Oud Saphir

I think this is my new signature scent! Everyone's saying sample this on your own skin, and I COMPLETELY agree! It can play out very differently based on skin chemistry and surrounding scents. But me personally, I sampled this on my skin and committed to TWO full bottles. Two of the big giant 6.8oz bottles, actually. For years, my absolute favorite fragrance has been Tom Ford Tuscan Leather, and it still may be... however Atelier Oud Saphir has taken that leather note that I love so much, and turned it into a scent that I can wear on ANY occasion! It's fresh, but not sporty. It's leathery, but not too cloying for summer use, and yet it still has that loud, animalic, and somewhat vulgar leather, with an extremely confident and outgoing personality overall, that I feel matches my own. The oud is, well... nonexistent to my nose. The bergamot here is nothing like the bergamot in Montale Aoud Leather. Instead, it smells like fruity candy, and not in a bad way... if I had to describe it based on the notes, I'd say it's the combination of bergamot, birch, and vanilla, which create this candy-like accord. Also, given the fruity overtones, I disagree with the current ranking of bergamot being the least noticeable note. I don't find this at all too sweet as some have complained, and to me it's not too feminine or too masculine, but I do think it leans more on the masculine side. Projection and longevity are better than anything else I've tried from Atelier, however Atelier scents are often rather weak and just barely hit the mark of acceptable for me, so I still wish it were stronger... I like to freshen this one up after the 3-4 hour mark, and I wish it were a little stronger/deeper at times. Instead, I just have to add another spray or two. I love Montale Aoud Leather as well, but sometimes in spite of its fresh bergamot note and strong projection, it still misses the mark in terms of ticking all the boxes. For what it's worth, I've received more compliments from Montale Aoud Leather than I have from Oud Saphir and Tuscan Leather combined, however Oud Saphir is the one that speaks to my soul. You know those memes "One day, you'll be driving in your Ferrari, and it will all be worth it, and it'll be okay." This is the fragrance I'd be wearing in that scenario, without considering anything else. Love it.

After being underwhelmed at some of the offerings at Atelier, I've found one that is quite good. I "like" their Clementine, love the Orange Sanguine, was depressed with the Rose and the Incens, and was beginning to think that maybe they should stick with citrus, only citrus. But this is different and a pleasant surprise! The "cologne" style is not really evident here, however. The only aspect of this that is like Cologne is that while it's an "oudh" aspect/note which typically is heavy, even oily--this is sheer--with incredible longevity and silage. It never feels "heavy." Oud Saphir starts off with a distinctly "berry" note to me--I'd say Rasberry, though not listed (it could be the pepper at play with the florals, but I doubt it). It goes right into Birch and leather along with the synth-oudh. The berry plays along as counterpoint and creates a lighter, more amicable "oudh" than the heavier resinous quality (that I so much love btw). I'm not a berry fan at all--loathe berry frags, but here, I like it. This lasts an easy day, doesn't evolve very much on me, is very linear but bounces between berry-leather. I hear the reviewers below say that it smells like smoke/tobacco/ashtrays and dirty hotel rooms. Yes, that is the birch/leather and "oudh" quality evident in many perfumes of this genre,or even more skillfully done in Serge Lutens Une Voix Noire (the ashtray there). Just like skanky animalics that go into panty territory, this can conjure up images of whiskey and lastnight's lipstick circling the rim of the glass. And some of us really like that. However, this is so berry at times, almost a whiff of sweetness that it cuts through much of that "old leather purse" smell, and I find it quite interesting. I don't think I'm up for 200 ml since my drawers overfloweth with far too much right now, but if Atelier offered it in 30 ml I might. This is not a typical Atelier scent. Where I spritz and spray Clementine on everything dozens of times, with a loose hand and no concern to others (it's so light and dissipates true to its cologne heart)--this one IS a powerhouse: sheer but strong, tenacious, and true. Use with a lighter touch.

“Her decision was irreversible. She would not continue living a life by others’ rules. To see his deep sapphire blue eyes and feel the calm of his voice again were the only things that mattered now. With him she finally felt ready to write her own history.” It may not come as a complete surprise that Atelier Cologne would eventually get around to making an oud scent- who hasn't- but if you love this brand as much as I do, you surely had your questions. How would Atelier's trademark mastery of the fresh, sheer, cleanly traditional eau de cologne style incorporate an ingredient known for its deep, dark, animalic tones? Well, now we know: Oud Saphir is a modern delight, a smooth, sophisticated stunner that combines bright, fresh cologne elements with a wonderfully soft, rich suede leather-and-oud accord that feels both elegant and also accessibly wearable. Equally lovely on ladies and gents alike, Oud Saphir is the perfect antidote to the too-heavy, too-dark agarwood scents, a casual yet complex fragrance with distinction and style. imagine a lighter Tuscan leather with a prominent note of raspberry. Olfactives notes: Top notes: Bergamot from Calabria, ambrette from India, pink pepper from China. Heart notes: Violet leaves from Grasse, jasmine from Egypt, suede leather. Base notes: Dark oud accord, birch wood from China, vanilla from Madagascar Projection: 8/10 Longevity: 8/10 Uniqueness: 8/10 Collaboration between Creative Directors Sylvie Ganter, Christophe Cervasel and Perfumer Jerome Epinette, the fragrance is accompanied by Atelier Cologne's ever-charming and enticing vignette, a miniature character profile that gives one the slightest glimpse into the imagined story behind the fragrance.

Atelier Oud Saphir is another Atelier with a slightly misleading name. There is a synthetic Oud note in it but what this is mainly is a woody suede frag, drawing inspiration from Tuscan Leather and it's many brethren but doing enough of it's own thing at the same time that renders it worthy of perusal. Top notes what I get mainly is a slightly bitter Bergamot and pepper. There are no other fruit notes listed and maybe its the combination of Bergamot, vanilla and ambrette but there is a fruity vibe running through the middle of this frag from beginning to end. Its no raspberry like TL but fruity it is. The rest of the frag in the heart and base is mainly a dry suede mixing with the synthetic oud and birch. To sum up, this is a very nice woody suede with hints of sweetness. Projection and longevity are both good. It gives a solid scent bubble around you for the first 3 hours atleast and longevity is around the 7-8 hour mark with 3-4 sprays. Cooler weather frag mostly like Tuscan but this is smoother than Tuscan so can work in air conditioned environments for summer nights. Just dont overspray. If you are looking for a slightly more softer, smoother frag in the same mould as Tuscan Leather with good quality ingredients, Oud Saphir is a great choice. It is a very versatile frag that I enjoy wearing when I want something leathery with a bit of oomph but is not rough around the edges. If Tuscan Leather is a hard bitten biker in tough leathers, Oud Saphir is a movie star in a Suede jacket. Some days you want to be one, some days the other! haha

Oud Saphir is another misnomer by Atelier Cologne---I know their intent is to name fragrances based on subtle interpretations of the notes, but it's a little misleading to believe that oud is one of the more prominent notes. Rather, this is a leather(or more specifically, suede)-dominant fragrance that involves pepper and vanilla mainly to my nose, and that respect, I'd more or less describe it as a "spicy/sweet leather" type of fragrance, which is very desirable, and much easier to wear that perhapas the oud-dominant fragrance I otherwise might've though it to be. Like Gold Leather, the only other cologne in Atelier's Collection Metal that I've tried so far, Oud Saphir is a heavy hitter, a solid performing fragrance that, while priced above most lighter Atelier Colognes, is still cheaper than, say, alternative similar niche leather options. It is similar to Tom Ford Tuscan Leather---certainly not as deep, but the comparison can be made between almost any refined sweet suede fragrance and TL. Retailing at $250 for 100ml but available at Max Forti's site for $175, it's arguably worth the extra money for the performance and a strong winter fragrance (albeit not as strong as TL) in lieu of some of the lighter, fresher Atelier Colognes that don't perform as well. Certainly worthy of a try if you like TL or sweet leather fragrances in general, with perhaps just a hint of oud. 8 out of 10