The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
The name says everything. Next To Me was born from the idea of presence itself, not the one who makes an entrance, but the one who stays. The fragrance launched first at Bloomingdale's Dubai in 2014, then expanded globally in 2016 as part of the Fantasy Collection. Next To Me is that idea made tangible, warm, smoky, and impossible to ignore. The composition unfolds like a conversation held in hushed tones, where each note responds to the one before it. There's an intimacy here that suggests closeness, a deliberate invitation rather than a bold proclamation. The smoky facets mingle with warmer undertones, creating an aura that feels both welcoming and mysteriously reserved.
What makes the composition unusual is how the materials refuse to take turns. Where most orientals give you a clean sequence, citrus opening, floral heart, woody base, Next To Me layers saffron, leather, and oud into a single dense chord from the start. The Turkish rose doesn't soften the leather; it competes with it. The frankincense doesn't float above the oud; it anchors it. The result is a fragrance that smells rich from the first spray and stays that way. The coconut and tonka bean in the base don't soften the sillage, they give it somewhere warm to land.
The evolution
The saffron arrives, not the powdery kind, but something drier, almost medicinal. The leather doesn't wait, giving the top notes a smoky, animalic counterweight. The rose and oud have taken over. The frankincense adds a church-like depth. This is where the fragrance becomes itself, opulent, warm, and very much in the room. The oud and sandalwood weave together, their rich woody character softened by coconut's tropical warmth. Tonka bean introduces a gentle sweetness that keeps the composition grounded, never allowing the darker elements to dominate. As the hours pass, these base notes settle into something quieter, a lingering presence that clings close to the skin rather than filling the air. The entire composition transforms through its development, moving from bold assertiveness to a more refined, contemplative state that rewards patience.
Cultural impact
Next To Me offers a distinctive presence within the fragrance landscape, combining bold fruity notes with deeper, more complex undertones. The prominence of plum in the composition brings a sweetness that stands apart from more conventional fragrance choices, appealing to those seeking something with real character and depth. This approach demonstrates that a fragrance can balance accessibility with sophistication, offering layered development that unfolds differently as time passes. The composition speaks to consumers drawn to richer, more emotionally resonant scents that break from predictable fragrance formulas.
