The search for Oud never ends.
At some point, enough is enough! Today, my second la-schiller sample order arrived. Among 5 samples, 4 are Oud fragrances. One of them is Orientalissime!
I am generally not an Oud fan, but I once smelled an amazing perfume with Oud that I can't get out of my head since then. I don't know the name or anything else. Nothing! It's a guessing game with my own patience. I've never been so impatient to find my Oud. Maybe I also have this panic because spring is not far away, and by March at the latest, I have no desire for warm or even oriental scents.
Looking at the pyramid, one would think it is a light and fluffy fragrance, quite warm, harmonious, etc. Patchouli can ruin your day. I have my issues with vanilla. But slowly, I will start from the beginning.
An oriental fragrance that starts with bergamot and tea leaves. Bergamot, very nice, tea almost rare in oriental fragrances. Here, both notes fit together beautifully. Wonderful, the first 10 - 15 minutes of fresh Orient. No bomb or anything like that. The notes gently slide into the middle and move towards Oud and patchouli. I don't smell much Oud. Patchouli is now in the spotlight. But of the fine kind! This lasts about 1 hour. I find the base quite simple, kept minimalist. There is no significant development.
Balsamic notes (resins?), sandalwood is clear, but the vanilla could have really been left out here. Something spicy, herbal, woody would have been better.
In summary, one can say:
Fragrance direction: Autumn/Winter. 25% freshness, 75% spicy sweet warmth.
Sillage: Average (and that's a good thing)
Longevity: Average
80% for the fragrance. It is oriental, no question. Initially very enthusiastic, my excitement has faded. Unfortunately, after the heart comes a lackluster base that makes the fragrance fall short for me. I would have wished for more complexity. A WOW effect down to the base, and it would have been mine!
I am desperate!! :-(
PS: the other samples were Perris Bois d'Oud, Micallef Aoud Gourmet & Night Aoud. Perris has too intense sillage and too many notes without a really tangible scent progression, Micallef too floral or outdated.
"Oud" by Kurkdjian is good. Also, Cruel Intentions and Sable Marocaine, if you like M7. Otherwise, I can't think of much lady-friendly oud. Of course, there's "Fars" too, but it's very expensive.
MrWhite 11 years ago
