At Exsence, my friend Nikki and I embarked on a remarkable olfactory adventure at the enchanting Kajal Perfumes booth. Amidst a diverse collection of scents and captivating stories, we were introduced to Kajal’s latest fragrance release, AICAN, poised to join the distinguished lineup that includes Kajal Lamar, Kajal Almaz, Kajal Masa, and Kajal Dehab. Although these fragrances have a distinctly feminine appeal, their craftsmanship is undeniably exquisite. Were I to embody a more feminine persona, each one of these fragrances would undoubtedly find a place in my collection.

In April, our journey took an exciting turn as we formed a promising partnership with Kajal to further elevate their presence in the Netherlands. Our upcoming events and gatherings at Memories&Scents will prominently feature the Kajal brand, with these exquisite women fragrances set to be the stars of the show.

Yet, alongside this well-known narrative lies a lesser-told story: the tale of Kajal Homme. With straightforward names like Kajal Homme I, Kajal Homme II, Kajal III, and Kajal IV, my curiosity was piqued.

Each fragrance in the Kajal Homme line invited me into a unique sensory journey. As I started with Faris, I was met with a scent that reminded me of Invictus Aqua and Rasasi Hawas. —both good scents but nothing unique. It's definitely a crowd-pleaser, but I want something that stands out!  Moving on to Kajal Homme—another freshie. Kajal Homme II? Another freshie. My hopes were falling fast, like a comet. Kajal Homme III? Finally, a fresh scent with some added spices. It's decent, but it gives me the same vibe as Parfums de Marly Layton and Bvlgari Tygar. They aren’t clones, but I would wear them on the same occasions.

Kajal Homme IV
As I approached the final fragrance of this collection, I prepared myself for another fresh fragrance - thinking this line might not be for me. However, Kajal Homme IV surprised me with a striking twist—a captivating blend of sweet leather that unfolded into a sublime smokiness. Heavy, sweet, leather! Tom Ford Tuscan Leather and Tom Ford Ombre Leather now have a serious competitor. The conclusion was easy: Kajal Homme IV would be my new go-to fragrance.

The next day, I checked the weather, as the Netherlands is usually rainy and cold. But of course, it was sunny and a bit too warm. Fortunately, Monday brought cooler and rainier weather—perfect to test Kajal Homme IV again! 

I sprayed it as usual: two behind the ears, one on the neck, one on the chest, one on the head (easy with no hair), two on the shoulders from a distance to avoid staining my clothes, and two on my leather jacket. I have to say this fragrance is a real beast mode fragrance! The whole house was filled with the scent. Okay, maybe I overdid it by spraying as usual, but at least I knew I was wearing something.

My wife and I drove to the office, and she had to roll down the window. OH YEAH, she was smelling me! I was thrilled! After 20–30 minutes, the fragrance settled but remained strong and linear. When I arrived at the office, my niece, who works with us, hugged me. As she walked back to her desk, she stopped, turned around, and said, “What I smell isn’t your leather jacket, it’s your perfume.” With a big smile, I asked if she liked it. Her answer was diplomatic: “It suits you perfectly.” Essentially, she was saying she understood why I was wearing it, knowing that I like strong fragrances,  but it wasn’t her type of scent.

Throughout the day, the fragrance remained strong for 4–5 hours, and then it slowly became closer to the skin. Even after 8 hour-working day and a gym session, I could still smell it, though it wasn’t as potent as before.

Conclusion: 

Kajal IV is a fantastic choice for those who love sweet leather fragrances. There’s a hint of smokiness, but it doesn’t dominate the scent. It’s comparable to leather-heavy fragrances like Tom Ford’s Tuscan Leather, Ombre Leather, and Rasasi La Yuqawam, though a bit less smoky. However, be aware that it’s not as universally liked as more versatile fragrances. I tend to wear my fragrances heavily, so a lighter application might improve its likability. Will it make it into my top 30? I need to wear it a few more times in colder weather, but I’m confident it will replace Tom Ford’s Ombre Leather in my rankings.

Ratings:

Projection: 10
Sillage: 10
Longevity: 10
Complexity: 6.5
Uniqueness: 7
Likability (by others): 5.5
How much I like it: 8
Overall Rating: 8.2