Oud perfume: what it smells like, and how to wear it
Oud is the resin a wild agarwood tree forms to protect itself. It is the most precious material in perfumery, and the heart of the Moroccan and Arabian compositions we grew up with. This is what to expect from it, and how to wear it so it flatters you.
What oud actually smells like
Warm, dark and resinous, somewhere between smoke, leather and sweet wood. Good oud is never sharp. In our compositions it is softened with amber, musk, vanilla or Moroccan spices, so it reads rich rather than medicinal — closer to a cashmere coat than to incense.
How long it lasts
Oud is a base note, so it stays. An extrait de parfum built on oud commonly lasts a full day on skin and longer on clothing. Two sprays are usually enough; oud rewards restraint.
Layer it with an oud oil
Apply an undiluted oud oil first — wrists, neck, behind the ears — then spray the perfume over it. The oil holds the scent close to the skin and slows the whole composition down, which is exactly how oud is traditionally worn.
Read the perfume oil guideTry it on your own skin first
Oud behaves differently on every skin, so decide on yours, not on a review. Order a 3 ml tester and the amount you paid comes back as a credit code for your next order.
Our oud compositions
