BrianBuchanan

An antique strawberries and cream floral with unctuous cherry liqueur base. Part of a trio of perfumes for hair colours, Amour Amour was the one for blonds.

Much better on paper than my skin, but then I am neither a) female nor b) blond.

Cedarwood with an oversweet head accord that takes on a whiff of ivy as it dries down.
The idea of hyper dry woody minimalism has a certain postmodern appeal, but in this case it's just boring.

A dry herbal green chypre featuring a smooth body of lilac, cyclamen and jasmin.
Rose and aldehydes act as the main modifiers. Musk ambrette can be found in the base.

Vivre belongs to the deeply unfashionable genre of tailored chypres along with such greats as Givenchy III and Y.

Thanks to Max Gavarry for the analysis based on an Osmothèque reconstruction.

Dark citrus with a touch of florals.
After a regular cologne, the moss in Ô makes it feel like sunglasses on a bright day.

Once the initial weirdness of putty, hot plastic and dentists surgery have settled down, Oud Royal reveals its true colours. Incense, rose, black liquorice and a sweet powderiness of amber augment the rich phenolic bitter-woody Oud.

It has a nice edgy feel that doesn't become sharp or thin, and a red-brown, hard, slightly oily mahogany texture which is very satisfying.

Once the profile has resolved itself into the core message, it's essentially straight and true, fading to an overtone of incense in around four hours.

Royal Oud is well named; it has a refined air and demands only the most sartorial of outfits. It wouldn't be out of place in the lobby of a grand hotel, but a well fitting shirt and jeans may do just as well.

The high price, linearity, the sometimes synthetic feel and its poor longevity are all issues with Oud Royal, but if you're looking for an agarwood that's easily accessible, this is one to try.