Roberto Cavalli Oud Edition Roberto Cavalli 2013

So, after curiosity forced me to order Roberto Cavalli Oud blind, I dare to summarize my impression.

I must say that I really like the latest generation of Cavalli fragrances, as they have truly surprised me positively. However, if you think the Oud has anything in common with the Roberto Cavalli released in 2012, you are mistaken.
While the 2012 Cavalli offers a soft, warm, dark-sweet amber scent, the Oud is a strict oriental. Here, "strict" is not meant negatively, but represents for me the epitome of a mystical-erotic oriental.

At first, I thought I had an Amouage in front of me. With all its high perfumery art.

The heavenly top note is fruity and strong, a bit delicately bitter and spicy. The Oud theme is already excellently implemented here. I find the top note absolutely wonderful, especially since the Oud does not smell medicinal here, but is very woody-warm and wonderfully modernly embedded. The valuable fragrance ingredient Oud has been popular in the oriental countries and Asia for decades, costs more than gold, and is said to even have aphrodisiac effects.

However, the opening is quickly overtaken by the heart note. Now a resinous wild-leather note takes the lead. The Oud is present, but holds back a bit, still rising seductively to the nose from time to time. Here, the scent reminds me a lot of "Beloved" by Amouage, although the components are quite different. A bit stronger than the Beloved, but very fine and noble.

In the base, I do not perceive any vanilla, and the amber only gently plays around darkly. Actually, an oriental-spicy, slightly seductive animalistic note develops during the scent progression.
Overall, the scent is very pleasantly unsweet and, in my eyes, not so feminine at all. I can also imagine it very well on a man.

In summary, it can be said that Roberto Cavalli has embarked on a great experiment here, which, in my opinion, he has succeeded excellently. Unfortunately, the longevity for an Eau de Parfum Intense is somewhat weak. I do find it present for hours, but by no means room-filling.
This fragrance appeals to both lovers of oriental scents and Oud or leather scent enthusiasts.