Pure Oud

Pretty much the name gives it all away. Smells like oud and musk, full stop. Though the components of this fragrance are fairly simple, the quality of the ingredients is still noticeable. The oud here is realistic and pungent. It almost smells like a sharpened pencil...sharp, resinous, and woodsy. Some might feel it's medicinal. Later, the smokiness comes in. Mellows down the sharpy spiciness sensation and becomes darker. I wouldn't recommend buying this blind for sure. This isn't for everyday use either. If you are a collector of oud fragrances, however, this could be a relatively wearable one compared to other ones on the market. Personally, I cannot justify buying it considering the price point. It hurts to say it, but I would just buy Khalis Oudi (Pure Oudi) from Lattafa, which smells much cheaper, and add a few drops of saffron attar to it. The similarities in the woodsy oud with a hint of resinous spice could be replicated just by a simple step. Then, wear it every day without cringing at the fact that I spend $400 for 50ml.

Should have been called: leather and mildew. Very strong, extremely true-to-life, leather smell and not luxury leather but military surplus including the mildew. Intensely smoky tar smell and strong polish/dye inky smell. Wonderful. But a novelty that might be tiresome to wear, not to mention way too expensive. A twin to Patchouli 24.

This is one you definitely need to try on your skin. This stuff is very strong and harsh. It opens with a bitter oud and heavy chemical plastic note. This juice will make you gag and make you feel nauseous. This isn’t a pleasant scent and it definitely isn’t for the faint of heart. I will recommend layering this fragrance with something floral to calm down the plastic note. Tom Ford’s White Suede calms this scent down a ton. The dry down is barely acceptable but still will make you regret spraying this stuff on skin. This stuff just smells carcinogenic. I don’t know who would want to smell like this but if you like it, good for you. Stay away. Age range >50

By Kilian Pure Oud to my nose is nearly identical to Firmenich Oud Blend, available at Perfumer's Apprentice in pure form for about 1/10 the price of the Kilian (and that is the small-scale retail price). KPO smells to be about 20% Firmenich Oud Blend, which means it sells for 50-fold the cost of home brew. What a rip off. And it doesn't even smell that great. Yves Saint Laurent M7 Oud Absolu is better (as is the original M7) - at least it has other notes that call upon some perfumer's skill to blend well. Maybe this is made from authentic natural Oud, which would at least help explain the price, but if so their Oud source is no better than synthetic. Comment added - there is a woody note (probably guaiac) in the base that is in addition to the Firmenich Oud, so at least they didn't just dilute and sell. Still not impressed. Still at a high price, but much better and more interesting is Maison Francis Kurkdjian Oud. I am an amateur perfumer and I sometimes try to replicate professional scents, but only rarely do I run across something so easy. In fact, the only other perfumes so far this easy are the Escentric Molecule "Molecule" scents, which are also a rip off but at least have the grace to admit what they are. Shame on Kilian, which has made some other good scents (though always overpriced). Selling this for $400 for 50 ml is obscene. Note to self - buy Kilian stock.

very similar to cashmere mood. that sickly medicine oud note is almost identical to kurkdjian's. would only work in special circumstances. kinda made me a little ill, but maybe i put too much on...