The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Ard Al Zaafaran launched Riqqa in 2023. The structure says everything. Warm spice at the top, bergamot, cinnamon, nutmeg, opens the door. Then the heart drops the surprise: dates and praline. Sweet, sticky, almost edible. Tuberose adds depth, but it's the dates that give this heart its character. The base has to hold all that sweetness without drowning, roasted tonka bean, vanilla, and benzoin provide the sticky sweetness. Akigalawood and myrrh keep it grounded. That's the balancing act: sweet enough to satisfy, warm enough to wear through a cold night.
The structure says everything. Warm spice at the top, bergamot, cinnamon, nutmeg, opens the door. Then the heart drops the surprise: dates and praline. Sweet, sticky, almost edible. Tuberose adds depth, but it's the dates that give this heart its character. Most orientals lean into floral or spicy territory here. Riqqa takes a different path. The base has to hold all that sweetness without drowning, roasted tonka bean, vanilla, and benzoin provide the sticky sweetness. Akigalawood and myrrh keep it grounded.
The evolution
The opening announces itself with bergamot and nutmeg arriving together, the cinnamon warmth not far behind. Quick. Energetic. Then it softens. The citrus retreats and the heart takes over: sticky-sweet dates, praline that reads almost like caramel, with a brief green lift from the lily of the valley before the tuberose deepens everything. The drydown is where the composition settles. Amber and myrrh create an intimate warmth that lingers, the kind of scent someone wears when they're comfortable, not performing.
Cultural impact
Riqqa landed in 2023 as a warm, sweet oriental that leans fully into its category. It has built a following for delivering the comfort-food quality of premium orientals at a fraction of the price. The strong longevity and pronounced sillage make it a reliable choice for evening wear, a fragrance that performs from the first spray through the drydown.
