Ward Mostafa

Named for the prophet who loved roses above all other flowers. Ward Mostafa takes that seriously: the finest Taif rose at the center, alongside Persian and Japanese ottos – among the most sought-after roses in the world. Taif rose opens the composition. Not the empty, vaguely floral rose of mainstream perfumery, but the real thing: lemony, bright and sensual, slightly spiced, with a faint, delectable fruitiness that borders on overripe. Labdanum and benzoin deepen the base without drawing attention away from the rose; they serve as soil, giving the flower somewhere to root. Ambergris introduces a faint saline vibe throughout – and quietly amplifies the roses in the process. I love coupling our custom-distilled Cambodian oud’s incense-fruity profile with roses of this caliber – the way they complement each other is one of those cases where incredible parts become one extraordinary whole. Because Ward Mostafa is part of our über-high-concentration series, this is meant to be applied – swiped directly onto skin, not sprayed. That changes how the scent unveils itself. The notes stay close together, intimate and unhurried. The roses don’t fade or thin out. They settle and become more concentrated, the way cut flowers smell in a warm room hours after they’ve been arranged. Ward Mostafa lets you enjoy elegant beauty: oud and rose at their finest, with a select ensemble of precious aromatics woven quietly throughout.