The Opening
Designed for formal occasions and colder climates, Shiraz Parfums created this scent for enthusiasts who prefer bold, non-traditional profiles. The blend centers on a heavy contrast between jammy dark fruits and dry, smoky resins. On skin, the tartness of blackberry and raspberry quickly yields to a warm heart of clove and honeyed cinnamon. The base settles into a deeply woody, cypriol-infused incense that projects strongly in winter air. This is a statement bottle for late-night events, cool rainy days, or times when you want to stand out from the crowd. If you enjoy dry, resinous woods mixed with thick balsamic sweetness, this release belongs on your radar. Given its potent projection and polarizing smoky undertones, we recommend ordering a small decant to test how the heavy myrrh base behaves on your skin.
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Performance Metrics
2 VOTESOpen Performance Breakdown 1 TAKE
Expect eight to ten hours of longevity on skin, with the heavy myrrh and opoponax base clinging to clothing for days. The sillage projects at arm's length for the first three hours before softening into a warm, woody personal bubble.
Notes Pyramid
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A sticky, resinous amber scent that contrasts a sweet opening of blackberry and raspberry against a dry, smoky heart of cinnamon and clove, before settling into a dark base of guaiac wood, cypriol, incense, and warm myrrh.
Main Accords
10 MAPPEDThe dominant amber and warm spicy accords feel thick and balsamic on the skin. The jammy fruit top notes quickly give way to a dry, smoky woodiness, where the incense and guaiac wood create a cozy, charcoal-like warmth that lingers for hours.
Community Data
15 TOTAL VOTESCOMMUNITY SENTIMENT
OWNERSHIP STATS
GENDER APPEAL
REVIEW SENTIMENT
When to Wear
TAP TO VOTETIME OF DAY · TAP TO VOTE
OCCASIONS · TAP TO VOTE
It looks easiest to wear in fall and winter. The vote picture leans most toward daytime.
Pros & Cons
Quick take before you sampleWHY PEOPLE MAY LIKE IT
Excellent performance in freezing winter temperatures.
Long-lasting balsamic base notes that cling to coats.
Unique combination of jammy blackberry and smoky incense.
Creates a cozy, warm personal scent bubble.
Great choice for formal cold-weather evening events.
Rich guaiac wood base adds great depth.
Stands out from typical fresh designer fragrances.
Honey note adds a pleasant, natural sweetness.
High-quality niche ingredients like myrrh and opoponax.
Spicy cinnamon and clove add a cozy winter feel.
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR
Can feel too heavy and suffocating in warm weather.
Fruity blackberry top notes fade relatively quickly.
The smoky, dry charcoal profile can polarize people.
Too heavy and thick for casual office wear.
The clove note can smell medicinal on some skin.
Not a safe choice for a blind purchase.
Strong initial projection requires careful spraying.
A bit too dark and heavy for gym use.
The sweet jam and dry smoke contrast is unusual.
Lacks the versatility needed for a signature daily wear.
Fragranxe Review
EDITORIAL“Shiraz Parfums The Opening Review: A Bold Fruit and Incense Hybrid”
The scent opens with an immediate contrast of textures. A thick, sweet wave of blackberry and raspberry hits the air, smelling more like a simmered jam than fresh, tart fruit. Coriander adds a dry, dusty edge that prevents the fruit from becoming cloying. Within minutes, a distinct charcoal smokiness rises from the base, cutting right through the sweet top.
As the scent settles, the heart reveals its spicy character. Cinnamon and clove emerge alongside a warm honey note. Guaiac wood adds a sturdy, dark structure here, grounding the spices in something deep and woody. The transition from the sweet berries to this spicy, woody core feels deliberate, as if the fragrance is slowly drying out on your skin.
On skin, the balsamic accords behave with impressive depth. The combination of opoponax, myrrh, and incense creates a warm, cozy bubble that stays resinous throughout the wear. Cypriol and patchouli add a slightly earthy, damp forest floor undertone beneath the heavy resins. It does not turn powdery, keeping a sticky, rich texture that clings closely.
This is a powerhouse when it comes to longevity. You will easily get nine hours of wear, with the smoky incense and myrrh lingering on collars and coats for days. Sillage projects about arm's length for the first three hours before settling into a warm personal space. It is built strictly for cold weather, performing beautifully on crisp autumn nights and freezing winter days.
The target audience is clearly the niche enthusiast. The fragrance leans masculine but unisex amber lovers will find plenty to enjoy in the dry-down. It is not an everyday reach, nor is it suitable for the office or gym. Pair it with a wool coat or formal evening wear for the best results.
Our verdict is to sample this one first. The combination of sweet jammy berries and heavy, smoky incense is highly specific and might polarize casual wearers. If you love resinous, dark woods with a fruity twist, it is a worthy addition to a winter collection. Skip it if you prefer clean, fresh, or simple fragrances.
FAQs
What does Shiraz Parfums The Opening smell like?+
It smells like a rich mix of sweet, jammy blackberry and raspberry contrasted with dry, smoky charcoal incense. The heart features warm cinnamon, clove, and honey, before settling into a deep base of guaiac wood and myrrh on your skin.
How does the fragrance transition from the opening to the dry-down?+
It starts with a juicy, sweet burst of dark berries and coriander. Over the next hour, the sweetness softens as warm spices emerge. Finally, the dry-down becomes dry and smoky, dominated by resinous opoponax and guaiac wood.
What is the longevity of The Opening on skin?+
You will easily get eight to ten hours of longevity from this eau de parfum. The heavy base notes, like myrrh and incense, cling to coats and sweaters for days, making it perfect for long winter days.
How strong is the sillage and projection of this scent?+
The projection is strong for the first two hours, pushing out about arm's length. As it dries down, it settles into a warm, moderate scent bubble, making it noticeable without overwhelming others during cool evening dinners.
Which season is best suited for wearing The Opening?+
This heavy, resinous blend is strictly built for cold weather. The dense amber and warm spices perform beautifully during freezing winter days and crisp autumn nights, but will feel cloying in the high heat of summer.
What occasions are ideal for wearing this fragrance?+
It is best reserved for formal evening wear, outdoor events, and late-night gatherings in cold weather. The dark, smoky incense profile is too heavy and formal for casual office environments or gym workouts.
Does The Opening lean masculine, feminine, or unisex?+
While marketed for men, the heavy amber and jammy blackberry notes make it highly unisex. Anyone who enjoys rich, smoky incense and warm resins will find the deep dry-down incredibly cozy on their skin.
Can you layer Shiraz Parfums The Opening with other scents?+
Yes, you can layer it with a clean vanilla fragrance to soften the sharp, smoky incense edge. Alternatively, layering it with a simple cedarwood or sandalwood scent will enhance the dry woodiness of the guaiac wood base.
How does The Opening compare to Amouage Jubilation XXV?+
Both share a similar blackberry, honey, and incense profile. However, Jubilation XXV is more complex, royal, and refined, whereas The Opening leans slightly darker, featuring a heavier charcoal smoke and dry guaiac wood dry-down.
Is The Opening suitable as a daily signature scent?+
Probably not, unless you live in a constantly cold climate. The heavy, dark combination of jammy berries and smoky resins is too specific for everyday wear, making it better as a special occasion winter option.
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Dupes & Alternatives
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If you enjoy the dark fruit and incense pairing, look at Amouage Jubilation XXV, which offers a more complex, royal resinous feel. For a drier, woodier scent without the jammy sweetness, Tom Ford Oud Wood is a safer, more polite alternative.
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