Rasasi's Hawas line is one of the most debated fragrance families in Indian perfume communities, and for good reason. The original Hawas Pour Homme, launched from Dubai in 2015, quickly became one of the best-selling Middle Eastern EDPs in India — a fresh, aquatic powerhouse widely compared to Paco Rabanne Invictus Aqua, often at a third of the price. Then in 2023, Rasasi released Hawas Ice — a flanker built on the same DNA but taken in a crisper, fruitier, more citrus-forward direction. The community has been split ever since.

This review covers both fragrances in full — and tells you exactly which one to buy depending on your budget, the Indian season you are shopping for, and what you want from a fresh EDP. Both are available 100% original at Perfume Network India with Certificate of Authenticity.

The Hawas DNA — What Both Share

Before the differences, it is worth understanding what makes both fragrances part of the same family. The Hawas DNA is built around a fresh aquatic-fruity core — bubblegum sweetness layered over clean musk and amber, with a performance profile that consistently outperforms most Western designer alternatives in its price class. Both fragrances are widely compared to Paco Rabanne Invictus Aqua, and both outperform it on longevity in most community comparisons. The key difference is what each flanker adds on top of that shared base.

Rasasi, based in Dubai, has been making fragrances since 1979. The Hawas line represents their move into mass-appeal aquatic territory — and it landed hard. The original Hawas has accumulated one of the strongest review profiles of any Middle Eastern EDP at this price point, and Ice carried that reputation into 2023 with a new generation of buyers.

How Each One Smells — The Full Journey

Rasasi Hawas Pour Homme (Original)

The original Hawas opens with a classic aquatic-fruity blast — cinnamon and bergamot up top, immediately followed by that signature bubblegum sweetness that the community has been debating since 2015. The heart is where the Hawas DNA becomes distinctive: grey amber and aquatic notes combine with sandalwood to create something that feels simultaneously fresh and warm, fruity and clean — a combination that does not exist in most Western aquatic fragrances at this price.

The drydown reveals patchouli and ambergris — earthy and warm, giving the original more depth and staying power than its lighter flanker. This is why many community veterans still rate the original above Ice: it has a trajectory, a story. It opens bright and closes warm. Ice, by comparison, is more linear — but that linearity is exactly what many buyers want from a daily fresh wear.

Rasasi Hawas Ice

Ice takes the OG's DNA and shifts it decisively towards citrus and fruit. The opening is sharper and more immediate — apple, Italian lemon and Sicilian bergamot hit fast, with star anise adding an unusual spiced edge that separates this from a generic aquatic. The plum in the heart is the real star: it adds a juicy, almost bubblegum-like sweetness that several reviewers compare to chewing gum in the best sense — clean, playful, and never cloying.

The base of musk, amber, driftwood and moss is lighter than the original's patchouli base, which is why Ice reads as fresher on the skin throughout its wear — but also why the original edges it on depth and complexity. The sillage on Ice is, by most accounts, even more aggressive than the OG — a single spray fills a room and buyers are universally warned not to overspray.

Hawas vs Hawas Ice — The Full Head-to-Head

India Season Guide — Which One to Wear When

How to Wear Both — Application Tips for India

What the Community Says

The Fragrantica community on the Hawas vs Ice debate is nuanced. One thread summary captures it well: the opening on Ice is admittedly sharper and zingier — a quick blast of frozen citrus compared to the original's dense, bubblegum sweetness. But here is the honest truth: the moment they hit the deep drydown, they become virtually indistinguishable. Both settle into that powerful, sweet, mass-appealing signature Hawas DNA of musk and amber.

On Parfumo, Hawas Ice receives consistent praise for being a safe blind buy — versatile, well-blended, and with longevity that its fresh category usually cannot deliver. One reviewer describes it as projecting 6–12 inches off skin for 3 hours, with skin longevity of 6–8 hours — above average for any freshie. Clothes longevity is described as near-permanent.

The most useful verdict for an Indian buyer comes from a community reviewer who owns both: if you already own the original Hawas, Ice is a slightly chillier, somewhat redundant refresh. But if you are choosing one to start with, Ice is the safer, more modern, better-performing option for India's climate profile — especially between March and September.

The Full Rasasi Hawas Line at Perfume Network India

Hawas and Ice are the most popular entries, but Rasasi has expanded the line significantly. All of the below are available at Perfume Network India, 100% original with Certificate of Authenticity.

Free delivery on prepaid orders · Certificate of Authenticity · Ships from Dubai via authorised Indian distributor