the scent really leaves a very divided impression on me. First of all: The fragrance notes you read here have nothing to do with what you smell at first.
I don't even suspect that a cheap oud synthetic was used here; I think this synthetic impression arises from the combination of the fragrance notes. I had a long and interesting conversation about this with an acquaintance from Parfumo, and especially with this scent, I notice it particularly.
Oud for Highness smells very similar at first sniff to Montale's Black Aoud or other oud-rose scents, but is then quite different. You can smell a blood-red rose here, and I do perceive oud, which doesn't seem synthetic to me at all. What evokes this impression is probably the saffron. It appears wonderfully fruity here, gives the oud a light and ethereal quality, but also brings this typical Montale vibe to this oud-rose combination that many know.
Objectively speaking, Oud for Highness comes across as quite high-quality and well-conceived to me. It seems to be a whole lot better than the cheap competition. While I find the rose in Montale, etc., somewhat dull and almost dead, here it is almost juicy, dark red. Anyone who has seen real oud knows this very thick consistency (a bit like warm honey; if it’s like oil, it’s often not great), the oily... and this contrast between a smoky-oily and balsamic-comforting scent. I don’t know if real oud was actually used here; but I can well imagine that in combination with the saffron and the rose, it creates such a scent impression.
To my surprise, the fragrance even changes quite a bit. This also distinguishes it more clearly from Black Aoud and similar scents, which show significantly less development. The rose and saffron seem to become gentler at some point, and you can actually smell wonderfully natural honey. The scent doesn't become sweet, but very skinny, sexy - really nice and cozy.
Subjectively, it remains for me "first yuck then wow." I'm just not a big fan of any saffron-oud combinations, and I rarely like oud-rose combinations either. When rose, oud, AND saffron come together, then for me, they’ve really hit the mark. For the first few hours, the scent smells valuable to me, but subjectively not necessarily "beautiful"; this is simply because I don't like this combination. In the base, I find it really great. I'm on a knife's edge between disgust and enthusiasm, complicated.
However, I would still look elsewhere in this price range, especially with established oriental fragrance houses. As an alternative, you could also try the Mukhallat Oudh Siufi by Rasasi. For me, it is the more beautiful rose-oud combination, smelling dreamy and lasting forever in textiles.
Luckily, I don't smell Montale here at all. It develops nicely on the skin into something much more beautiful, and then I really like it. That's why I let it sit on my wish list for a few years until I finally had a sample at home and tried it for a few days. Now I love it 😍 I initially thought it was rose, but thankfully that impression fades quickly.
What you’re saying about the Montales resonates with me; I couldn’t have put into words what repulses me about them, but it’s exactly that: somehow DEAD. There’s no better way to express it. Maybe this has spoiled Oud for me. I’d love to get to know this one, curious to see how it develops with the saffron.
Misca 3 years ago
Hyazinthe 8 years ago
