Even though the supporters of real Oud may wrinkle their noses at me and see me as a fragrance philistine, I absolutely cannot relate to these obviously natural Oud scents.
I struggle with the idea of smelling like a cow barn, a freshly fertilized field, a compost heap, or a petting zoo after using a perfume. And no amount of high price, an exclusive bottle, or the opinions of highly regarded commentators can change my mind about this.
The only place where I would want to endure such smells would be on a farm.
If expensive rotten wood is to be used in perfume, then I would prefer it to be the medicinal variety, which can also be of synthetic origin for my nose.
Unfortunately, the Oud from Santi Burgas falls into the first, more specifically the cow barn category.
Even though other fragrance components are listed here, all I smell is cow dung, and at a nearly breathtaking intensity. A small spritz had unforeseen consequences!
My husband, after I had entered the living room "scented" in such a way, looked a bit strangely out the window and asked me if I didn’t find it unusual that the fields were being fertilized in November. His face became even stranger when I held the source of the smell on my arm, right under his nose.
I was promptly sent to wash it off in the bathroom!
Well, unfortunately, it didn’t help much, as this Oud could not be easily removed, and I was kept at a distance for the rest of the evening with the words "You stink."
If a scent has such a negative effect on my partner, who is not exactly scent-sensitive, then it’s clear that in such a case I must say no to organic.
FranFan, thank you for expanding my fragrance horizon, even though in this case it was a boundary experience.
Since our tastes in Oud differ, I unfortunately don't know how I would find it yet, but we had a lot of laughs this morning thanks to your comment. :-D
I find medicinal-smelling oud beautiful, but the smell of a slurry truck is really unnecessary.
Laughing at: ".... was sent to the bathroom;)) I can just picture that dripping, guilty face!
Since my near-death experience with the cow shed oud in Dhan al Oud al Safwa, I can't put this type of oud on my skin anymore. Thanks for the heroic testing!
*holdingbellyandwipingtears* - oh yes, this all sounds very, very familiar to me, especially the "You stink!" part. Just mentioning Santi Burgas brings back not only good memories, and I’m deeply grateful to you for the "preview tasting," ;-)!
Laughing at: ".... was sent to the bathroom;)) I can just picture that dripping, guilty face!