Hawas Exotic opens strange in a good way. Mugwort, carrot, and coconut share space with bergamot and lavender — an odd combination on paper that reads more interesting than gimmicky once it settles. Cardamom keeps it from drifting too sweet.

The heart brings cinnamon and jasmine in alongside lily of the valley and freesia — florals showing up in a fragrance that reads mostly woody-amber.

The base is where it earns the Le Male Elixir Absolu comparison: ambergris, labdanum, benzoin, and cypriol, thick and resinous, built for cold weather and long wear.