oriental notes with a hint of luxury', and the fruity-oud pairing does give it a playful, slightly sweet edge that pure attar-style oud oils lack. The heart brings amber, musk and patchouli into a warmer, more grounded register, before the base settles into a classic resinous amber-labdanum-musk finish. The combination of oud and passion fruit is unusual enough to make Takween stand out within the house's line-up, which otherwise leans more conventionally amber or floral. It's a fruity-oriental hybrid that should appeal to wearers who like oud but want something less austere and more approachable than a traditional Arabian attar. As with the rest of the perfume-oil format, expect close-skin wear and moderate longevity, with the amber-labdanum base doing the heavy lifting to keep it present through the day.