Lattafa Asad Bourbon Review: Bourbon Vanilla, Not Whiskey
That first spray is probably my favorite part of Lattafa Asad Bourbon.
It's warm, sweet and slightly burnt-smelling in a good way.
Think vanilla ice cream with the top caramelized just enough to form that little sugary crust.
That's where my mind immediately goes.
And despite having “Bourbon” right there in the name, this is not what I'd recommend if you're looking for a fragrance that smells like somebody poured whiskey into the bottle.
That's not what Asad Bourbon does.
What Does Lattafa Asad Bourbon Smell Like?
Asad Bourbon starts sweet, but there's enough spice and depth underneath it to keep it from smelling like straight dessert.
Lattafa officially lists pink pepper, lavender and Mirabelle plum at the top; cacao, davana and nutmeg through the middle; and vetiver, Bourbon vanilla and amber in the base.
For me, though, the easiest way to explain it is:
Burnt vanilla → warm cacao and spice → smooth bourbon vanilla and amber.
The official note pyramid actually helps explain why the fragrance smells the way it does. There's no whiskey note listed. The “bourbon” element in the base is Bourbon vanilla.
And that's exactly the direction I get from it.
Does Asad Bourbon Smell Like Whiskey?
No.
At least not to my nose.
If you're specifically hunting for that dark, alcoholic whiskey or rum smell, I'd look somewhere else.
Asad Bourbon is much more about vanilla, cacao, sweetness and warm spice.
The opening almost has this toasted or slightly burnt vanilla quality to me.
Then as it dries down, that sharp caramelized feeling smooths out and everything becomes creamier.
That's when the bourbon vanilla really starts making sense.
It's sweet.
Warm.
Smooth.
A little sugary.
But not so sugary that I feel like I'm walking around smelling like a bakery.
There's still enough masculine warmth underneath it to balance everything out.
The Drydown Is Where Asad Bourbon Gets Smooth
After that opening settles down, Asad Bourbon becomes a much smoother fragrance.
The vanilla gets creamier.
The cacao adds some darkness.
The amber creates warmth underneath everything.
And the spice keeps it from becoming flat.
That's basically what I like about it.
Nothing here feels overly complicated.
It just works.
Is Asad Bourbon Good for Fall and Winter?
Absolutely.
This is fall and winter all day for me.
The vanilla, cacao, nutmeg and amber make much more sense when there's some cool air outside.
I could easily see this working for:
Date nights. Evening wear. Holiday season. Going out. Casual cold-weather wear.
It's cozy without smelling soft.
Sweet without feeling childish.
And masculine without needing to throw oud, smoke and leather into everything.
That's a nice change of pace.
How Does Asad Bourbon Perform?
Performance is one of the reasons I think Asad Bourbon makes so much sense at its price.
This isn't one of those affordable fragrances where you love the smell but have to keep spraying yourself every two hours.
It has some presence.
My bigger takeaway is simpler:
This smells like something people around you are going to notice.
And this type of warm vanilla-cacao profile is extremely easy to enjoy in the air.
Is Asad Bourbon Good for Someone New to Fragrance?
I actually think that's one of its strongest uses.
If somebody is just starting to get into fragrances and wants a good cold weather scent without spending designer fragrance money, Asad Bourbon is an easy place to start.
Lattafa USA currently lists the 100 mL bottle at $49.50, while discounters can sometimes have it considerably lower.
You're getting a recognizable cold-weather profile:
Vanilla.
Warm spice.
Cacao.
Amber.
Good performance.
And it's not challenging to wear.
That's a pretty solid combination for somebody who's building a collection.
Who Should Skip Asad Bourbon?
If the word Bourbon is the entire reason you're interested because you're chasing a realistic whiskey fragrance, skip it.
Seriously.
There are fragrances that lean much harder into booze.
This isn't that.
And if you don't like sweet vanilla fragrances in general, this probably isn't going to convert you either.
But if what you want is a smooth, warm, masculine vanilla fragrance without spending a lot, now we're talking.
My Final Thoughts on Lattafa Asad Bourbon
I like this one.
A lot.
That burnt, caramelized vanilla smell in the opening immediately gets my attention, and then the fragrance settles into this smooth bourbon vanilla, cacao, spice and amber combination that just works in colder weather.
It's sweet without going crazy.
Warm without being heavy.
Masculine without relying on the usual dark fragrance tricks.
And the price makes it even easier to recommend.
Just remember:
Bourbon vanilla. Not bourbon whiskey.
Once you understand that, Asad Bourbon makes a whole lot more sense.
If you're looking for an affordable fall or winter fragrance, especially if you're newer to fragrances, this is definitely one worth having on your radar.
Lattafa PerfumesAsad Bourbon$7 - $40Check price on Amazon