Ajmal Qasida Review (2026): Rose, Leather and Oud for Cool Evenings

Ajmal Qasida is a unisex floral oriental. It opens soft and slightly fruity, blooms into rose and orange blossom, and settles on a warm base of leather, oud, vanilla and musk. The name is the Arabic word for a classical ode, and Ajmal says the scent was inspired by Arabic poetry. It is a cool-weather, evening kind of perfume, and it is less well known than the Ajmal bestsellers, which is part of its appeal.

Short answer: Buy Ajmal Qasida EDP at ₹3,979 for 60 ml if you want a rose and oud floral with a soft leather and vanilla base for winter evenings, weddings and festive nights. If you want something spicier and more ambery from the same line, Ajmal Qasida Dahabia is ₹4,079 for 60 ml.

• Smells like: a fruity floral opening, rose and orange blossom in the heart, then leather, oud, vanilla and musk.
• Unisex, though the florals make it lean slightly feminine. Ajmal itself calls it female-friendly.
• Lasts about 7 to 9 hours in cooler weather. Ajmal claims up to 10 hours.
• Best for winter evenings, weddings, receptions and Diwali season. Not a summer daytime scent.
• Few independent reviews exist, so this review leans on the brand's notes, the fragrance databases and retailer listings.

Ajmal Qasida at a glance, and what to try alongside it

Perfume	Full bottle	Scent	Lasts	Why it is here
Ajmal Qasida EDP	₹3,979 (60 ml)	Rose, orange blossom, leather, oud	7-9 hrs	The one we are reviewing
Ajmal Qasida Dahabia EDP	₹4,079 (60 ml)	Pink pepper, jasmine, tobacco, amber	7-9 hrs	The spicier, ambery sibling in the same line
Ajmal Wisal Layl EDP	₹3,149 (50 ml)	Blackcurrant, rose, osmanthus, oud	8-10 hrs	Same fruity rose and oud idea, darker and fruitier
Ajmal Wisal Dhahab EDP	₹2,599 (50 ml)	Pear, peach, rose, sandalwood	8-10 hrs	Lighter fruity rose with no oud, cheaper
Ajmal Chapter 3 EDP	₹5,099 (50 ml)	Peach, apricot, rose, osmanthus	6-8 hrs	Fruity rose floral from Ajmal's newer line

• House: Ajmal, the oud house founded in 1951
• Type: Eau de Parfum, unisex, 60 ml
• Scent family: Floral oriental, with a leather and oud base
• Key notes: Fruity notes, almond, neroli, rose, orange blossom, jasmine, leather, oud, vanilla, musk
• Longevity: About 7 to 9 hours in cool weather, moderate to strong projection
• Best for: Winter evenings, weddings, receptions and festive nights
• Price: ₹3,979 (60 ml full bottle)

What does Ajmal Qasida smell like?

The sources agree on the shape of Qasida, even if they word the top notes differently. Ajmal describes fruity top notes, a floral heart and a musky, leathery, sweet base infused with oud, and it lists the main accords as fruity, floral and oudhy. A European retailer gives the same outline: fruity and floral notes on top, a floral heart, and musk, leather, sweet notes and oud in the base. Fragrantica is the most specific. It lists almond and neroli on top, orange blossom and rose in the heart, and vanilla, leather, musk and oud in the base, with white floral, citrus, vanilla and rose as the leading accords.

The opening, going by the notes, is soft and bright rather than sharp: a light fruity, citrusy lift from the neroli with a hint of almond sweetness.

The heart is the centre of the scent. Rose and orange blossom give it a full floral body, and some listings add jasmine. This floral heart is why Ajmal calls it female-friendly, although the base pulls it back towards the middle.

The dry down is where Qasida earns the oriental label. Leather and oud add a darker edge, and vanilla and musk keep it soft and sweet. Retailer descriptions talk about a hint of oud rather than an oud-heavy scent, so it should suit people who like the idea of oud but find pure oud perfumes too much.

One honest caveat. Qasida has very few community reviews so far. Fragrantica has only a handful of ratings and no written reviews, and Parfumo has only a few ratings too. So treat any description of it, including ours, as a guide to the style rather than a promise of exactly how it will wear on you.

How long does Ajmal Qasida last in Indian weather?

Ajmal says Qasida has moderate to strong sillage and lasts up to 10 hours. The small number of ratings on Parfumo put both longevity and sillage above average, and ScentVerdict's profile files it as long lasting. Warm bases built on leather, oud, vanilla and musk generally hold on skin well, so the claim is believable for a cool evening.

Our honest range for India is 7 to 9 hours on skin in winter or air-conditioned settings, with a noticeable trail for the first few hours. In humid summer heat, expect less, and expect the sweetness to feel heavier. Spray on clothes for a longer trail, and two or three sprays are plenty.

When and where to wear Qasida

Winter evenings: its best setting. Ajmal recommends it for fall and winter, and the warm base makes sense on a cool Delhi or Lucknow night.

Weddings and festive nights: a strong choice for receptions, sangeets, Diwali parties and family dinners in the cooler months. Rose, leather and a touch of oud suit dressy, traditional occasions.

Dates: works well. The rose and vanilla feel warm and close.

Office: possible in winter with one or two sprays, but it is a bit rich for a closed room. ScentVerdict also rates it a weaker fit for the office.

Summer: skip it for daytime. Sweet florals with a leather and oud base can feel heavy in Indian heat. Save it for cool evenings.

Ajmal Qasida vs Qasida Dahabia

Dahabia means golden, and Qasida Dahabia is a separate scent, not a stronger version of Qasida. Fragrantica lists it as a 2024 release by perfumer Angéline Leporini. It opens with bergamot, nutmeg, pink pepper and exotic fruits, moves into jasmine, rose and tobacco, and dries down to amber, vanilla and musk. Ajmal's own listing and a Gulf retailer give the same notes.

So the difference is clear. Qasida is the softer floral, built on rose, orange blossom, leather and oud. Dahabia is spicier and more ambery, with tobacco in the heart and no leather or oud in its listed notes. Both are listed as unisex on Ajmal's own pages, both are aimed at autumn and winter evenings, and both come as 60 ml bottles at FragFreak. At ₹3,979 and ₹4,079 the price gap is small, so choose on taste: florals and leather, or spice and amber.

What is Ajmal Qasida often compared to?

Unlike Ajmal Evoke Gold or Kuro, Qasida is not widely compared to a designer scent, and we would rather say that than invent a comparison. The fairer comparisons sit inside Ajmal's own range, where several scents share its fruity floral and rose character.

Ajmal Wisal Layl is the closest idea: fruit, rose and osmanthus over musk, oud and frankincense, and it is the darker, fruitier of the two at ₹3,149. Ajmal Wisal Dhahab is a brighter fruity rose with sandalwood and musk instead of oud, at ₹2,599. Ajmal Chapter 3 is a newer fruity floral built on peach, apricot, rose and osmanthus, at ₹5,099.

Price, size and value

At FragFreak, Ajmal Qasida EDP costs ₹3,979 for 60 ml. That is the only size we stock, and there is no decant of it right now. Per ml it costs more than Ajmal's everyday bottles, but you are paying for a less common floral oriental with a real oud and leather base rather than another fresh crowd-pleaser.

Since you cannot sample Qasida in a small size, test the direction first if you are unsure about Ajmal's fruity rose style. An 8 ml decant of Wisal Dhahab costs ₹689. It has no oud or leather, so it will not tell you everything, but if that fruity rose heart appeals to you, Qasida is the deeper, more evening version.

Who should buy Ajmal Qasida?

• Buy it if: you want a rose and orange blossom floral with a warm leather, oud and vanilla base.
• Buy it if: you need a dressy evening scent for weddings and the festive season.
• Buy it if: you like oud as an accent, not as the whole show.
• Skip it if: you want a fresh daytime scent for summer or the gym.
• Skip it if: you prefer spice and amber over florals. Look at Qasida Dahabia instead.
• Our verdict: a graceful, less common Ajmal for cool evenings, best bought by people who already enjoy floral orientals.

Frequently asked questions

What is the price of Ajmal Qasida perfume in India?

At FragFreak, Ajmal Qasida EDP costs ₹3,979 for the 60 ml bottle, which is the only size we stock right now. It is 100% original. Its sibling, Ajmal Qasida Dahabia, costs ₹4,079 for 60 ml.

What does Ajmal Qasida smell like?

A soft floral oriental. It opens lightly fruity with neroli and a hint of almond, blooms into rose and orange blossom, and dries down to leather, oud, vanilla and musk. Retailers describe the oud as a hint rather than the main note.

How long does Ajmal Qasida last?

About 7 to 9 hours on skin in cool weather, with a noticeable trail for the first few hours. Ajmal claims up to 10 hours. In humid summer heat it will wear shorter and feel heavier.

Is Ajmal Qasida for men or women?

It is sold as unisex. The rose and orange blossom heart makes it lean slightly feminine, and Ajmal calls it female-friendly, but the leather and oud base means men who like floral orientals can wear it well.

What is the difference between Ajmal Qasida and Qasida Dahabia?

Qasida is a softer floral built on rose, orange blossom, leather and oud. Qasida Dahabia is spicier and more ambery, with pink pepper, nutmeg, jasmine, tobacco, amber and vanilla. Both are unisex 60 ml bottles meant for cooler evenings.

Qasida is one of many Ajmal scents we stock. For the rest of the house, read our ranking of the best Ajmal perfumes. If roses are your thing, see the best rose perfumes, and for the season ahead, our guide to the best perfumes for Indian weddings. Every bottle on FragFreak is 100% original.