ShaghafOriental Woody Extrait de Parfum

Shaghaf by Anfas is a woody, oriental, and spicy niche perfume extract, unisex, created by master perfumer Christian Carbonnel. In Arabic, shaghaf means passion—the kind that reaches the deepest recesses of the heart.

A house where every fragrance begins with an Arabic word

Anfas (أنفاس) means “breaths” in Arabic, and the house’s theme is Arab hospitality—that way of welcoming guests that, according to its founder, is something you can breathe in the Emirates. It was founded in the United Arab Emirates by Asim Al Qassim, an architect by training and the first certified Emirati perfumer. His method is stated plainly: it begins with an Arabic word, traces back to the emotion it carries, and then translates that emotion into a fragrance formula—creating perfumes that are not inspired by Arab culture, but made from it. His architect’s eye is evident in the bottle: the rim is adorned with palm leaves depicting the sun, a flower opens in the center of the cap like a gift presented on a tray, and each bottle features an Arabic engraving. This one is signed by Christian Carbonnel, the Spanish master perfumer behind Xerjoff’s Erba Pura.

An opening of citrus, ginger, and cardamom

Citrus opens with a bright, zesty clarity, immediately warmed by spicy, slightly soapy ginger and fresh, camphoraceous cardamom. The opening is vibrant, revealing nothing of what is to come.

A heart of cedar, leather, cashmere, and tobacco

Leather and tobacco assert themselves, smoky and subtly honeyed, supported by dry cedar. Cashmere—a woody, musky material with a velvety feel—rounds out the composition and prevents the heart from becoming harsh.

A base of oud, patchouli, amber, opoponax, and Tolu balsam

Oud and patchouli establish an earthy depth, while amber, opoponax—a sweet myrrh—and Tolu balsam bring their warm resins, with a subtle hint of vanilla in the background. The trail is dense and long, awakening on the skin over the course of several hours.

The house’s signature

Five resinous materials in the base alone. Where most woody fragrances settle for oud and amber, Shaghaf layers oud, patchouli, amber, opoponax, and Tolu balsam—four resins and a root, all heavy, all slow. This is the part of the fragrance that lasts, and the house has placed the heart of the formula there. The word explains it: shaghaf does not mean a fleeting impulse, but a passion that settles in and runs deep. Hence the vibrant ten-minute opening, followed by hours of leather, tobacco, and resins.

For whom and for what occasions?

Woody, oriental, and spicy, this perfume extract is for those who love smoky leathers and commanding trails. It is at its best from autumn through winter and in the evening, and is equally suited to women and men.

With Shaghaf Anfas, Christian Carbonnel has captured the Arabic word for a passion that never fades.