Bois Oudh The Dua Brand 2023

Bois Oudh is the Dua inspired expression of Tom Ford Oud Wood, one of the company’s earliest inspired expressions back from 2016, when I used it very heavily. I’ve never swooned for Oud Wood in the way that I have for other Tom Ford Private Blends (like Tobacco Vanille, Noir de Noir, Amber Absolute), so finding a slightly fresher, more accessible, easier to wear, more affordable variation of Oud Wood was very nice, and it was a great jack-of-all-trades gentlemanly signature-type scent that was very effective at the time. While I gravitate toward more of the indulgent and gourmand-leaning Duas of more recent years, Bois Oudh remains a great staple and an all-time great inspire expression, and I’d certainly suggest that others check it out as a nice alternative and variation to the fresh, woody, oudy Oud Wood by Tom Ford. Also, it remains one of the most affordable Duas, at a full price of $50 for 30ml, with discounts always available.

7 out of 10

Bois Oudh is one of the closest interpretations of Oud Wood Eau de Parfum that I’ve tried—arguably the best outside of Carved Oud. It captures about 85–90% of the Oud Wood DNA, but with a slightly different personality.

Oud Wood opens rich, fresh, and refined, with an airy cardamom brightness that makes it feel fluid, even watery. Bois Oudh is not as airy or polished. The opening is spicier and the oud is more pronounced, which can feel a little aggressive at first. Some may find the opening slightly off-putting, though I personally didn’t mind it. After about 20–30 minutes, the resemblance to Oud Wood is unmistakable.

The primary distinction lies in the feel. Oud Wood feels light, elegant, and transparent, while Bois Oudh is drier, stronger, and more assertive. In the air, the two are remarkably similar—so much so that most people would never notice the difference. Bois Oudh lasts longer and projects more confidently. It lasts 7-8 hours on my skin, with moderate projection about 2-3 hrs.

Scent-wise, I still prefer Oud Wood. But considering its stronger performance and dramatically lower price, Bois Oudh is a tremendous alternative. If I had tested both fragrances at the same time, I might have chosen Bois Oudh.

It is entertaining to observe that Oud Wood can still be praised so highly despite its laughable 2-hour performance.
In a direct comparison, it is only during the first 5-10 minutes that the original smells deeper. After that, this depth fades and both scents end up on the same level olfactorily.
After 2 hours, Oud Wood can only be perceived up close, while the sillage of Bois Oudh continues to be noticeable in the air.
Bois Oudh, which shows no difference from Oud Wood after the opening, clearly wins the race in the further scent development due to its significantly stronger performance.
Tom Ford fanboys? Accept that a (small) brand from the USA has overshadowed your favorite fragrance. ;-)

Cheers Sly

A continuation of my Oud Wood comment

He lifted my almost lifeless body,
like a doll,
a toy.
From where Louis had left him.
Louis, who ran away in his pain from what he is.
He is different,
he is Lestat,
with his indomitable will to survive.
He takes what he wants.
His greedy gaze rests on my carotid artery.
He smells life,
where there is hardly any life left.
He bites into his wrist,
the elixir of life drips onto my lips.
Slowly, drop by drop.
I feel my consciousness returning,
smell the trees,
the lake in the distance,
taste the fog.
Everything is much more intense than before, brighter,
my senses sharp, like that of a wild animal.
I can even smell Louis,
Louis with his beauty, gentleness, tornness,
also his melancholy.
And Lestat, the evil,
it’s all there,
the tornness now within me.
The good and the evil...
I look down at myself,
also the beauty.
Within me, I feel wickedness,
feel the desire for the elixir of life.
I still have to learn restraint.
I am now Lestat.
And I am Louis.
Mystical......

This is a continuation of my comment on Oud Wood,
again leaning on 'Interview with a Vampire'.
Continuation somehow fits,
because Bois Oudh takes a little while,
until it fully unfolds.
But then it is there,
with full force it is Oud Wood,
when it is almost about to say goodbye.
And it has an incredible will to survive,
like Lestat,
is still there the next morning.
In the statement, I wrote that
I would slightly prefer Oud Wood.
I would like to revise that opinion now,
after a second test the following day.
I like both equally,
but when considering longevity and price,
Bois Oudh definitely has the edge.

I really cannot understand why this fragrance is seen by so many people as a quasi-perfect copy of the original.

I have tested it extensively alongside the original and find that at most the opening comes close to Oud Wood. In the drydown, where the original becomes heavenly creamy, the Dua consistently sticks to the menthol medicinal cabinet vibes of the opening. In my bottle, there is also a really disturbing dirty note that emerges during the scent progression.

Before anyone comments: Yes, the fragrance has "matured" long enough, it has been with me for over a month and has not changed.

In my opinion, Bois Oudh is overall not a particularly accurate dupe. Only those who prefer the opening of OW to the drydown might be happy with it. But it is precisely the gentle and creamy drydown that I love so much about OW, and there the Dua completely fails for me.

Conclusion: a mediocre dupe of the first 10 minutes of Oud Wood, beyond that a total dud. And this for a price that (including customs) is really not that far from that of a 30ml bottle of the original.