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If you are on #PerfumeTok, then you'll surely be familiar with Kayali fragrances. Founded in 2018 by Mona Kattan, Kayali has been carving out a space in the perfume world one scent at a time, reaching the coveted TikTok-viral stamp of approval along the way — and for good reason.
One thing that makes Kayali fragrances stand out from the rest is the fact that they are not only cruelty-free but also extremely layerable, so you can almost treat the whole 20-scent offering as a mix-and-match selection.
The brand borrows its name from the Arabic translation for “my imagination.” It, thus, is presented as an extension of Kattan's vision, drawing from her Middle Eastern heritage to create rich and emotive fragrances that evoke specific places and moments, all packaged in candy-like, jeweled bottles.
You'd notice that each perfume has a set number after its name, similar to what Le Labo does. While Le Labo's number is meant to illustrate the number of ingredients present in each fragrance, the Kayali numbers represent the number of tries it took to nail the formulation, giving wearers a peek into the production process.
Aside from getting the TikTok stamp of approval, Kayali fragrances have also been endorsed by the likes of KATSEYE's Daniela Avanzini and Cardi B. If you want to try them out for yourself and don't know where to begin, we put the Kayali fragrances to the test and picked the 10 best. Read our full reviews below.
Our Top Picks
- Best Musky Scent: Wedding Velvet Santal | 35
- Best Oudy Scent: Oudgasm Café Oud | 19 Eau de Parfum Intense
- Best Floral Scent: Fleur Majesty Rose Royale | 31
- Best Gourmand Scent: Vanilla | 28
- Notes: Black Cherry, Rose Damascena, and Palo Santo
- Strength: 8/10
- Longevity: 8/10
Although described as genderless, this scent leans more towards the feminine side. When you first put it on, the smell is very potent and candy-like. It's a full-on cherry lollipop hitting you in the face, but the scent does dry down to a more muted version within minutes, making way for the slightly warmer notes of palo santo, guaiac wood, and patchouli while still retaining some of the sweetness underneath. It'd be a perfect transition fragrance for those who are purely used to gourmands but want to move into spicier territories. — Sara Delgado
Available sizes: 10 ml (0.34 fl oz) for $29 or $32, 50 ml (1.7 fl oz) for $100, and 100 ml (3.4 fl oz) for $138
- Notes: White Musk, Sandalwood, Cedarwood
- Strength: 7/10
- Longevity: 9/10
This genderless scent is described by Kayali as woody and earthy, and that's precisely what it is, but with just a hint of floral notes. Don't let the wedding naming fool you, this fragrance is actually perfect for everyday use, balancing the delicacy of flowers like jasmine and tea leaves with the smokiness of white musk, cedarwood, and sandalwood. It's creamy but super light, and though the fragrance does soften considerably, its trace does last long on the skin. Additionally, it comes in a sleek, matte black bottle. — SD
Available sizes: 10 ml (0.34 fl oz) for $29 and 50 ml (1.7 fl oz) for $100
- Notes: Sparkling Champagne, White Freesia, Sandalwood
- Strength: 8/10
- Longevity: 7/10
Another Wedding fragrance you shouldn't be deterred from using every day is this one. More on the floral side than the one above — thanks to the white freesia, jasmine, rose damascena, and orange blossom in its formulation — this one is more suited for daytime and is also genderless. However, it also packs a punch of both sweetness and freshness with notes of blackcurrant. nectarine, and vanilla absolute. I tested this one out during a hot festival day, and while one reapplication goes a long way, it still performed decently. — SD
Available sizes: 10 ml (0.34 fl oz) for $32 and 50 ml (1.7 fl oz) for $100
- Notes: Cappuccino, Rose Damascena, Oud
- Strength: 9/10
- Longevity: 9/10
From the get-go, this perfume is intense. It's also described as genderless, but it is more on the spicier side, which some might consider more masculine-leaning. Despite its name hinting at this smelling like a cup of fresh coffee, the overall feeling is more floral, since it does have rose damascena and geranium in its formulation. Although there is a hint of coffee trail, it dries down heavily on the floral, with the warm patchouli and oud remaining closest to the skin. — SD
Available sizes: 50 ml (1.7 fl oz) for $140
- Notes: Rosemary, Ylang-Ylang, Coconut Milk
- Strength: 10/10
- Longevity: 6/10
This fragrance is essentially what it claims to be: summer in a bottle. It's super fresh and inviting from the first spritz, where coconut really takes over. The florals like ylang-ylang and white plumeria take over with just a hint of sandalwood remaining right after. The scent is so lush and delicious that my only caveat is I wish that the intensity of that first initial spritz lasted just a tiny bit longer before drying down. — SD
Available sizes: 10 ml (0.34 fl oz) for $32 and 50 ml (1.7 fl oz) for $100
- Notes: Orange Blossom, Turkish Rose, Cedarwood
- Strength: 9/10
- Longevity: 7/10
Similar to the fragrance above, this one is also super fresh. It's way more floral, but in a fresh way — it's neroli, orange blossom, and rose, after all! Despite being fresh, there is also a hint of warmth to this, thanks to the addition of cedarwood, amber, and musk. It's a super-balanced fragrance that will work for most, but again, I wish the initial freshness lasted just a little longer. — SD
Available sizes: 10 ml (0.34 fl oz) for $32 and 50 ml (1.7 fl oz) for $100
- Notes: Sparkling Lychee, Rose Damascena, Vanilla Absolute
- Strength: 7/10
- Longevity: 8/10
This is one of Kayali’s more delicate fragrances, but it's still pretty powerful. Like many of their scents, it's pretty easy to get a sniff of all of the notes, but the sparkling element of this is super unique. Combined with the fresh and sweet lychee, it adds a newness to the classic rose and vanilla. — Donya Momenian
Available sizes: 10 ml (0.34 fl oz) for $29 or $32, 50 ml (1.7 fl oz) for $100, and 100 ml (3.4 fl oz) for $138
- Notes: Vanilla Orchids, Tonka Absolute, Amber Woods
- Strength: 10/10
- Longevity: 10/10
For those starting off their perfume collections, this is a great beginner’s bottle. Vanilla is a classic, and these compliments make it so rich. It’s also great for layering, especially if you’re just trying it out for the first time. Pair it with a fresh fig scent that may need some sweetness. Or, a strawberry and a milk to smell like your favorite ice cream shop. — DM
Available sizes: 10 ml (0.34 fl oz) for $29 or $32, 50 ml (1.7 fl oz) for $100, and 100 ml (3.4 fl oz) for $138
- Notes: Candied Pear, Rock Sugar, Vanilla Cream
- Strength: 10/10
- Longevity: 10/10
Can you tell this is a favorite? Vanilla Candy Rock Sugar always earns compliments, even from those who say they hate sweets. Perhaps it’s the woody notes or pop of pear that make this more palatable to them. What’s for sure is that it's a strong scent that lasts well, even after a walk through Central Park on a warm day. — DM
Available sizes: 10 ml (0.34 fl oz) for $29 or $32, 50 ml (1.7 fl oz) for $100, and 100 ml (3.4 fl oz) for $138
- Notes: Pear, Royal Rose, Musk
- Strength: 8/10
- Longevity: 9/10
Kayali’s newest fragrance came just in time for summer. This is a twist on classic florals thanks to the sweet, earthy pear that complements the delicate rose. Musk levels it all out and helps it sit on the skin with a strong but not overly saccharine finish. — DM
Available sizes: 10 ml (0.34 fl oz) for $29 or $32, 50 ml (1.7 fl oz) for $100, and 100 ml (3.4 fl oz) for $138
