Oud Romancea

I have tried a great many perfumes, and this is amazing. First, let me say that they changed the cap on the bottle to a heavy, well-made metallic one that is simplistic and brings out the beauty of the bottle. The bottle itself is cut crystal, very retro, and very heavy. The entire effect seems much more expensive than the actual cost and we have not gotten to the actual scent yet. Regarding the scent, I was fortunate enough to try it in-store rather than having to blind buy it. The counter was crowded with other women and I remember reaching over and picking it up off of a shelf. I took one whiff and said an immediate "Yes!" It is most assuredly a vintage scent but vintage in the most pillow soft pink feminine lace type of way. It's the wafting perfume of a beautiful woman's boudoir--face powder, the jammy sweetness of lipstick, the aldehydes of a classic perfume. I own several iterations of Chanel No. 5 and I can tell you that it does not smell like Chanel No. 5 at all. I can guess that those likening Oud Romancea only do so as a result of the aldehydes and the vintage feel of the scent. This is the type of perfume that you spritz on after a long luxurious bath filled with luscious frothy bubbles; after moisturizing with cream and gently powdering, you're now sitting in a silk robe adorned with handmade Alencon lace. What are the most appropriate seasons for this perfume? I wore this in the middle of August at the height of my locale's most hot and humid days. On those days, the powdery nature of the fragrance takes over, with the black currant and white florals subdued. On cooler days, it becomes its own power scent, with the incense taking center stage alongside a full-bodied and ripe black currant. On cooler days, the white florals and the rose provide rounded counterpoints to the heavier smokiness of the incense and the sugary sweetness of the black currant. Everything is well-balanced, and I feel that is what gives the entire fragrance a vintage aura. To bring all of this into the real world, I will name a reference many are no longer familiar with: it reminds me of old-school pink Camay—not the new one made overseas, but the old-school version that was made up until the 1980s. For me, this is a nostalgic signature scent that is backup bottle-worthy.

Makes me think a lot of the Shiseido zen my mother used to wear when i was young. This one has a heavier base of incense/sandalwood but it has the same aesthetic sweet dry floral powder combined with herbal greenness and aromatic wood. A soapy spa quality and almost a chewiness. Makes me think of a natural healing shop i used to frequent as a teen where they sold teas and incense and essential oils and south asian imports. I can see how it could be quite polarizing if you don't like herbal-powdery scents, but i find it cozy and nostalgic. It did have a strong sour note the first couple of weeks i had it, i think the black current was coming on too strong. don't let that scare you off. Clearing the straw and letting it settle should be common practice -- even for western perfumes tbh, especially if we're buying from ebay and discounters these bottles have probably been sitting and need clearing and airing before you judge. edit: now i'm curious about the oud romancea fakhama version, is it redundant to get both? it's not currently listed on here 😩

This to me smells like Shalimar and Must of Cartier, bittersweet and "musculed" scent but instead of leather, there is a little bit of oud. Reminded me of people in middle east (golf countries) as it gives the impression of two layered perfumes instead of one! you smell Shalimar by Guerlain with it's citrusy, powdery aroma + high quality oud oil in the background and the added sweetness softens all these notes. Very feminine scent, very oriental too and sweet but only suited for special occasions . edit: I wore it today for the first time and God! what a huge scent this is! Very vintage, powder bomb scent which projects really far. No sweetness or oud at all, just powder, aldehydics and sandalwood. I know it might sound vulgar but it also smells like money (the same exact thing can be said about Must Cartier. these are the kind of perfumes you think rich, pragmatic people would wear). As I took the bus some passengers started coughing which made me feel a little uncomfortable!

I do like the opening very citrusy and then become powdery. This perfume very much reminds me of Hugo Boss Number One without tobacco and oakmoss , Shalimar, those kind of vintage, powdery perfumes. It smell very classics. If you like those old school perfumes, I'm sure you will enjoy it. And the oud in this perfume make it project very well and long lasting.

I was immediately drawn to its beautiful nostalgic rose scent when I sprayed it for the first time. My favorite part of the day is getting wafts of the fragrance on my skin. The fragrance is fresh, rosy, powdery, and lasts for a long time. The smell is strong and powerful, so you do not need much to enjoy it.