This sub got me into Arabian oils. I like that they are different than what you always come across and they are so affordable. A whole bottle of many of them costs around the same as picking up a sample of a typical Western. BUT, the notes often sound so similar that I wondered how different each could actually smell. The answer: very different.

So, here are my reviews of the 7 that I own, side by side. As a note, a lot of people talk about how they seem to get better after you let them sit for a few months. I have a lot of trouble believing it, as I'm sure they sit in a warehouse for quite a while before they land at your door. Despite this, I have noticed changes in some, but that may be due to gaining experience with these scents and changes in weather. Also, I'm female, so the scents that I chose are either unisex or feminine, but I'll note.

I'll start with my favorite. Swiss Arabian - Barq. This one is on the feminine side of unisex. It's an exceptional sandalwood scent with a good amount of pleasant baking-type spices: cinnamon, cardamom, vanilla, and brown sugar. It smells like someone baked you some wonderfully spiced, not-too-sweet cookies and brought them to you in a sandalwood basket. It's glorious. It dries down to sandalwood, wood, vanilla, and a bit of cardamom after a few hours. It lasts for ages.

Al Haramain - Hajar Unisex? I find it a bit odd, so it's hard for me to place. The fragrantica notes got this all wrong. This is a ylang ylang heavy scent, which is not my favorite note. This starts with the opening that I find typical of Arabian oils which is best described as urinal cake, but that fades pretty quickly. I did notice that after having this for a bit, the awful opening is less obvious. It fades and becomes a soapy, fresh, ylang ylang centric floral. I like this for layering, to add a light, fresh, floral feeling to other oils.

Al Rehab - Sondos On the feminine side of unisex because of the florals. It's listed as "Sandal Rose" in the fragrantica database. This one I'm desperately hoping changes as it sits. It opens with a soapy fresh woody scent, but then settles into 2 glorious hours of sandalwood with the freshest, just picked flowers. Really stunning. Then the flowers fade and the "sour musk" base note takes hold and it smells like something you would use to strip hardwood floors. And it goes on like that until you scrub it off of yourself in desperation. I'm not giving up on you, Sondos.

Al Haramain - Madinah My first oil, recommended by a user on this board. I think this might be considered unisex to masculine in some parts of the world, but unisex to feminine in others. It's a rose and oud scent, not far from Armani Prive Rose d'Arabie, but a bit brighter, where the Armani is deeper. I've found that it smells very rose centric close to your skin, but people who walk into my closet-of-an-office have asked about the incense scent in the air. Deep, beautiful and very sensual. Someone on fragrantica commented that it was too soapy for her. There are moments that I get "soapy" too, but I think that depends on my mood and the weather. YMMV.

Al Rehab - Sultana Unisex. This is a light oud with sandalwood and incense. Close to the skin and easy to wear. I find this strikingly beautiful, but not nearly as strong as most of the others. A warm, comforting scent and highly recommended as an entry point into Arabians.

Al Rehab - Al Sharquiah Unisex. Another one suggested by a user on this forum. I found this one challenging at first, but it seriously grew on me. It's primarily syrupy dates, incense, and oud. I'm looking forward to super cold days to try this one by itself, as it's been too warm for the months that I've had it to really give it a chance on its own. So far, this has been really amazing at giving scents serious depth and complexity. I've layered this with Madinah and found the combination wildly sexy. Added it to Dior Mitzah (an incense and wood scent) and it was luxurious and dark. Looking forward to playing with it more and seeing what it can do.

Al Rehab - Noria Feminine. A simple scent that smells like coconut cake with almond extract. There's some musk in there too. I feel like it's great for when you want to add a touch of gourmand to something, but don't want vanilla. I don't see myself wearing it on its own, but it's perfectly pleasant. It would be good as a cheapie stocking stuffer for a younger girl interested in fragrances. Nabeel Christina is supposed to smell like strawberry cupcakes, and would work for that as well.