Oud is either loved or hated. It is infamous. It is notoriously divisive. The most polarizing category of perfumes in the world of luxury scents. By a long way, some of us can’t get enough of it, while others just can’t stand it. Some find it cloying or suffocating. It’s too much like an Arabic souk. It’s too intense and in your face. It’s too powerful for even Bergamot to mitigate or another heady accord like guaiacol placate. In the minds of its critics, and in their nostrils, it’s more like a pong.
It’s more eye-watering and less alluring. Not for the faint of heart, but those who love the pungent scent of balsamic poured on a forest after a goat herd has passed through and after a blue-cheese picnic. Many critics label it as noxious. Many people call it what they think is the opposite of toxic.
It is not a natural smell. You can also find out more about the Oud Agarwood is another name for it. Some people don’t like the thought of spritzing themselves with a dark resin produced when a fungal mold (phagophore parasitic) infects the aquaria (or agar) tree. Some people don’t feel right or attractive wearing a tree’s defense mechanism. It takes hundreds of year to produce resin. Oud is one of the world’s most expensive and precious raw materials. The aqularia is also in rapid decline due to the over-harvesting of its resin and habitat loss. It’s illegal to harvest the resin in the wild.
This is a luxury that cannot be denied. Both sensual and lavish. Plantations of Oud In Thailand, Malaysia and Cambodia, the process of infection is done manually rather than by nature. A high price of natural oud oils means that perfumeries will often use a small percentage with other ingredients, such as patchouli or cypriol.
Oud is best worn in hot climates. The best skin for it is warm. Try skincare brand Chantecaille’s Oud Fume. You have to respect the oud. You can take a gentle, rather than deep dive into the world top oud fragrances by using hyperlinks to:
- Initio Oud For Greatness
- Granado Oud by “Nose” Leonardo Luciezo
- Diptyque Oud Palao
- Tom Ford Oud Wood
- Ormonde Jayne Man
- Gucci’s intense Oud
- Christian Dior Paris Oud Ispahan
- Cartier Oud Musc
- The 540mm Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge or Satin Wood Oud 540
- Acqua di Parma Signature of the Sun
- Parfums De Marly Layton
- Creed Royal
- Versace Pour Homme Oud Noir
- Amber Oud by Al-Haramain
- Byredo Ould immortel
- Killan Paris Musk Oud
- Le Labo Santal 33
If you don’t trust oudy eau de parfums or agarwood-heavy eau de toilettes you could try out Urban Apothecary Oud Geranium – room spray See if you and your family get along and if you are compatible with ouds. You could be an Oudist.