Today I am testing Ubar, released by Amouage in 1995 to celebrate Oman’s Silver Jubilee year. The fragrance is named for the lost Omani city of Ubar, long believed to be an important center of the historical frankincense trade, and re-discovered in 1992 with the aid of satellite imaging. The notes for Ubar are bergamot, lemon, lily of the valley, Damascena rose, Bulgarian rose, jasmine, sandalwood, synthetic civet and vanilla.
Ubar starts with a citrusy lily of the valley with a touch of civet. It gives way to a soft floral, mostly rose at first, but with the jasmine becoming considerably more pronounced as it dries down. The base is lovely: a very smooth sandalwood with a just a trace of vanilla. There is a muted note of musk, and I've been trying to decide if there is a bit of frankincense as well. The civet is noticeable but not overdone; this is not as animalic, or as heavy, as say, Shalimar, or yesterday's Gold Pour Homme.
Ubar is available as an Eau de Toilette only. The floral notes are not long lasting, but the sandalwood base (my favorite part anyway) lasts for hours. It is cheaper than some of the other Amouage scents, but I wouldn't go so far as to call it a bargain. A half ounce can be had for around $60.
It is no longer listed on the Amouage website, and according to scentdirect it has been discontinued. It is still available at lusciouscargo and parfumsraffy.