Hawas Elixir.

Hawas arrived in 2017 and changed everything. A bold, unapologetic unisex statement with strong projection and serious longevity, Rasasi had created something that audiences outside the Gulf wanted to talk about. The line expanded fast: Hawas Ice for cooler weather, Hawas Pink for a softer touch. But the house kept hearing the same request: push further. Take the sweet-gourmand DNA and build the boldest version yet. The answer is Hawas Elixir, a 2024 release that doubles down on what made the original iconic while adding a layer of dark chocolate complexity that shifts the entire composition into evening territory.

The genius here is the top accord. Mint and artemisia together create something brighter and more interesting than mint alone, herbal without being medicinal, cool without being clinical. It gives the chocolate and vanilla that come later a cooler counterpoint to push against, which means the sweetness never becomes cloying. The bergamot threads freshness through the whole opening act. Rasasi understood that in a line built on presence and projection, the opening needs to work hard. This one earns attention without demanding it.

The opening hits sharp, mint and bergamot with an herbal edge from the artemisia that keeps things grounded. That top layer holds for the first hour, maybe ninety minutes on most skin types. Then the handoff: dark chocolate enters quietly, but it doesn't replace the mint, they work together for a stretch, cool and sweet braided together. The lavender shows up mid-way through the heart, bringing a slightly floral, definitely aromatic quality that keeps the chocolate from feeling too dessert-like. By hour three, the mint has faded and the real story begins: vanilla and tonka bean creating a warm, sweet base that smells like the inside of a chocolate shop after hours. White musk keeps it from going too heavy. The drydown stays noticeable for eight to ten hours on most. Projects strongly for the first two to three hours, then sits closer to the skin, still present, just not announcing itself anymore.

Rasasi built the Hawas franchise into one of the defining pillars of Middle Eastern fragrance popularity, a line that brought long-lasting, boldly projecting scents to a global audience at accessible price points. The Hawas Elixir represents the line's most gourmand-leaning evolution yet, leaning into the chocolate-vanilla warmth that has dominated enthusiast conversations since 2023. In a market where sweet, powerful fragrances drive demand across Asia, the Middle East, and increasingly Western markets, Elixir arrives at a moment when gourmand profiles have become mainstream rather than niche.