Shaghaf Oud

شغف عود

Swiss Arabian 2016 Eau de Parfum

In the right corner (on the right arm): Lancôme's "Ôud Bouquet" (OB). On the left, the challenger "Shaghaf Oud" (SO), touted as the perfect dupe.

Conclusion upfront:
Not a perfect dupe, but the differences can only be detected on my skin in direct comparison. However, the two ouds are very similar, so SO can pass as a significantly cheaper alternative with comparable longevity and sillage. In both cases, you leave behind the same, distinctly noticeable scent trail...

With SO, the "medicinal" aspect of the oud is more pronounced at first, while OB immediately brings in a powdery-vanilla rose that softens the oud in the top note and allows it to recede more quickly. Overall, OB is a bit finer, rounder, sweeter, and more gourmand in my nose, while SO is more one-dimensional with a slightly more pronounced oud and more smoke. Even though an untrained nose might hardly detect any differences, I still prefer OB. You definitely don't need both if you already own OB. However, if you're looking for an olfactory upgrade to SO, it might be worth trying OB.