The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Wabar takes its name from a meteorite impact site in Saudi Arabia's Rub' al Khali desert, a place of rare beauty and otherworldly origin. The name itself suggests something that fell from somewhere else, arrived with force, and left a mark. That ambition fits squarely within Xerjoff's Shooting Stars collection, where each fragrance is named after something celestial or extraordinary. Chris Maurice composed the fragrance in 2013, building it around an unusual tension: cool, sharp star anise against warm white florals and sweet vanilla. The result is a scent that doesn't arrive quietly.
The choice of star anise as a lead note is the statement. It's not a polite opening, it's the thing people either lean into or pull back from. Maurice builds the heart around it: magnolia adds creaminess, lily of the valley brings green freshness, jasmine deepens the floral warmth. The base softens everything into powder and skin. It's a deliberate construction, sharp edges first, comfort after. The kind of fragrance that wants you to know it has opinions.
The evolution
The opening is star anise, unapologetic. That cool, licorice-like bite arrives and doesn't apologize for itself. Bergamot appears briefly, a flash of citrus brightness that lifts the anise without softening it. Within the first hour, the florals begin their work. Magnolia blooms through, creamy and slightly sweet, followed by lily of the valley bringing a green, dewy quality. Jasmine arrives quietly, blending with the heart's deepening warmth. By hour two, the drydown has settled. Vanilla and musk take over, with vetiver grounding everything in a dry, earthy finish. The vanilla doesn't dominate, it accompanies. What lingers is powder: clean, warm, close to the skin. This is a fragrance that lasts. Eight to ten hours on most skin types, with strong sillage for the first several hours before settling into something intimate. The next day, there's a faint trace on fabric, soft, sweet, worth finding.
Cultural impact
Wabar's 2013 release by Chris Maurice arrived as part of Xerjoff's Shooting Stars collection, a line built around extraordinary names and stories. Exclusive to Qatar and Campomarzio 70 in Rome, it became a collector's item before many could smell it. The star anise opening sets it apart from typical orientals, appealing to those who want a fragrance with a strong point of view.
