Perfume Battle Round 22: Afnan 9PM vs Acqua di Parma Colonia Futura - The AED 118 Champion Faces an Italian Natural Cologne
Welcome to Round 22 of the AlHimyan King-of-the-Hill perfume tournament, where two fragrances go head to head and only one keeps the crown. Today's champion arrives on the longest hot streak of the entire tournament: Afnan 9PM, the AED 118 sweet-oriental powerhouse that has now defended its title five times running. Standing across the ring is a very different kind of fragrance - Acqua di Parma Colonia Futura, an Italian citrus-aromatic cologne built from 99% naturally derived ingredients. Refinement against value. Amalfi sunshine against Eastern amber. Let's see who walks away with the belt.
Meet the Champion: Afnan 9PM Eau de Parfum
Afnan 9PM is proof that price and performance do not have to be enemies. Launched by the UAE's own Afnan Perfumes, it opens on apple and cinnamon, melts into orange blossom and tonka, and dries down on a warm vanilla-and-amber base that clings to fabric for a full working day and beyond. On Fragrantica it holds a 4.35 out of 5 across more than 17,000 votes - an enormous, engaged community for a fragrance in this price bracket. It is a proven crowd-pleaser: sweet, projecting, confident, and perfect for cool UAE evenings.
Shop Afnan 9PM at alhimyan.com
Meet the Challenger: Acqua di Parma Colonia Futura
Colonia Futura is Acqua di Parma's love letter to nature. Released in 2020, it reworks the house's classic barbershop cologne DNA into a modern, sustainable formula that is roughly 99% naturally derived. The opening is a bright, almost crunchy citrus explosion - lemon, bergamot and grapefruit lifted by a whisper of pink pepper - before clary sage and lavender add an aromatic, green heart, and vetiver grounds the finish. It is elegant, clean and effortlessly Italian. The trade-off, as with most natural colognes, is stamina: it is a soft, close-to-the-skin scent that fades in a handful of hours.
Shop Acqua di Parma Colonia Futura at alhimyan.com
The Scent Notes, Side by Side
| Layer | Afnan 9PM | Colonia Futura |
|---|---|---|
| Top | Apple, Cinnamon, Bergamot | Lemon, Bergamot, Grapefruit, Pink Pepper |
| Heart | Orange Blossom, Egyptian Jasmine, Tonka | Lavender, Clary Sage |
| Base | Vanilla, Amber, Caramel, Tonka Bean | Vetiver |
| Family | Sweet Oriental / Amber | Citrus Aromatic |
The Scorecard
Every AlHimyan battle is scored on the same weighted formula: Fragrantica community rating (35%), Parfumo connoisseur rating (25%), Longevity (15%), Sillage (10%) and Value for money (15%).
| Metric | Afnan 9PM | Colonia Futura |
|---|---|---|
| Fragrantica (of 5) | 4.35 | ~3.85 |
| Parfumo (of 10) | 7.9 | ~7.5 |
| Longevity (of 10) | 9.0 | 5.5 |
| Sillage (of 10) | 8.7 | 5.5 |
| Value (of 10) | 10.0 | 5.5 |
| Store price | AED 118 / 100ml | AED 715 / 100ml |
| Price per ml | AED 1.18 | AED 7.15 |
| Weighted final | 8.74 | 6.77 |
Colonia Futura's ratings are community-triangulated from Fragrantica, Parfumo, Basenotes and editorial reviews, as direct rating fetches were unavailable at the time of writing.
The Verdict: Afnan 9PM Holds the Crown
This one was not close. Afnan 9PM wins every single category on the card. It out-ratings, out-lasts and out-projects the Italian cologne, and then buries it on value - at AED 1.18 per millilitre it is roughly six times cheaper per spray than Colonia Futura. The final margin of 1.97 points is one of the widest in tournament history.
That extends Afnan 9PM's reign to seven consecutive wins, tying the all-time tournament record set by Parfums de Marly Layton and Amouage Interlude Man. A budget-friendly Emirati crowd-pleaser now sits level with two niche giants - a fitting story for a UAE store.
None of this means Colonia Futura is a bad fragrance. It is a beautifully made, refined, sustainable citrus cologne that many people will love for its natural transparency and its clean, sophisticated Italian character. It simply plays a quieter game - and in a bracket that rewards longevity, projection and value, quiet does not win belts. If you want an elegant office-and-daytime signature and you value craft over projection, Colonia Futura is a genuinely lovely choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Afnan 9PM a designer or a niche fragrance?
Neither in the traditional sense - it is a Middle Eastern house fragrance from Afnan Perfumes in the UAE. It punches far above its price, which is exactly why it keeps winning here.
Which one lasts longer?
Afnan 9PM, comfortably. Expect a full day of wear from 9PM, versus a few hours from the naturally-derived Colonia Futura.
Which is better for the UAE climate?
For hot daytime and the office, Colonia Futura's fresh citrus is easy to wear. For evenings, dinners and cooler months, Afnan 9PM's sweet amber is the stronger statement.
Are both available at AlHimyan?
Yes. Both are in stock at alhimyan.com, with cash on delivery, Tabby and Tamara installments, and a 7-day return policy across the UAE and GCC.
Follow the AlHimyan Perfume Battle for a new head-to-head every day. Today's champion, Afnan 9PM, returns tomorrow to defend a record-tying seven-win streak.