Best Lattafa Perfumes for Beginners in Sarawak

Shopping for your first proper perfume in Sarawak? You're not alone — a lot of us start with Lattafa because the scents are easy to understand and easy to wear. Today we're looking at two of them: Shahd and Afeef. Both are eau de parfum, both come in 100ml bottles, and both can work as your everyday scent in Malaysia's heat. Let's break down what each one is actually like, so you can pick without guessing.

Shahd — a floral for sunny days

Shahd is Lattafa's women's floral-woody fragrance, and it leans hard into yellow florals. The opening is frangipani and ylang-ylang, so right from the first spray you get that creamy tropical flower vibe. In the heart, there's tuberose plus solar notes, which give it a glowing, sun-kissed feel — like stepping out of an air-conditioned mall into warm afternoon light. As it settles, the base brings musk, vanilla, amber and cedarwood, so the dry-down stays soft rather than sharp.

Who's it for? If you like your perfume feminine and floral, Shahd is the obvious pick. Its listed occasions are casual, formal, everyday and special occasions, so it covers everything from a normal workday to a wedding dinner. And since it's meant for warm weather, it fits Sarawak just fine all year round — no need to wait for a particular season.

Afeef — clean, fresh and unisex

Afeef is a different mood entirely. It's a unisex EDP with an Oriental family tag, but the opening is what most people notice first: citrus and fresh notes. It then moves into a soft floral and amber heart, before settling on musk, vanilla and woody notes. The overall feel is smooth and clean — a fresh-amber scent rather than a full-on floral.

Because it's unisex, one bottle can be shared with your partner, sibling or whoever. The occasions listed for it are daily, office, evening and casual, which basically covers your whole week. If you're a beginner and you don't yet know whether you prefer sweet, floral or fresh scents, Afeef is a safe middle ground that still smells finished, not boring.

Shahd or Afeef — how to choose?

Simple version: pick by the scent direction you want.

Go for Shahd if you love flowers. It's built around yellow florals like frangipani and ylang-ylang, with a creamy musk, vanilla and amber base. It's made for women, and it suits anyone who wants a feminine, glowy daily scent.
Go for Afeef if you want something cleaner and more neutral. Its citrus and fresh opening with an amber-woody base is easy to wear every single day, and it works for both men and women.

Both are 100ml EDPs, so really you're choosing between a floral personality and a fresh-amber one. Think about where you'll wear it most — office days and daily errands lean towards Afeef, while anything dressy leans towards Shahd.

A quick note on the weather here

Sarawak is hot and humid basically all year, so heavy, dense perfumes rarely make sense here. Both of these were made with warm weather in mind — Shahd even has those solar, sun-kissed notes in its heart, and Afeef's fresh citrus opening feels right in the humidity. That's part of why they suit beginners: you don't need to memorise complicated rules about when to wear them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lattafa good for perfume beginners?

Yes — Shahd and Afeef are both EDPs with clear scent profiles, one floral and one fresh-amber. That makes them easy to understand if you're just starting out.

Which one is better for the office?

Afeef lists office and daily among its occasions, so it's the natural desk-to-evening option. Shahd also lists formal and everyday wear, so it works too if you prefer florals.