Through the Cherry Smoke

Khaltat Night is my idea of an opulent winter evening rendered in scent, taking my mind to an upscale shisha lounge. I picture sinking into a deep velvet seat, the air thick with cherry-flavoured smoke and the scent of spiced apples drifting through the dim light.

It opens with succulent red fruits and just a tease of damp patchouli, before melting into soft, comforting spices. The cinnamon is warm and sweet, as though it's been steeped into the fruit rather than sprinkled on top, but it stops short of dessert. There's no buttery pastry, no full gourmand weight - it's far more atmospheric than edible.

I do believe this is the work of patchouli: what begins as a faint, loamy dampness, evolves into something verdant and herbal, keeping the composition alive and preventing it from becoming too dense.

It's this contrast that gives Khaltat Night its airiness, like a window has been cracked open in a lounge filled with warmth and sweetness, allowing in a fresh wintery breeze.