The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Notorious landed in 2025 from Adam Bujairami, a perfumer whose house, Bujairami, has built a reputation for aromatic-spicy compositions with serious presence. The name alone sets the terms: this is a fragrance designed for someone who wants to be noticed, and who isn't going to dress that intention up in something gentler. Adam built Notorious as an aromatic-spicy composition that draws from the bold, high-impact tradition his house is known for. The DNA has been said to be inspired by Dior Sauvage, but the execution leans heavily into the resinous, concentrated territory that Bujairami is known for. It is, in every sense, a house statement.
What's interesting about Notorious is the pepper layering. Multiple pepper materials show up across the composition: an unspecified pepper in the opening, then pink and Sichuan pepper woven through the heart, with the Sichuan carrying a distinctive citrusy buzz. Pair that with elemi resin, and you get a composition that privileges aromatic complexity over easy mass appeal. The interplay between the two pepper types in the heart creates a dynamic where neither dominates.
The evolution
The first fifteen minutes belong to Calabrian bergamot doing its bright, slightly bitter thing, cut immediately by pepper that reads more like cracked spice than generic warmth. The citrus pulls back fast. Elemi resin, geranium, and lavender arrive in a wave of cool aromatic sharpness, and the two confirmed peppers, pink and Sichuan, create a prismatic shimmer that feels almost electric. Patchouli and vetiver anchor the heart with an earthy, slightly smoky weight that keeps the florals from floating away. Then the base takes over. Ambroxan blooms first, giving that warm, skin-like, slightly mineral quality that makes the fragrance feel close and personal. Cedar adds dry structure. Labdanum seals the whole thing in a warm, resinous amber that settles into the skin and clothes with impressive tenacity.
Cultural impact
Notorious arrives at a time when aromatic-spicy fragrances dominate the conversation in men's perfumery, a category that has seen enormous growth as wearers increasingly seek out bold, character-driven scents over safe designer mainstays. The composition leans fully into this moment, offering a profile that prioritizes presence and complexity over approachability. The Bujairami name has been building recognition among fragrance-engaged communities, where discussions around performance, material quality, and unconventional combinations tend to drive interest more than marketing or designer pedigree.
