Malabah

Perfume Pyramid

Longevity

Sillage

When To Wear

Pros & Cons

This perfume reminds me of

Guerlain Secret Intention

2001

★★★★★ 3.52/5 (136)

ann fragrance The Royal

1983 12 reviews

★★★★★ 3.75/5 (1.5K)

Clive Christian Mandarin

2016

★★★★★ 4.00/5 (43)

Cerruti Silver

2020

★★★★★ 3.97/5 (92)

Guerlain Épices Volées Arsène Lupin Voyou

2010

★★★★★ 3.57/5 (152)

La Perla About That Night

2021

★★★★★ 3.73/5 (119)

Dr. Taffi Acqua di Bolgheri – Maestrale

2001

★★★★★ 3.22/5 (9)

Agar Aura Al-Arabiya Agar Aura 1972 Attar

1972

Reviews

1. O

   Omar Hansen Ok March 4, 2026

   A couple of wears in, Malabah has really grown on me. The very first sniff is crisp Lemon with Tea peeking through, very much my kind of start. Give it a little time and Ginger with Cardamom comes forward — smooth and well done. It performs better in warmer weather — in the heat it opens up nicely. Pleasant, though I would not call it essential.
2. J

   Jasper Pavlov Love March 27, 2026

   A friend passed me a decant of Malabah (2003) and I wasn’t prepared for it. As it settles, Amber and Sandalwood come through and give it real depth. The drydown leans on Amber plus Sandalwood and that is exactly where it feels most comfortable. Projection stays close for the first hour, then becomes a soft, pleasant aura. This one gets my highest praise — beautiful from start to finish.
3. R

   Remy Weber Like May 23, 2026

   For a 2003 release, Malabah deserves more attention than it gets. The drydown leans on Amber plus Sandalwood and that is exactly where it feels most comfortable. The opening is built around Lemon and Tea — bright and immediately recognizable. Projection stays close for the first hour, then becomes a soft, pleasant aura. A solid addition for anyone who enjoys this style.
4. A

   Amara Hale Ok June 10, 2026

   A friend passed me a decant of Malabah (2003) and I wasn’t prepared for it. Give it a little time and Ginger with Cardamom comes forward — smooth and well done. Right away I get mostly Lemon alongside Tea, fresh and very easy to wear. The drydown lingers pleasantly, and I do not need to reapply at lunch. Worth sampling before committing to a bottle.
5. I

   Idris Lindberg Ok June 10, 2026

   I have owned Malabah for a while now and my opinion has only gotten stronger. The heart is the best part for me: Ginger and Cardamom feel carefully balanced. As it settles, Amber and Sandalwood come through and give it real depth. I get about four to six hours before it turns into a skin scent. Pleasant, though I would not call it essential.
6. Y

   Yuki Nielsen Dislike June 13, 2026

   A friend passed me a decant of Malabah (2003) and I wasn’t prepared for it. The drydown leans on Amber plus Sandalwood and that is exactly where it feels most comfortable. Right away I get mostly Lemon alongside Tea, fresh and very easy to wear. Longevity is moderate and the trail is noticeable without being loud. The composition is well made but not for me.
7. F

   Freja Öztürk Ok July 2, 2026

   A friend passed me a decant of Malabah (2003) and I wasn’t prepared for it. The first minutes are all about Lemon with a hint of Tea — it grabs attention without being pushy. After about twenty minutes the heart settles into Ginger with Cardamom, which is where the fragrance really shines. It wears beautifully in the office; I can still catch it on my scarf at the end of the day. I enjoy it when I wear it, yet I rarely think of reaching for it.
8. A

   Arlo Vance Dislike July 6, 2026

   My first Penhaligon’s experience was this one, Malabah (2003). Give it a little time and Ginger with Cardamom comes forward — smooth and well done. The very first sniff is crisp Lemon with Tea peeking through, very much my kind of start. I get about four to six hours before it turns into a skin scent. The composition is well made but not for me.
9. A

   Ava Kim Like July 9, 2026

   A couple of wears in, Malabah has really grown on me. After about twenty minutes the heart settles into Ginger with Cardamom, which is where the fragrance really shines. That first spray gives a lovely Lemon/Tea impression that dries down smoothly. On my skin the performance is reliable, not a beast but far from weak. A very likeable composition that is easy to appreciate.
10. P

    Petra Quinn Love July 11, 2026

    I picked up Malabah (2003) mostly on a whim, and it turned out to be a pleasant surprise. The drydown leans on Amber plus Sandalwood and that is exactly where it feels most comfortable. The base rests on Amber and Sandalwood — warm, grounded and easy to live with. It is not the loudest scent I own, but the balance suits it well. This has earned a permanent spot in my rotation.
11. V

    Vera Bianchi Like July 12, 2026

    A friend passed me a decant of Malabah (2003) and I wasn’t prepared for it. The drydown leans on Amber plus Sandalwood and that is exactly where it feels most comfortable. After about twenty minutes the heart settles into Ginger with Cardamom, which is where the fragrance really shines. Performance is consistent: comfortable sillage and several hours of wear on my skin. I can see this getting a lot of wear in my collection.
12. L

    Luna Dubois Dislike July 12, 2026

    Everyone keeps talking about Malabah, so I finally gave it a proper test. As it settles, Amber and Sandalwood come through and give it real depth. The first minutes are all about Lemon with a hint of Tea — it grabs attention without being pushy. It lasts through a full workday on me, which is exactly what I want. I can see its quality, but it simply is not my style.
13. R

    Rosa Novak Love July 28, 2026

    A decant of Malabah sat in my box for weeks before I finally wore it. The very first sniff is crisp Lemon with Tea peeking through, very much my kind of start. The first minutes are all about Lemon with a hint of Tea — it grabs attention without being pushy. It performs better in warmer weather — in the heat it opens up nicely. I would happily buy a full bottle.
14. C

    Clara Sato Love July 29, 2026

    Picked up a sample of Malabah after reading the community buzz (2003). The base rests on Amber and Sandalwood — warm, grounded and easy to live with. The heart is the best part for me: Ginger and Cardamom feel carefully balanced. It performs better in warmer weather — in the heat it opens up nicely. Full-bottle worthy without a doubt.
15. L

    Liam Chen Like August 1, 2026

    Everyone keeps talking about Malabah, so I finally gave it a proper test. After about twenty minutes the heart settles into Ginger with Cardamom, which is where the fragrance really shines. The base rests on Amber and Sandalwood — warm, grounded and easy to live with. Two sprays are enough — it carries well without shouting. I can see this getting a lot of wear in my collection.
16. M

    Mia Voss Like August 16, 2026

    Everyone keeps talking about Malabah, so I finally gave it a proper test. Right away I get mostly Lemon alongside Tea, fresh and very easy to wear. The very first sniff is crisp Lemon with Tea peeking through, very much my kind of start. After a few hours it becomes a soft skin scent with a lovely trail. Well done — recommended if the notes appeal to you.
17. V

    Viktor Popescu Like 2 weeks ago

    A couple of wears in, Malabah has really grown on me. The first minutes are all about Lemon with a hint of Tea — it grabs attention without being pushy. The drydown leans on Amber plus Sandalwood and that is exactly where it feels most comfortable. In cooler weather it sits closer to the skin, which I actually prefer here. Well done — recommended if the notes appeal to you.