Top Notes 
Thai gurjun balsam
Australian sandalwood
White oud
Heart Notes 
Atlas cedar
Ambergris
Oakmoss
Base Notes 
Amber
06/30/2025
TonyTonka
19 Reviews
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TonyTonka
Helpful Review
8
'Ilm ..
... is a fragrance - that much can be said in advance - that is not for everyone. Of course, oud is always one of those things, but many people always equate oud with faeces, barnyard, etc.
Yet oud can be so many things, sweet, leathery, the smell of dried fruit, green, and much more With 'Ilm, however, I can understand this association, even if I don't get the farmhouse here as strongly as some others. For me it's more tart, peaty, woody and a little sour/sweet, almost like wild berries. When I smell it, I get images of the Scottish coast, rough wind, wet wood, peaty single malt. The 'Ilm does not develop at all, until very subtly. It remains woody from start to finish and at most loses some of its peatiness and becomes slightly more berry. I would definitely say that it is something for those interested in oud, as you don't get a sweet or creamy everyday or even mainstream fragrance here. Perhaps it is something for people who are interested in the different facets of oud and who already have a somewhat more trained nose in this area. It is definitely worth a test, even if it is simply too harsh and linear for my taste. It is always interesting to see what possibilities this fragrance offers, depending on the processing, origin and age.
Another small addendum.
I have been able to test both the old 'Ilm from Kemi and the new Xerjoff edition extensively and must say that there are virtually no differences to be recognized here (at most due to the maturation).
Yet oud can be so many things, sweet, leathery, the smell of dried fruit, green, and much more With 'Ilm, however, I can understand this association, even if I don't get the farmhouse here as strongly as some others. For me it's more tart, peaty, woody and a little sour/sweet, almost like wild berries. When I smell it, I get images of the Scottish coast, rough wind, wet wood, peaty single malt. The 'Ilm does not develop at all, until very subtly. It remains woody from start to finish and at most loses some of its peatiness and becomes slightly more berry. I would definitely say that it is something for those interested in oud, as you don't get a sweet or creamy everyday or even mainstream fragrance here. Perhaps it is something for people who are interested in the different facets of oud and who already have a somewhat more trained nose in this area. It is definitely worth a test, even if it is simply too harsh and linear for my taste. It is always interesting to see what possibilities this fragrance offers, depending on the processing, origin and age.
Another small addendum.
I have been able to test both the old 'Ilm from Kemi and the new Xerjoff edition extensively and must say that there are virtually no differences to be recognized here (at most due to the maturation).
14 Comments
JC6
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