Musk Aoud Roja Parfums 2013
2
5 mins til magic happens
I already wrote a review on Amber Aoud and since I also own a bottle of this fragrance I want to report my experience. Unlike Amber Aoud, this time I own the crystal parfum version but also tested the normal one.
First things first, to my nose the crystal version smells exactly the same as the normal parfum version. If someone tests both versions side by side and notices any differences, it's more likely due to different stages of maturation than due to the scent itself. Also the performance is the same but I'll get to this later.
Musk Aoud was released in 2013 being the last part of a trio. Aoud came first in 2011, followed by Amber Aoud in 2012. Whereas you could consider Aoud the classical Rose-Oud-Saffron combination, Amber Aoud was sweeter and more mass-appealing because it softened rough edges occurring in the original Aoud. Musk Aoud took a very different approach by adding a natural musk note coming from Ambrette seeds rather than an animal. Due to the musk note as well as nutmeg, oud and jasmine the fragrance is definitely more animalic than the other two of the trio. Especially in the opening (first 5 mins), the fragrance might be too animalic for some noses. However, interestingly the fragrance is not stinky at all, especially after the first 5 mins are gone. I even find the original Aoud more stinky than Musk Aoud, although I wouldn’t call Aoud stinky as well. I guess it's the rose and leather note getting more prominent and contributing to keeping the fragrance in balance.
To really appreciate the fragrance you have to get through the opening minutes and afterwards the smell is one of the most sexiest, intoxicating and just somewhat interesting one could imagine. All in all, the scent drys down to a base more similar to Amber Aoud. I slightly prefer Amber Aoud but only by centimeters or inches.
It is no secret that Roja uses very fine materials and luxury packaging resulting in luxury prices (720€/100ml) and this one is no different.
Considering performance, as I said, there's no difference between the crystal and the normal parfum. The scent lingers for around 3 hours, not shouting but also not close. Afterwards it gets closer to the skin and stays there until the 8 hour mark. Honestly, I expected and hoped for a little better performance from a fragrance of this category and price tag, but maybe it's just my skin or the fragrance has to maturate a little more.
First things first, to my nose the crystal version smells exactly the same as the normal parfum version. If someone tests both versions side by side and notices any differences, it's more likely due to different stages of maturation than due to the scent itself. Also the performance is the same but I'll get to this later.
Musk Aoud was released in 2013 being the last part of a trio. Aoud came first in 2011, followed by Amber Aoud in 2012. Whereas you could consider Aoud the classical Rose-Oud-Saffron combination, Amber Aoud was sweeter and more mass-appealing because it softened rough edges occurring in the original Aoud. Musk Aoud took a very different approach by adding a natural musk note coming from Ambrette seeds rather than an animal. Due to the musk note as well as nutmeg, oud and jasmine the fragrance is definitely more animalic than the other two of the trio. Especially in the opening (first 5 mins), the fragrance might be too animalic for some noses. However, interestingly the fragrance is not stinky at all, especially after the first 5 mins are gone. I even find the original Aoud more stinky than Musk Aoud, although I wouldn’t call Aoud stinky as well. I guess it's the rose and leather note getting more prominent and contributing to keeping the fragrance in balance.
To really appreciate the fragrance you have to get through the opening minutes and afterwards the smell is one of the most sexiest, intoxicating and just somewhat interesting one could imagine. All in all, the scent drys down to a base more similar to Amber Aoud. I slightly prefer Amber Aoud but only by centimeters or inches.
It is no secret that Roja uses very fine materials and luxury packaging resulting in luxury prices (720€/100ml) and this one is no different.
Considering performance, as I said, there's no difference between the crystal and the normal parfum. The scent lingers for around 3 hours, not shouting but also not close. Afterwards it gets closer to the skin and stays there until the 8 hour mark. Honestly, I expected and hoped for a little better performance from a fragrance of this category and price tag, but maybe it's just my skin or the fragrance has to maturate a little more.
TRehf
