From information on Parfum d'Empire's website: An elixir blending the aphrodisiacs of many cultures throughout history, Aziyadé draws us into a sensuous feast where the pleasures of love are intimately entwined with those of the palate. More than a fragrance, Aziyadé is a flavor. The flavor of the yielding flesh of Aziyadé, the heroine of Pierre Loti’s eponymous novel, the story of a harem in the twilight of the Ottoman Empire.
This outrageously carnal perfume is a fruity, spice-laden oriental scent that features notes of pomegranate, crystallized date, almond, orange and prune, cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, Egyptian cumin, carob, frankincense, Madagascar vanilla absolute, patchouli, musk and cistus. Aziyade is an eau de parfum, edp.
Parfum d'Empire Aziyade Reviews
From Now Smell This: Aziyadé is named for the main character — a harem girl — of the novel of the same name, and unless I've lost count, is the second fragrance from Parfum d'Empire to take inspiration from the Ottoman Empire (the first being Cuir Ottoman). Those of you who are familiar with the various olfactory portraits of this region will recognize the usual suspects in the notes: pomegranate, dates, almonds, orange, prune, cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, cumin, carob, frankincense, vanilla, patchouli, musk and cistus.
Yes, Aziyadé is another specimen of the stewed fruits + curry spices genre, although the stewed fruits are mostly in the top notes, and they're given some lift and tartness here by the pomegranate. Once the top notes fade, for a time it's nearly a straight-up spice fest. The dry down is woody and only slightly vanillic (it's more dry than sweet), with mild incense and amber.
It could be a pared down Arabie, but it's pared down in a very different way than El Attarine. Aziyadé is closer to spicy-foody than El Attarine, and the woods aren't as velvety-smooth. It's lighter and drier than Arabie, and possibly more wearable: that all depends on how you feel about cumin. I'm hard pressed to say which fragrance has more cumin — one day it seemed to be Arabie, the next, Aziyadé. I will say that because Aziyadé is a less foody-rich scent than Arabie, the cumin seems to stand out more, and it deepens considerably as it dries down.
From Olfactoria's Travels: What I smell is incense-y pine with an overlay of spicy fruit in the beginning. Later the spices take over – with a vengeance. Cumin is a major player in Aziyadé. The drydown is soft, a vanillic and woody musk that is still impregnated with spices.
