The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Hawas Exotic arrived in 2026 as the latest chapter in Rasasi's Hawas Collection, crafted by perfumer Hirbel. The brief was clear: take the collection's DNA and develop it along a different trajectory. Where the original Hawas builds intensity through density, Exotic takes a different route, exploring cooler dimensions at the opening before revealing stranger character in the heart and warming considerably at the close. It's the fragrance you wear when you want to surprise yourself, not just smell good. The name carries weight, suggesting something beyond the ordinary. Exotic isn't about the richest oud or the most opulent rose. It's the one that makes someone lean in and ask what they're smelling.
The combination of artemisia with coconut presents an interesting contrast in this men's fragrance. Artemisia brings an herbal, almost camphorated quality, think absinthe without the alcohol, a green-bitter note that can serve as more than just an accent. Here it's prominent, woven together with coconut that brings sweet tropical character to the opening. Carrot seed adds an earthy-parsley dimension that most people won't identify by name but will feel as something different, something that adds interest to the composition.
The evolution
The opening hits within seconds, bergamot's citrus brightness over artemisia's herbal character. The coconut arrives with sweet tropical character, offering a contrast to the herbal notes that feels balanced rather than overwhelming. Carrot seed adds an earthy undertone that most people will read as something distinctive at first encounter. This is the phase where the fragrance establishes its character. The florals take over and don't announce themselves loudly. Iris root arrives first, powdery, with that classic violet-ororis quality. Jasmine follows, warmer, rounder. Freesia adds a lightness that adds airiness to the heart. The lavender that was present at the opening becomes less prominent, serving as a transition between the cool top and the warm middle. The drydown is where the composition settles into its final form. Cypriol and patchouli build an earthy, deep base.
Cultural impact
Rasasi's Hawas Exotic represents an approach to fragrance that considers what exotic means in a contemporary context. Where exotic associations once suggested unattainable luxury, this fragrance delivers a distinctive sensory experience at a price point that doesn't require compromise. The launch builds on the franchise's existing popularity while exploring different aromatic territory. The coconut-artemisia opening in particular offers a different take on what makes a fragrance feel fresh and different versus what might be expected from traditional exotic associations, a consideration that speaks to how fragrance houses approach their craft.
