Judging by the dozens of such fragrances that have appeared on the market of late, Oud is in demand. Made from a resin with the unromantic name of Agarwood, it has nonetheless been loved and treasured for thousands of years by mystics and romantics alike - even proclaimed as an aid to spiritual meditation. Which is what many of the oud fragrances I have tested evoke.
And yet, for centuries Agarwood was used as an aphrodisiac; Bertrand Duchaufour's Al Oudh by L' Artisan Parfumeur is not a spiritual scent, but one for lovers. The words "lute" and "oud" are both suspected to be derived from the Arabic العود (al-ʿūd), and is a lyrical instrument played to seduce woman and men, and evoke sexual rapture.
The saga behind a fragrance is fascinating as a fact sheet, but it is not until the scent hits skin that one truly understands its story. Had I had read the composition first, I would never tried it as I HATE CIVET. But fragrance, like music, is more than the sum of the notes, and master conductor Bertrand Duchaufour created an opus.
Al Oudh is a drop dead sexy scent...and if oud be the food of love, play on.
COMPOSITION:
Top: spice (caraway, cardamom, pink pepper) mixed with dried fruit (dates)
Heart: neroli, rose, iris, leather, castoreum, civet & rare musk
Base: sandalwood, cedar, patchouli, incense, myrrh, vanilla & tonka bean
LArtisanParfumeur.com & Luckyscent.com
- Michelyn Camen, Editor at Large
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