Rawaha 100ml EDP by Al Absar

Symphony, the fragrance that inspired this one, sits in Louis Vuitton's exclusive Les Extraits Collection and retails for AUD $970 for a 100ml bottle, sold only through LV boutiques and louisvuitton.com. Rawaha by Al Absar brings that same bright grapefruit-ginger-amber signature into a full 100ml bottle, at a fraction of the price.

The Story

Symphony was created by Louis Vuitton's master perfumer Jacques Cavallier Belletrud as part of the 2021 Les Extraits Collection, a line of five highly concentrated extraits housed in sculptural bottles designed by architect Frank Gehry. Symphony was built around a citrus-ginger accord evoking sea air and light, and it quickly became one of the most talked-about releases in the collection for its clean, radiant freshness — as well as one of the most divisive, with reviewers split between calling it a masterclass in citrus perfumery and comparing it to household cleaner. Al Absar's Rawaha takes that same grapefruit-bergamot-ginger backbone and builds it into a more approachable, everyday composition, and fragrance reviewers have directly pointed fans of Symphony toward it as an alternative.

The Scent

Rawaha opens with grapefruit and bergamot, a crisp, slightly bitter citrus burst that feels bright and clean rather than sweet — very much in the spirit of a Mediterranean morning.

The heart brings in neroli and ginger, where the neroli softens the citrus opening with a delicate, honeyed floral note, while the ginger adds a warm, faintly spicy zing that keeps the composition from reading as one-dimensional.

The base settles into amber and musk, a warm, softly sensual dry-down that grounds the bright citrus opening without overpowering it. It's a simple but well-balanced structure — fresh up top, warm underneath — that gives Rawaha its easy, everyday wearability.

An Honest Note on Performance and Opening

Community reviewers of Symphony are genuinely divided on the original's citrus-forward opening, with some finding it exhilarating and others finding it sharp. Rawaha's grapefruit-bergamot opening carries a similar bright, slightly bitter citrus character, so if you know you prefer softer, sweeter citrus notes, expect a punchy first impression here too — it settles into the warmer neroli-amber stages within the first 15 to 20 minutes. As a newer release, dedicated long-term wear reports specific to Rawaha are still limited, so we'd rather be upfront about that than overclaim.

Fragrance Notes

Top Notes

• Grapefruit
• Bergamot

Heart Notes

• Neroli
• Ginger

Base Notes

• Amber
• Musk

Scent Family: Citrus Aromatic
Gender: Unisex
Best For: Daytime wear, warmer weather, and anyone who wants a clean, fresh signature scent

Product Details

• 100ml Eau de Parfum
• Unisex fragrance
• Sourced directly from authorised Middle Eastern distributors
• Sealed and boxed for freshness

Performance

• Longevity: Moderate; strongest through the citrus-ginger opening and early heart stages
• Projection: Bright and noticeable on application, settling to a closer skin scent as the amber-musk base takes over
• Sillage: Good for the first couple of hours; more intimate once fully dried down
• Best Season: Spring and summer, and any daytime setting where a clean citrus scent suits
• Caveat: The citrus opening is punchy rather than soft — give it 15 to 20 minutes to reach its warmer, more balanced stage

Comparison to the Inspiration Fragrance

• Built around the same grapefruit, bergamot, neroli and ginger backbone that defines Symphony's citrus-aromatic signature
• Directly cited by fragrance reviewers as an alternative for fans of the original
• Comes in a full 100ml bottle, at a fraction of the $970 AUD LV boutique price
• Delivers the same bright, clean freshness in a far more accessible everyday bottle

About the Brand

Al Absar is a UAE-based fragrance house producing carefully composed interpretations of celebrated international perfumes, with a focus on capturing the original's real character. 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

"If you like Symphony by LV, then Rawaha by Al Absar is the perfect option for you."

"A carefree summer vibe from the very first spray — grapefruit really does take centre stage."

"Clean and softly sensual once it settles. Exactly the kind of everyday fresh scent I was after."

"Good for a sexy date or a cozy night out — nothing overpowering, just well balanced."

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 Rawaha by Al Absar smell like?
It opens with grapefruit and bergamot, moves into a neroli-ginger heart, and settles into a warm amber and musk base. Overall it's a clean, bright citrus-aromatic fragrance with a soft, sensual finish.

How does it compare to the fragrance it's inspired by?
It shares the same grapefruit-bergamot-neroli-ginger backbone as Symphony, and reviewers have directly recommended it to fans of the original — which retails for $970 AUD at LV boutiques for a 100ml bottle.

Is it a men's or women's fragrance?
It's unisex. The citrus opening and amber-musk base sit comfortably outside traditional gendered fragrance lines.

How long does it last?
Longevity is moderate, with the citrus-ginger character strongest in the opening hours before settling into a closer amber-musk skin scent.

What's the best season or occasion to wear it?
Spring and summer are its strongest seasons thanks to the bright citrus profile, though it works well for daytime wear 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 Khamrah by Lattafa and Exotic by Ahmed Al Maghribi for more warm, oriental options.

Pro Tip

Rawaha's citrus opening is punchy by design — apply it and give it 15 to 20 minutes before deciding how you feel, as the neroli and amber take a little time to soften that first grapefruit-bergamot burst into the fragrance's true, more balanced character.