Alì Babà.

Alì Babà was born from Antonio Gigli’s fascination with the classic Italian rum‑soaked cake that shares its name. In 2023 the perfumer set out to bottle the sweet‑spicy moment when a slice of baba, drenched in amber rum, meets the zest of fresh oranges and a hint of lemon. The house’s Italian roots, Maiora Parfum, founded in 2017, provided the disciplined laboratory where the gourmand concept could be refined into an extrait that feels both nostalgic and daring.

The opening trio of rum, candied orange and lemon zest creates a bright, boozy sparkle that instantly recalls a kitchen at sunrise, while the heart’s brioche adds buttery doughiness and clove injects a whisper of spice. Patchouli grounds the composition, preventing it from becoming overly sugary, and the base of amber, cedarwood, musk and vanilla wraps the scent in a warm, lingering embrace that feels like a dessert cooling on a wooden table.

The first fifteen minutes are dominated by the intoxicating rum‑soaked baba accord, the citrus of lemon zest and candied orange cutting through the sweetness like a flash of sunlight on a glazed pastry. By the half‑hour mark the buttery brioche emerges, its soft doughiness mingling with a spicy clove whisper, while patchouli adds an earthy depth that steadies the composition. As the scent settles into its drydown, amber glows amber‑rich, cedarwood introduces a dry timber, and musk smooths the edges, allowing vanilla to melt in as a creamy veil. The result is a lingering sweet‑spicy trail that can persist for eight to ten hours, fading only into a faint, comforting warmth that clings to the skin long after the initial gourmand burst has softened.

Since its 2023 release, Alì Babà has become a touchstone for gourmand lovers who crave a rum‑infused twist. Wearers often note the scent’s ability to evoke the nostalgic comfort of a rum‑soaked baba, sparking conversation in niche circles. Its strong sillage and lasting sweet‑spicy trail have earned it a reputation as a memorable evening companion, while its bold opening continues to divide opinions, cementing its status as a polarising yet celebrated addition to the niche market.