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Sara Sakina JournalSafi
Perfumes Like Louis Vuitton Imagination: Arabian Alternatives in Canada
- Citrus · Fruity · Musky
- Extrait de Parfum · 100 ml
- 10–12 hour longevity guarantee
$99.00 CADRegular price$140.00
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The closest Arabian alternatives to Louis Vuitton Imagination pair bright citrus with ginger, cinnamon and tea. Reviewers often compare Rasasi Hawas Kobra, which shares bergamot, neroli, ginger and cinnamon. Lattafa Pride Art of Arabia I shares the most published notes, including black tea, ambroxan and frankincense. Safi by Sara Sakina shares the bergamot and orange opening, without the tea, spice or incense.
Key takeaways
- Often compared by reviewers: Rasasi Hawas Kobra, with bergamot, neroli, ginger, cinnamon and green tea.
- Most shared notes: Lattafa Pride Art of Arabia I, with bergamot, black tea, ginger, cinnamon, ambroxan and frankincense.
- Greener and lighter on spice: Khadlaj Shiyaaka Sky, with bergamot, neroli and ambroxan.
- Brighter: Khadlaj Island Dreams, with bergamot, ginger, grapefruit and ambroxan.
- Softer and sweeter: Safi by Sara Sakina, with Calabrian bergamot, Sicilian orange, amber and vanilla, and no tea, ginger or incense.
What does Louis Vuitton Imagination smell like?
Imagination is a citrus aromatic fragrance from Louis Vuitton, released in 2021 and composed by Jacques Cavallier Belletrud. Its published notes are citron, Calabrian bergamot and Sicilian orange on top, Tunisian neroli, Nigerian ginger and Ceylon cinnamon in the heart, and Chinese black tea, ambroxan, guaiac wood and olibanum (frankincense) in the base (Imagination note list). Read together, those notes describe a bright citrus opening, warm spice and a dry tea and wood base. A good alternative keeps the citrus and at least some of the ginger, cinnamon and tea.
Which Arabian perfumes are similar to Imagination?
Here are four perfumes on our shelves that share part of the Imagination note list, plus our own, with what they share and where they part ways. Notes follow each house's published lists.
| Perfume | Shared with Imagination | Different | Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawas Kobra by Rasasi | Bergamot, neroli, ginger, cinnamon, and a tea note | Green tea rather than black tea, tangerine, amber and musk; no guaiac wood or olibanum listed | Eau de parfum |
| Art of Arabia I by Lattafa Pride | Bergamot, black tea, ginger, cinnamon, ambroxan, frankincense | Mint and lavender; no orange, neroli or guaiac wood | Eau de parfum |
| Shiyaaka Sky by Khadlaj | Bergamot, neroli, ambroxan | Mandarin, verbena, geranium, orange blossom, vetiver and sandalwood; no tea or spice | Eau de parfum |
| Island Dreams by Khadlaj | Bergamot, ginger, ambroxan | Grapefruit and musk; no tea, cinnamon or woods | Extrait de parfum |
| Safi by Sara Sakina | Calabrian bergamot, Sicilian orange | Lemon where Imagination has citron, Mediterranean fruit, amber, vanilla and white musk; no tea, ginger or incense | Extrait de parfum |
Rasasi Hawas Kobra: often compared by reviewers
Reviewers often compare Hawas Kobra with Imagination. Its published notes share bergamot, neroli, ginger and cinnamon, and it has a tea note too, green tea where Imagination uses black tea. Tangerine adds a sweeter citrus edge, and amber and musk sit underneath where Imagination lists guaiac wood and olibanum. Choose it if you want a similar mix of citrus, spice and tea with a softer, muskier base. It is an eau de parfum.
Lattafa Pride Art of Arabia I: the most shared notes
Some fragrance databases compare Art of Arabia I with Imagination. Of the bottles we carry, it shares the most published notes with Imagination: bergamot, black tea, ginger, cinnamon, ambroxan and frankincense. Mint on top and lavender in the heart make it more aromatic. There is no orange, citron, neroli or guaiac wood, so the citrus is lighter. Choose it if the tea, ginger and incense are what you love most about Imagination. It is an eau de parfum.
Khadlaj Shiyaaka Sky: greener, with neroli
Shiyaaka Sky shares bergamot, neroli and ambroxan with Imagination. Around them it adds mandarin and verbena on top, geranium, orange blossom and green notes in the heart, and vetiver, musk and sandalwood in the base. There is no tea, ginger or cinnamon, so it reads cleaner and greener, with more of the floral neroli side. Choose it if you like the fresh citrus of Imagination and want something lighter on spice. It is an eau de parfum.
Khadlaj Island Dreams: brighter, with grapefruit
Island Dreams keeps a short note list: bergamot and ginger on top, grapefruit in the heart, and ambroxan and musk in the base. That gives it three notes in common with Imagination: bergamot, ginger and ambroxan. Grapefruit makes the citrus sharper, and there is no tea, cinnamon or guaiac wood. Choose it if you want the zesty citrus and ginger part of Imagination in a simpler, brighter form. It is an extrait de parfum.
Safi by Sara Sakina: our own perfume, softer and sweeter
Safi is our own perfume, so here is exactly where it overlaps and where it does not. Its opening shares the Calabrian bergamot and Sicilian orange of the Imagination top, with lemon where Imagination lists citron. After that the two part ways. Safi has no tea, ginger or incense, and no cinnamon or neroli. Instead it adds Mediterranean fruit, then amber, Madagascar vanilla and white musk, so it is softer and sweeter. Choose it if you love the bright citrus opening but want a warm, musky finish. It is an extrait de parfum with our 10 to 12 hour longevity guarantee, and there is a 5 ml tester.
01Top notes
The opening
The first impression, in the opening minutes.
- LemonZesty and sparkling.
- Calabrian bergamotBright citrus with a floral edge.
- Sicilian orangeSweet, sunny peel.
02Heart notes
The heart
It settles on your skin and shows its character.
- Mediterranean fruitA luscious, juicy fruit accord.
03Base notes
The drydown
What lingers on skin and clothes for hours.
- AmberWarm, golden and resinous.
- Madagascar vanilla beansRich, dark and creamy vanilla.
- White muskClean, airy and soft.
Which Imagination alternative should you choose?
- You want the pick reviewers often compare: Rasasi Hawas Kobra.
- You want the most shared notes: Lattafa Pride Art of Arabia I.
- You want it greener and lighter on spice: Khadlaj Shiyaaka Sky.
- You want sharper citrus and ginger: Khadlaj Island Dreams.
- You want the citrus with a soft vanilla finish: Safi by Sara Sakina.
Questions about Imagination alternatives
What is the closest Arabian alternative to Louis Vuitton Imagination?
By published notes, Lattafa Pride Art of Arabia I is the closest we carry, sharing bergamot, black tea, ginger, cinnamon, ambroxan and frankincense. Reviewers often compare Rasasi Hawas Kobra, which shares bergamot, neroli, ginger and cinnamon and has a green tea note.
Is Safi a dupe of Imagination?
No. Safi is an original perfume mixed by Aymane Zerzkhane for Sara Sakina. It shares the Calabrian bergamot and Sicilian orange of the Imagination opening, but it has no tea, ginger or incense, and it adds Mediterranean fruit, amber, vanilla and white musk.
Is Hawas Kobra a dupe of Imagination?
Some reviewers describe it that way. It is a separate perfume that shares some notes with Imagination: bergamot, neroli, ginger and cinnamon, plus a tea note. It also has tangerine, amber and musk, and its tea is green rather than black.
Can I smell these before buying?
Yes. Visit Sara Sakina at Oakville Place in Oakville, on the upper level across from Sephora, to try testers. A second boutique opens at Bramalea City Centre in Brampton in late October 2026. For Safi you can also order the 5 ml tester online.
Should I choose Hawas Kobra or Art of Arabia I?
Choose Hawas Kobra for more of the citrus and neroli side, with a softer amber and musk base. Choose Art of Arabia I if black tea, ginger and frankincense matter most to you. It also adds mint and lavender.
Try the citrus one side by side. Shop Safi Extrait de Parfum 100 ml, or add the 5 ml tester from the same page. Buy any qualifying perfume over CA$40 with Safi and get 20% off Safi, or a free Safi 5 ml tester instead.
In this guide
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$99.00 CAD · Extrait de Parfum · 100 ml
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Mixed by Aymane
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