01/26/2014

Coutureguru
223 Reviews

Coutureguru
Top Review
9
Big Oud!! Big Rose!! BIG FANTASTIC
Thirty Three by Ex Idolo is lauded as the 'next generation' of Oud fragrances in many of the reviews I have read around the web. A relatively new release, I couldn't resist the opportunity of having the pricy little 30ml bottle muled to me by a friend from London I saw a few days ago. £90 per 30mls is steep in any parfumisti's book … but extremely worth it imho.
Right out of the gate, I'll admit that the chance to smell authentic 33 year old Oud was an enticing drawcard! To my surprise, I realized that I had smelled and loved this fragrance before (at least for the first few minutes) in Montale's Black Oud … and then it began to develop.
A combination of Rose Oil from China and the unmistakable woody Rose from Ta'if begins to subtly claw it's way out of the Oud's fullness, beginning deep and dark like a bouquet of almost black red roses. This melange of Roses becomes brighter (I've often compared Ta'if Rose to the whirling of a scimitar through the air) but also sweeter and velvety … stopping just short of being overly gourmand.
As a self confessed Oudie, I find that note to be quite a revelation here, especially after the multitude of synthetic Ouds I've had my nose on recently. Some of the Oud used in this fragrance is apparently wild harvested in China, while the origin of the vintage Oud used in this creation is shrouded in mystery. This is probably the smoothest, richest and most beautiful Oud that I have had the pleasure of sampling since the use of this note has become so popular … it's truly enchanting!!
Above average sillage and longevity make the cost of this fragrance a lot easier to bear. One has to wonder, however, if the quality will remain the same in coming years. How much vintage, 33 year old Oud is out there?
Whereas I am one of the people that find Montale's Black Oud to be wonderful, I can't help admitting that Ex Idolo's Thirty Three has forever altered that perception … indeed changed the way I feel about many of my favorite Oud fragrances. This fragrance is a game changer …
Right out of the gate, I'll admit that the chance to smell authentic 33 year old Oud was an enticing drawcard! To my surprise, I realized that I had smelled and loved this fragrance before (at least for the first few minutes) in Montale's Black Oud … and then it began to develop.
A combination of Rose Oil from China and the unmistakable woody Rose from Ta'if begins to subtly claw it's way out of the Oud's fullness, beginning deep and dark like a bouquet of almost black red roses. This melange of Roses becomes brighter (I've often compared Ta'if Rose to the whirling of a scimitar through the air) but also sweeter and velvety … stopping just short of being overly gourmand.
As a self confessed Oudie, I find that note to be quite a revelation here, especially after the multitude of synthetic Ouds I've had my nose on recently. Some of the Oud used in this fragrance is apparently wild harvested in China, while the origin of the vintage Oud used in this creation is shrouded in mystery. This is probably the smoothest, richest and most beautiful Oud that I have had the pleasure of sampling since the use of this note has become so popular … it's truly enchanting!!
Above average sillage and longevity make the cost of this fragrance a lot easier to bear. One has to wonder, however, if the quality will remain the same in coming years. How much vintage, 33 year old Oud is out there?
Whereas I am one of the people that find Montale's Black Oud to be wonderful, I can't help admitting that Ex Idolo's Thirty Three has forever altered that perception … indeed changed the way I feel about many of my favorite Oud fragrances. This fragrance is a game changer …
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