Halwa KissSpicy Gourmand Eau de Parfum

Halwa Kiss by OJAR is a spicy, vanilla gourmand eau de parfum, unisex, created by Dalia Izem. It features honey at its heart, one of the house's six founding ingredients, held together by sesame seeds.

A house born from Dhofar frankincense

OJAR is an Omani house founded by Sheikha Hind Bahwan. The name comes from HOJARI, the world's most renowned grade of frankincense, harvested in the mountains of Dhofar. The founder summarizes her project in one sentence: "OJAR is a fusion of East and West — I have brought together the best expertise from each region." The catalog is organized into six collections by ingredient, three of which come from Oman — Dhofar frankincense, Jebel Akhdar rose, and Rustaq honey — complemented by sandalwood, musk, and oud. The formulas are entrusted to perfumers from around the world: Dalia Izem, Gaël Montero, Jordi Fernández, Michel Girard, Nanako Ogi.

An opening of cardamom, saffron, and pistachio

Cardamom brings its camphor freshness, saffron its leathery facet and color, and pistachio a green and slightly milky nut. Three ingredients found in the confectionery from which the perfume takes its name.

A heart of dates, roasted nuts, and honey

Honey holds the heart: thick, waxy, slightly animalic, it is the Omani ingredient of the formula. The dates bring their candied sweetness and a little leather, the roasted nuts a roasted bitterness, and the rose — the house's second signature ingredient — comes to place a flower in the middle of the sweetness.

A base of amber, vanilla, and sesame seeds

Sesame seeds are what prevent the perfume from becoming a dessert: their roasted smell is oily and frankly bitter. Vanilla rounds it out, amber brings its resinous warmth and longevity. The dry down is drier than the heart.

The house's gesture

Halwa is the quintessential Omani confectionery — a thick paste flavored with saffron and cardamom, offered to visitors. The house says it was inspired by these Omani confectionery traditions and the festive gatherings that surround them. The perfume takes up its spices almost ingredient by ingredient, but adds two things: honey, because Rustaq honey is one of the house's six key ingredients — Halwa Kiss belongs to its Honey collection, by the way — and sesame, whose roasted bitterness prevents the gourmand sweetness from collapsing.

For whom, for what occasions?

For those who love nutty gourmands rather than caramel ones, and are looking for a sweetness held together by bitterness. It is an autumn and winter fragrance, rather for the evening, with long-lasting wear and an enveloping trail. Halwa Kiss OJAR will appeal to those who want a spicy gourmand.