Highness III

“A dark green woody aromatic with a formal, old-school streak”

Highness III by Afnan sits in a part of the market that many newer releases avoid. Instead of sweetness, amber overload, or loud synthetic freshness, it leans into cypress, pepper, woods, moss, and leather. The result is a fragrance that feels firmly masculine, dry in tone, and deliberately green from the start.

The opening is where it makes its point most clearly. Cypress leads, and several reviews describe that first phase as sharp, punchy, and very green. Bergamot and lavender keep it from feeling flat, but this is not a sparkling citrus top. It reads more like brisk aromatic greenery with a slightly formal edge. If you already know that galbanum, cypress, and moss-heavy fragrances suit your taste, the opening will likely feel characterful. If you prefer smoother or sweeter openings, it may feel abrupt.

As it develops, the structure becomes more interesting. Black pepper and cedar add dryness and texture, while galbanum and petitgrain keep the heart herbal and slightly astringent. Some reviewers describe a papery, peppery wood effect, almost like finely milled cedar dust, which fits the note list well. The scent can come across as tangy, woody, tannic, and smooth at the same time. That contrast is part of what gives it personality.

The base brings in oud, oakmoss, and leather, but this is not a syrupy oud fragrance and not a heavily animalic leather either. The dry-down seems to wear as mossy wood with a darker leathered undertone. On skin, it usually reads more polished than rough. That makes Highness III feel more dressed than casual, more blazer than T-shirt. A few reviewers also note a vintage mood, though not in a dusty way. It feels closer to a modern green masculine scent with older references in the background.

Performance is one of the more reliable positives. The supplied voting data points to long-lasting wear and mostly strong projection, and several reviews back that up directly with comments about all-day wear, strong projection, and a scent trail that holds up well. That said, not every wearer gets the same result. One negative review found it more moderate in longevity and sillage, so it is better to think of strong performance as common rather than guaranteed.

The main question most shoppers will have is comparison. Based on the evidence provided, it is wiser to avoid treating Highness III as a Royal Oud substitute. That comparison appears in reviews mostly to reject it. The more useful reference point is the broader family of green masculine fragrances, especially ones with moss, woods, and a formal tone. Even then, reviewers repeatedly say it does not fully copy those scents. It sits in that territory, but keeps its own profile.

For the right wearer, Highness III offers something increasingly rare at this price level, a fragrance that feels grown-up, green, woody, and unapologetically masculine. For the wrong wearer, it may feel too sharp, too mature, or simply too far from the sweeter modern style that dominates designer shelves. Sampling first is the sensible route, especially if cypress-heavy fragrances are unfamiliar territory.