Hibiscus is one of those things everyone has tasted but almost nobody has smelled in a perfume. It turns up in herbal teas and tropical drinks, tart and red and faintly floral, yet as a fragrance note it is vanishingly rare. Maison Crivelli built an entire perfume around it, and in doing so created one of its most distinctive and beloved scents.
As ever with this house, it began with a memory.
Hibiscus tea in a gemstone market
Hibiscus Mahajad, released in 2021, was the first extrait de parfum from Maison Crivelli, the French house founded by Thibaud Crivelli on the principle that every fragrance should capture a real sensory memory. This one came from Crivelli drinking hibiscus tea in a gemstone market, a flash of tart red flower against the glitter of jewels. To realise it he turned to Quentin Bisch, one of the most celebrated perfumers working today and the nose behind a string of modern hits.
Tart flower, soft leather
The fragrance opens around that hibiscus, tart and slightly fruity, joined by a juicy cassis and a Damask rose that amplify its red, jammy character, with a curious flicker of peppermint adding freshness and a touch of cinnamon adding spice. Underneath, a soft leather and a creamy vanilla absolute round everything off, taming the tartness into something warm and wearable. The result is floral and fruity but with unexpected depth, the rose and hibiscus illuminated and then softened by the leather and vanilla.
What it actually smells like
A tart, jammy red-floral, equal parts hibiscus and rose, softened by a smooth leather-and-vanilla base. It is bright and fruity up top, warm and slightly powdery underneath, and the overall effect is rich and distinctive without being heavy. It is unisex, leans gently feminine, and stands out precisely because so few fragrances smell anything like it. It lasts well and has the polish you expect at this level.
The £295 question
A bottle of Hibiscus Mahajad sits around £295 in the UK. For the money you get a genuinely original niche fragrance and a flower almost no one else has bottled. The catch, as ever, is the spend: £295 is a lot, however rare the experience.
Which is the reason an alternative market exists. People love the tart, rosy hibiscus of Mahajad and want a way to wear it without the £295 outlay.
Hibisc: the 35% interpretation
This is where we come in, and we will be straight about what we are. Our Hibisc is Aromara's interpretation of that hibiscus-and-rose character, not a counterfeit and not a Maison Crivelli product. It carries no branding and makes no claim to be the original. It chases the part that matters: the tart hibiscus, pomegranate and rose opening, the spiced amber and woody heart, and the soft vanilla, musk and resin base.
The difference is in two numbers. Ours is built at 35% extrait concentration, roughly double a standard eau de parfum, so it holds for seven hours or more rather than fading by lunch. And it costs £4.99 for a 5ml to test it properly, against £295 for the original. We guarantee the wear time in writing, with 60 days to send it back for a full refund if it does not last.
Our guide to extrait de parfum explains why concentration matters, and the strongest perfume dupes in the UK shows where our range sits. If you love a modern rose, the story behind Parfums de Marly Delina is a natural next read, and our Rose Elegance is another to try.
Frequently asked questions
Who created Maison Crivelli Hibiscus Mahajad?
It was composed by the perfumer Quentin Bisch and released in 2021 as Maison Crivelli's first extrait de parfum.
What does Hibiscus Mahajad smell like?
A tart, jammy red-floral: hibiscus, cassis and Damask rose with a flicker of peppermint and cinnamon, over a soft base of leather and creamy vanilla.
Is Aromara's Hibisc the same as Maison Crivelli?
No. It is an independent composition inspired by the same character, built at 35% extrait for longevity and sold at a fraction of the price. It is not affiliated with Maison Crivelli.
Aromara is an independent UK fragrance house. Our fragrances are original compositions inspired by the character of well-known designer scents. We are not affiliated with Maison Crivelli, and all trademarks belong to their respective owners. Every Aromara fragrance is made in the UK at 35% extrait concentration, with a 7+ hour longevity guarantee and a 60-day money-back promise.