Is It Me 90ml By Ahmed Al Maghribi

A 70ml bottle of Maison Francis Kurkdjian's Baccarat Rouge 540 retails for around $490 AUD through MECCA, the brand's exclusive Australian stockist. Is It Me by Ahmed Al Maghribi brings that same saffron-ambergris-ambroxan DNA into a generous 90ml bottle, at a fraction of that price, with its own sweeter, fruitier twist on the profile.

The Story

Baccarat Rouge 540, created by perfumer Francis Kurkdjian in 2015 to mark Baccarat crystal house's 250th anniversary, became one of the defining niche fragrances of the last decade for its luminous, mineral-amber signature. Is It Me, released by Ahmed Al Maghribi in 2025, takes that same celebrated accord and reworks it into a sweeter, more gourmand direction, with fragrance reviewers specifically noting how skilfully it captures the original's DNA while adding its own fruitier character.

The Scent

Is It Me opens with saffron, jasmine and orange, a bright, slightly spiced introduction that leans sweeter and juicier than a typical saffron-forward opening thanks to the orange.

The heart brings in ambergris and cotton candy, and this is where the fragrance takes its own distinct turn — the cotton candy adds a soft, sugary sweetness that pulls the composition into gourmand territory, while the ambergris keeps that signature mineral-amber radiance underneath.

The base settles into ambroxan and cedar, a warm, woody-amber finish that anchors the sweetness with just enough structure to keep it from feeling one-dimensional.

An Honest Note on Performance and Opening

Community sentiment here is genuinely mixed, and we'd rather tell you that upfront than pretend otherwise. Several reviewers describe the dry-down as a little generic or "something everyone has in their collection," while others call it powdery, vanilla-and-sandalwood perfection with excellent projection. Reported projection and longevity both run above average, so however the scent lands for your skin chemistry, it should have the staying power to back it up. As with most Baccarat Rouge-style compositions, give it some time to settle before forming a final opinion.

Fragrance Notes

Top Notes

• Saffron
• Jasmine
• Orange

Heart Notes

• Ambergris
• Cotton Candy

Base Notes

• Ambroxan
• Cedar

Scent Family: Gourmand Oriental Amber
Gender: Unisex
Best For: Evenings, cooler weather, and anywhere you want a sweet, radiant signature scent

Product Details

• 90ml Eau de Parfum
• Unisex fragrance
• Sourced directly from authorised Middle Eastern distributors
• Sealed and boxed for freshness

Performance

• Longevity: Above average; reviewers consistently note strong staying power
• Projection: Above average, with a noticeable radiant sillage
• Sillage: Strong indoors; noticeable outdoors as well
• Best Season: Autumn and winter, though the bright citrus-saffron opening keeps it wearable for evenings year-round
• Caveat: Community opinion on the dry-down is genuinely split between "generic" and "perfection" — skin chemistry plays a real role here, so results may vary

Comparison to the Inspiration Fragrance

• Shares the saffron, ambergris and ambroxan foundation that defines Baccarat Rouge 540's signature
• Independently described by reviewers as capturing the original's "DNA" while adding its own sweeter, fruitier character
• Comes in a generous 90ml bottle, at a fraction of the roughly $490 AUD MECCA price for the 70ml original
• Trades some of the original's mineral sharpness for a softer, more gourmand cotton-candy sweetness

About the Brand

Ahmed Al Maghribi is a UAE-based fragrance house known for producing accessible interpretations of celebrated international perfumes alongside its own original compositions. Their fragrances are formulated and bottled in the UAE, drawing on the region's long-standing perfumery tradition. At Dubai Blends, we work directly with authorised Middle Eastern distributors to bring fragrances like this one to Australian customers without the usual import markups.

Community Quotes

"So many dupes for Baccarat Rouge 540, but the quality, performance and price make this the best way to own its DNA."

"This stuff is quite possibly perfection in a bottle. A little powdery, some vanilla and sandalwood. Heavenly."

"Powdery and light, sweet but not too floral. It lasts well on skin and projects moderately."

Why Buy From Dubai Blends

• 100% authentic — sourced directly from authorised Middle Eastern distributors, no middlemen, so you get the best price in Australia
• Fast, tracked shipping Australia-wide from our local warehouse
• Securely packed — every bottle arrives intact, guaranteed
• Loved by thousands of Australian fragrance fans

FAQ

What does Is It Me by Ahmed Al Maghribi smell like?
It opens with saffron, jasmine and orange, moves into an ambergris and cotton candy heart, and settles into a warm ambroxan and cedar base. Overall it's a sweet, radiant gourmand oriental.

How does it compare to the fragrance it's inspired by?
Reviewers describe it as capturing the DNA of Baccarat Rouge 540, which retails for around $490 AUD for 70ml through MECCA, with a sweeter, fruitier twist thanks to the cotton candy note.

Is it a men's or women's fragrance?
It's unisex, with a gourmand oriental character that wears well on anyone.

How long does it last?
Longevity and projection are both reported as above average, though community opinion on the specific dry-down character is mixed — some love it, others find it more generic.

What's the best season or occasion to wear it?
Autumn and winter suit it best, though the bright saffron-orange opening makes it wearable for evenings year-round.

Does Dubai Blends ship this Australia-wide?
Yes — fast and tracked to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra and everywhere in between. If you like this one, check out our Hibaaya by Al Absar or Barakkat Rouge 540 by Joyous for more amber-gourmand options.

Pro Tip

Skin chemistry plays a bigger role than usual with this one — reviewers are genuinely split on the dry-down, so it's worth testing on your own skin before committing to a full bottle if you can, rather than going purely on other people's reviews.