Using violet leaf absolute from Egypt, tobacco leaf absolute from the Balkans, patchouli oil from Indonesia, vetiver oil from Haiti, cyrpiol oil from India, ciste labdanum absolute from Andalusia and amber, it is both creative and somehow familiar with great contrasts; the oud is however still the star of this show. Its new Private Collection, which houses four of the brand’s most iconic scents, pays homage to perfumery’s most exclusive and prized essences. A mix of tradition and modernity, it is sweet, spicy, soft, leathery and very sensual, taking the sting out of the sometimes divisive oud ingredient.

Best oud fragrances for men 2023: Creed to Bulgari | British GQ Best oud fragrances for men 2023: Creed to Bulgari | British GQ

Looking to the cultural significance of oud; used in traditional incense and perfumes for centuries and mentioned in one of the world’s oldest written texts (the Sanskrit Vedas from India), it has a punch that makes it more appropriate for evening than day. A collaboration between Gucci’s creative director, Alessandro Michele and renowned perfumer, Alberto Morillas, The Alchemist’s Garden is a luxury collection of fragrances, oils and candles, that (as the name would suggest) experiment with the layering of natural plants, flowers and modern molecules to create contemporary ‘spells’. A perfect example of how oud can be used to make a balanced fragrance without shouting or oozing in amber and cumin. Nuit de Feu (Fiery Night), follows suit, conjuring up the scent of incense rising from the dunes and a crackling camp fire under a starlit Middle Eastern sky. Its lingering base is a traditionally aromatic combo of patchouli, vetiver, musk, leather and natural agarwood (oud).Choose your new favourite scent from the selection of Versace perfumes and aftershaves, featuring Versace Eros, Pour Homme and Bright Crystal Eau De Toilette as well as shower gels and body lotions. La Fumée Alexandrie, created by Miller Harris founder Lyn Harris in collaboration with perfumer Mathieu Nardin, stands front and centre in the line. Very masculine, spicy, orangy / oudy fragrance that smells very classy with high quality ingredients.

Versace Oud Noir Eau de Parfum 100ml | SEPHORA UK

Fusing the artistry of French fine fragrance with an Anglo sensibility, Miller Harris is one of the most celebrated British perfumery businesses, especially popular around the wedding season. Created by perfumer Delphine Thierry, who worked closely with Argentum founder Joy Isaacs, it is a heady, bold and statement-making oud scent that takes you on a journey. Top notes of bitter orange and black pepper are complimented by cardamom and saffron at the heart of the fragrance to create an alluring blend of spicy and intense ingredients that stir up visions of exotic landscapes. The trees are grown throughout South-East Asia, India and Bangladesh and agarwood is said to be the most expensive timber in the world – indeed, one of the most expensive of all natural raw ingredients. This lovely aromatic perfume combines bitter orange, petitgrain, and orange blossom for the top notes, agarwood and saffron for the middle notes, and patchouli, vetiver, and juniper for the base notes.

Ormonde Jayne’s Elixir range of five premium fragrances, unveiled in 2019, is essentially a rebirth of five of this British fragrance brand’s best-selling and most cherished classics, each reinterpreted with a dose of oud from Cambodia. The black bottle in the Versace style is a beauty and Oud Noir's high ratings as a scent here on Basenotes are well deserved.

Versace pour Homme Oud Noir by Versace– Basenotes Versace pour Homme Oud Noir by Versace– Basenotes

Byredo’s innovative and emotive approach to fragrance gives this interpretation of oud an unparalleled sense of modernity, despite being inspired by the ancient past. A heart of saffron, cinnamon, clove, and labdanum follows, surrounded by the woody features of a true oud. Inspired by the moment when the sun goes down in the Middle East and people pour excitedly into the streets, it has an exuberance and exoticism that goes above and beyond. Versace Oud Noir is a modern, masculine oud that smells like the more affordable cousin of Tom Ford’s Oud Wood.

The feminine version takes on a strong floral (rose and peony) theme as well, but both can be unissex fragrances. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising.