If you’ve ever been to Dubai or roamed the ground floor at Harrods, you may well have experienced the Wood Of The Gods, commonly known as Oud.
A highly-prized ingredient in the Middle East, Oud (Agarwood), is derived from the tropical agar tree, which is believed to originate in Assam, India. Originally used by royalty and aristocracy in Asia and the Near East, Oud has been used in perfumery since ancient times.
The scent of Oud varies, mainly depending on the wood used, where the tree was cultivated, and whether it was grown or naturally infected. The fragrance ranges from warm and woody to smoky and sweet. Often called liquid gold, due to its rarity and the time it takes for the infection process to occur, Agarwood is perfect for luxurious men’s fragrances thanks to its rich, masculine and captivating scent.
Here are our selections of oud-scented fragrances that capture the luxury of the classic regional note.
Versace Pour Homme Oud Noir
Versace Pour Homme is a seductive and hypnotic scent belonging to the oriental and wood fragrance family. With a brief opening of bitter orange, black pepper and neroli, it takes a sudden plunge into the comforting base of aromatic saffron, cardamom and olibanum. It is rich and sultry in its mix with a heavy scent of leather.
Available at amazon.co.uk & johnlewis.com
Christian Dior La Collection Privée Oud Ispahan
Part of the French fashion house’s exclusive fragrances line La Collection Privée, Oud Ispahan is unique, floral and bold. Using carefully selected raw materials, Francois Demachy, perfumer-extraordinaire for Dior, composed and reinterpreted the classic accords of an oriental with an essence of voyage and discovery. A uni-sex, rose-toned Oud, it blends the radiant and delicate aspects of Rosa Damascena essence with the potency of Oud from Laos. Cedarwood, patchouli from Indonesia and sandalwood from New Caledonia emphasise the fragrance’s woody profile.
Available at dior.com
Creed Royal Oud
Inspired by details of the Persian royal palace, including leather, marble and gold, Creed’s Royal Oud is created by Olivier Creed and described as a rich, woody, oriental blend with an earthy and spicy aromatic quality. The lemon, pink pepper, and bergamot used to dazzle the senses make it more palatable for those who find the scent of agarwood overwhelming. It is a classic daytime fragrance that is masterful and multi-faceted.
Available at johnlewis.com & selfridges.com
Byredo Oud Immortel
Created by Byredo founder and creative director Ben Gorham, Oud Immortel has a smoky character and is earthy, woody and spicy. The luxurious Eau de Parfum has top notes of limoncello, incense and cardamom, heart notes of agarwood, patchouli, papyrus and Brazilian rosewood and an elegant oakmoss and tobacco leaf base. Despite being inspired by the past, Byredo’s dynamic approach to fragrance gives this interpretation of Oud a remarkable sense of modernity.
Available at byredo.com & selfridges.com
Tom Ford Private Blend Oud Wood
One of the most popular Eau de parfums in his Private Blend of niche fragrances, Tom Ford has created a sophisticated scent that will go down in perfume history by blending oud wood with exotic rosewood, cardamom, Chinese pepper, sandalwood, vetiver, tonka bean, vanilla, and amber. With a scented soap, shower gel, body spray and beard oil, you can douse yourself from head to toe in an aura of peace and tranquillity.
Available at johnlewis.com & selfridges.com
Acqua Di Parma Oud & Spice
From the Signatures of the Sun collection, Oud & Spice brings its Oud from Laos, which is celebrated for its smoothness and balance. This artful and versatile blend of Oud fuses head notes of bergamot, rose and raspberry with heart notes of spicy cinnamon and clove to offset the tell-tale warm, musky base of agarwood, patchouli and cistus labdanum. Oud & Spice is a radiant interpretation of the deep and sumptuous notes of Oud.
Available at johnlewis.com & selfridges.com
