Video summary

How to Smell Rich: Perfume Hacks, Men vs Women & Lasting Tips - Abdulla Ajmal | FO387 Raj Shamani

Main summary

Key takeaways

Product Review

Product / Brand Reviewed

Ajmal perfumes, discussed in a video led by Abdullah Ajmal (CEO of Ajmal Group). The video is mostly educational, while also referencing specific Ajmal products/lines and how Ajmal formulates for performance in Indian weather.

Key Features Highlighted

Fragrance performance focus

  • Strong emphasis on long-lasting projection and wearability, especially in India’s climate.
  • Ajmal claims it uses higher oil content in fragrances, discussed through % “oil dosage” in EDP-style formulas.

Ingredients & raw-material sourcing

  • Mentions premium/limited raw materials such as:
    • Madagascar vanilla
    • Indian jasmine
    • Kashmir saffron
  • Explains how raw-material choices affect aroma and the dry-down / “effect after that.”

“Crafting memories” / ritualistic use

  • Positions perfume as an art connected to emotion and memory, referencing the limbic/olfaction link.

Regional scent preference tailoring (India)

  • Fragrance popularity differs by region:
    • North / North-West / North-East: more ambers/woods and “sweetish/woody” directions
    • South: prefers florals, especially jasmine / white florals

EDT/EDP/Extract concentration guidance (Ajmal’s view)

  • Provides practical guidance on concentration types and expected longevity/projection.

Usage techniques

  • Recommends where/how to apply:
    • Skin first
    • Also mentions methods involving clothes (e.g., jacket/pocket square tricks)
  • Advises against “one-size-fits-all” spraying.

Main Pros (as presented)

  • Longer-lasting and better projection (compared with lower-dose options)
    • Claims EDT and other lower-dose concentrations generally underperform for longevity/projection.
    • Emphasizes an EDP / higher oil % approach.
  • Better fragrance “development”
    • A quality perfume should evolve smoothly (top note → heart/base), compared to a music crescendo.
  • Product education & transparency
    • Discusses sourcing and warns consumers not to pick perfumes purely based on smelling someone else on them.
  • Range suits different moods/occasions
    • Examples include categories like romantic/seductive, “beast mode” diffusion, and gym-appropriate marine fresh profiles.

Main Cons (as presented)

  • Not worth buying solely on others’ skin
    • Repeated warning: fragrances smell differently on different people, so copying someone else’s trail can disappoint.
  • Over-application can backfire
    • Strong application can be inconsiderate, may trigger asthma sensitivity, and can overwhelm in enclosed spaces (example: gym).
  • Don’t buy by price alone
    • Argues expensive isn’t always better—you’re paying for specific raw materials, but what matters is how it fits your needs.

User Experience / Practical Advice (How It’s Used)

Common mistakes when buying perfume

  1. Smelling someone else and buying what they wear.
  2. Buying for “lasting power” without understanding concentration and performance expectations.

How to apply for best trail

  • Suggested method: use an “M formation” on neck/chest for long-lasting effect (avoid randomly spraying only a few spots).
  • Apply skin first, then optionally clothes (jacket/pocket square) in moderation.
  • Mentions applying to areas that move (e.g., hands) to increase noticeable trail.

Expected longevity guidance (Ajmal’s ranges)

  • EDT: ~4–6 hours (often less)
    • Ajmal strongly suggests EDC/EDT shouldn’t be purchased if longevity is the goal.
  • EDP: at least 12 hours
    • Mentions “lab expectation” claims of ≥24 hours.
  • Extract / Extract-like: 12+ hours, typically strong projection
    • Often tied to “higher oil” categories.

Gym use

  • Recommends fresh/marine family fragrances with controlled projection to avoid irritating others or becoming “dangerous” in enclosed workout spaces.

Comparisons Made

Price vs quality

  • Expensive ≠ automatically better
  • Ajmal argues “expensive” can come from limited-availability raw materials and actual formulation impact (not just label language).

EDT vs EDP vs higher-oil “X-ray / beast mode” style

  • He contrasts:
    • EDC (lowest oil) / EDT (lower projection) → weaker
    • EDP / higher oil % (15–20%+; “X-ray” up to ~30%+) → stronger projection and longevity

Gender/unisex market vs personal preference

  • Notes brands often market fragrances as unisex.
  • Observes: in India, women are more likely to wear men’s fragrances for longevity/functionality.

Regional style preferences (India)

  • Uses North vs South scent profiles (woods/amber vs florals/jasmine) as a framework for what performs better culturally.

Specific Product Mentions / Examples

  • Latest launch mentioned: “Samjh Le Untold Woh” (50 ml; described as expensive—exact pricing details are unclear in subtitles).
  • Signature scent idea: “signature scents” and also legacy/family-style perfumes.
  • North market examples (style references):
    • Ambwood, Embud/Embu wood-type references
    • Embed mentioned with an approximate price range of ₹12,000–₹15,000 (example reference includes a sale in Guwahati).
  • Oud-centric luxury raw material discussion
    • Mentions claims/ideas around historically premium inputs (including civet/whale-womit as an example of ultra-premium extraction methods), framed as used in very high-end fragrances.
  • Date/occasion guidance
    • Recommends categories like romantic/woody/spicy/fresh (no single named fragrance singled out).

Ratings / Numerical Scores

  • No formal star ratings.
  • Concentration guidance is repeatedly numerical:
    • EDP uses at least about 15–20% oil
    • “X-ray” around 30%, possibly up to 40% (depending on regulation)
  • Longevity expectations:
    • EDT ~4–6 hours
    • EDP lab testing ≥24 hours; on-wear at least 12 hours
  • Mentions a 50 ml perfume price that appears unclear due to subtitle garbling.
  • Mentions “Embed” around ₹12,000–₹15,000 (subtitle/currency likely slightly incorrect).

Unique Points Mentioned (Distinct Claims / Advice)

  • Don’t buy perfume just because you smelled it on someone else.
  • Perfume must match your own body chemistry / body pH.
  • “Long lasting” should be about formulation, not only spraying more.
  • Raw materials influence “cheap vs expensive” and overall richness.
  • Limited/rare origins matter (e.g., Madagascar vanilla, jasmine availability, Kashmir vs other saffron).
  • “Vanilla is vanilla” may be true to laypeople, but perfumer composition changes the overall effect after that.
  • Consumers should look beyond marketing claims (e.g., “Madagascar Vanilla” on labels).
  • Oud can be expensive or cheap; quality depends on rendering.
  • Ajmal claims its approach uses good raw materials rather than only diluting replicas.
  • Weather matters: many European fragrances don’t last as long in India without formulation adaptation.
  • Trends discussed:
    • “Beast mode” (strong diffusion)
    • “Second skin” (intimate, hugging-level scent)
    • “X-ray / performance intense” framed as higher oil %.
  • Avoid over-spraying; consider sensitivity/asthma (especially in gyms).
  • “Romantic/seductive” categories are matched to relationship stages.
  • First-date advice: avoid very strong fragrance; choose something that fits the setting.
  • Fabric/clothing pairing and wardrobe choices can matter.
  • “Pheromones” are dismissed as marketing nonsense; attraction is framed as coming from pleasant fragrance.
  • Strong link between scent and memory/emotion via the limbic system.
  • Regional preference affects what sells best.
  • Women in India often choose men’s fragrances for longevity.
  • Gym: choose marine/fresh; avoid harsh/overly strong notes.
  • Concentration primer:
    • Atar = oil-based (Arabic/Persian term)
    • Cologne is lowest concentration, then EDT/EDP with higher alcohol/water ratios (as described).
  • Application tips:
    • Skin first, then clothes in moderation
    • “M formation” for longevity
    • Apply to moving areas (hands) for more trail.
  • Cultural ritual comparison: Arabs described using multi-step routines (e.g., bakhoor/oud/oils/hair mist) for long-lasting presence.
  • Strong stance: EDC/EDT shouldn’t be purchased at all if the goal is lasting/projection.
  • Celebrity/viral fragrance discussion (e.g., SRK/Rihanna):
    • Questions whether someone’s signature scent can truly be recreated without insider knowledge.
    • Notes margins/brand/distribution differences can change outcomes.

Speakers / Different Views

Primary speaker: Abdullah Ajmal (CEO, Ajmal Group)

  • Provides most of the technical, ingredient, formulation, and usage guidance.
  • Strongly argues for EDP / higher-oil performance and Ajmal’s formulation philosophy.
  • Adds marketing/consumer-culture commentary (value vs price, regional preferences, gender-market trends).

Other referenced voices in subtitles

  • Mentions customer anecdotes (e.g., expectations for strong projection; gym sensitivity story).
  • General examples include “basic consumers,” “customers in India,” and “Arabs,” but without distinct named speakers.

Concise Verdict / Recommendation

The video frames Ajmal perfumes as performance-oriented (long-lasting, strong projection) with premium raw material sourcing and India-specific formulation considerations. The core recommendation is to choose based on concentration and application strategy (prefer EDP/extract-like strengths) and avoid buying purely because of someone else’s smell or price alone.

Original video