The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Mahsam Raza composed Dubai Blend 3 for The Dua Brand in 2026 as part of the house's Inspired Expression collection, a line that draws from Xerjoff's 3 Parfum. The fragrance doesn't apologize for its inspiration. It leans into the reference, confident in what it borrows. Bergamot, pear, quince, and red fruits open with the same confectionery warmth, a sweet-fruity brightness that feels candied rather than fresh, almost like biting into a poached pear dusted with citrus zest. The heart then drops into benzoin-laced florals, where the benzoin smolders underneath, giving the florals a resinous undertow that keeps them from turning powdery. From there, the base stacked with oud, sandalwood, and vanilla does the slow work, each material pulling its own weight as the hours pass.
What's interesting here is the sheer density of the base. Nine materials anchor the drydown, and each one plays a distinct role in the final shape of the scent. Dubai Blend 3 stacks oud, cedarwood, cashmere wood, sandalwood, patchouli, amber, musk, tonka bean, and vanilla, and every single one pulls a different weight. The cashmere wood and sandalwood provide the creamy softness, a velvety backdrop that wraps around the skin. The oud and patchouli bring the earth, grounding the composition with a damp, rooty quality.
The evolution
The first 15 minutes belong to the fruit. Bergamot lifts, pear and quince add that jam-without-sugar quality, red fruits darken the edges, and davana threads something herbal through it all, almost boozy, like fruit that's been macerating in something stronger than juice. The opening is bright and generous, and it reads sweeter than the fragrance actually is. From 30 minutes to two hours, the benzoin arrives and changes the temperature. The florals (lavender, rose, violet) move in underneath, but benzoin is the headline act in the heart, turning the composition from juicy to resinous. The sweetness gets darker, less candy and more caramelized. After the three-hour mark, the base settles in fully. This is where Dubai Blend 3 stops being about fruit and starts being about wood. Oud, sandalwood, and cashmere wood blend into a creamy, slightly smoky platform, patchouli grounds it, and vanilla plus tonka bean add a low hum of sweetness.
Cultural impact
Dubai Blend 3's identity is tied to its source material, the Xerjoff original, which gives the composition a specific kind of audience. People who are drawn to dense, sweet, resinous compositions that balance fruit with oud will find a lot to love here, and so will anyone already familiar with the Xerjoff reference who wants to experience that particular architecture rendered through a different hand. The fragrance doesn't need to introduce itself. The pear-and-bergamot opening, the benzoin-draped florals, and the heavy, oud-anchored base do the talking.
