The Other Side of Oud

Continuing my exploration of the house of Atkinsons brings me to The Other Side of Oud, a fragrance that suggests a slightly different interpretation of one of perfumery’s most recognizable materials. Oud is often presented in dark, smoky, and intensely resinous compositions, frequently paired with heavy woods, leather, or incense. Here, however, the name itself hints at an alternative perspective, implying a fragrance that explores a softer or more unexpected dimension of oud. On paper, the composition blends warm spices, floral touches, roasted coffee, vanilla, and oud, suggesting a scent that balances richness with aromatic complexity. The presence of both coffee blossom and roasted coffee beans is particularly intriguing, hinting at a contrast between delicate floral sweetness and darker gourmand depth. Altogether, the structure suggests a fragrance that may bridge spicy warmth, floral nuance, and deep roasted richness around a woody oud core. Let’s see what waits on the other side once it meets the skin. Opening: The opening is spicy, sweet, and warm. The primary notes I get are cardamom, roasted coffee, cinnamon, and geranium, with cardamom and roasted coffee clearly leading the composition. Cardamom arrives immediately with a rich aromatic spice that feels warm and slightly sweet rather than cool or camphorous, leaning more toward the style often found in fragrances like Dolce & Gabbana The One. It gives the opening an inviting and softly spicy character that sets the tone for the fragrance. Roasted coffee appears alongside it with a dark, gourmand bitterness that feels distinctly toasted, almost as if fresh coffee beans were being roasted nearby. There is a subtle sweetness within the coffee accord as well, balancing its bitterness and reinforcing the fragrance’s warm, indulgent atmosphere. Cinnamon sits just beneath these two notes, contributing a soft powdery spice that blends seamlessly with the cardamom while further warming the coffee accord. In the background, geranium introduces a fresh and lightly rosy floral nuance that adds a touch of brightness and prevents the opening from feeling overly dense. The result is a rich and inviting introduction where aromatic spice, roasted coffee warmth, and subtle floral freshness come together in a balanced and cohesive way. Dry Down: The dry down is woody, warm, and sweet. The primary notes I get are oud, cardamom, roasted coffee, and vanilla, with oud and cardamom taking the lead in this stage of the composition. The namesake oud begins to emerge more clearly as the fragrance settles, introducing a dark, dry, and earthy woodiness that anchors the scent. It does not lean fully into the intensely animalic character of natural oud, but it also avoids the overly smooth and sanitized style often found in western interpretations, instead resting somewhere comfortably between the two. Cardamom continues to play a prominent role as well, carrying forward the same soft spiciness from the opening while now revealing slightly more aromatic and faintly camphorous facets. This subtle shift adds complexity and gives the dry down a gentle aromatic lift against the darker woods. Roasted coffee remains present as a supporting note, still recognizable as the same bittersweet gourmand accord from earlier in the wear, though now softer and more blended into the base. The roasted quality remains noticeable, lending a smooth toasted warmth beneath the woods and spice. Vanilla rounds out the composition in the background, contributing a creamy sweetness that feels deeper and more resinous than a typical vanilla note. The use of vanilla absolute gives the sweetness a darker, almost balsamic character that integrates naturally with the oud and roasted coffee. The result is a smooth and cohesive dry down where dark woods, aromatic spice, toasted gourmand warmth, and rich vanilla sweetness settle into a balanced and inviting finish. Performance: Projection opens at a strong level, reaching out to roughly six feet during the first hour and establishing an immediate presence. Sillage matches that strength, leaving behind a heavy and clearly noticeable scent trail that reinforces the fragrance’s rich and warm character. After approximately three to four hours, performance remains largely unchanged, with both projection and scent trail maintaining much of their initial intensity. As the fragrance continues to develop, projection gradually softens, settling to around two to three feet at roughly the eight hour mark. The scent trail becomes lighter at this stage but remains noticeable while moving. Eventually, the fragrance transitions into a skin scent somewhere between the ten and eleven hour mark. The overall result is a fragrance that maintains strong projection and sillage for several hours before gradually tapering into a softer, more intimate presence later in the wear. When to Wear: The Other Side of Oud is best suited for fall and winter, where its warm spices, dark woods, and gourmand undertones can fully develop in cooler air. The fragrance feels most natural in the evening, when its rich and cozy character aligns well with quieter and more intimate settings. Its depth and warmth make it an excellent choice for special occasions such as date nights, where the combination of spice, roasted coffee, and oud can create an inviting and memorable atmosphere. At the same time, the fragrance carries enough complexity and refinement to work in more formal environments, provided the application is kept moderate so the stronger projection does not overwhelm the room. However, its darker and heavier profile makes it less suited for casual daytime wear or office settings, where something lighter and more understated would generally be more appropriate. Blind Buy: The Other Side of Oud is not a safe blind buy. With oud featured prominently in both the name and the note pyramid, many people may approach the fragrance expecting a composition that leans heavily into a natural, oud-forward profile. While the oud does emerge more clearly in the dry down, it does not dominate the fragrance in the way some might anticipate. Instead, it shares the spotlight with the persistent spice of cardamom and the bittersweet warmth of roasted coffee, creating a balance between woody, spicy, and gourmand elements rather than a singular focus on oud. This blended approach may surprise those looking for a more traditional oud experience. For that reason, sampling is strongly recommended before committing to a full bottle to ensure the balance of oud, spice, and coffee aligns with your expectations. Final Verdict: The Other Side of Oud proved to be a very enjoyable wearing experience and feels appropriately named compared to the other Atkinsons fragrances I have tried so far. Rather than opening with an overwhelming blast of oud, the note gradually eases into the composition, allowing the surrounding notes room to develop without being buried under intensely woody or animalic tones. This measured approach keeps the fragrance balanced and approachable while still delivering the depth one would expect from an oud-based scent. The blend of cardamom, coffee, cinnamon, and vanilla introduces a distinctly gourmand warmth that contrasts nicely with the darker woodiness of the oud, creating an engaging balance between sweetness and depth. Performance is also strong, opening with powerful projection and sillage before gradually softening over several hours and ultimately lasting around ten to eleven hours on skin. Considering that performance can sometimes be inconsistent within the house, this was a welcome surprise. All things considered, the combination of smooth blending, gourmand character, and reliable performance makes this the first Atkinsons fragrance I could realistically see myself adding to my collection. Scent: 9/10 Longevity: 8/10 Sillage: 9/10 Versatility: Average Compliment Factor: Gender: Unisex, leaning masculine Value: Fair

The most beautiful box I have, and the bottle is also beautiful itself. In the middle it is transparent glass so you can see the liquid, the other parts are covered in golden. Feels luxurious. So far I used 2 times because the weather changed to warm very fastly, and I regard it as a colder weather fragrance (or at least not above 25 celsius). Immediately became one of my favourite ones; the vanilla with oud creates this semi-sweet cloud, with added coffee (tho its not as strong as I hoped), powdery, refined, rich. I am not an oud expert at all, honestly this is my first fragrance with oud, and I chose this because I wanted an oudy vanilla (plus I like coffee in perfumes) but without rose. Performance is quite good, not nuclear but detectable, not juvenile type. I am already thinking to buy another bottle, since I got it at a reasonable price, maybe it will be discontinued? On the offical site I can't find it. Of course, I will wear it more often in the Autumn, until than it will macerate, and I will be able to discover all of its faces. But as I use I cant stop sniffing my arm.

When I first sprayed this one on it made my stomach turn. I don't really like coffee in fragrance and the coffee and I guess the geranium was awful. But after five minutes, it started getting good. And after 15 it was great. By 30 minutes I loved it. This is excellent rendering of cardamom, cinnamon, coffee, ginger, western oud, and vanilla. Still testing but so far this is my favorite from the house. Longevity and projection was about average, but well above average on smell. Far better than Burberry from what I remember. Scent 8/10 Performance 5/10

Whoever believes this smells like 1 Million, or any other high street designer release must have only tested this on a card... and then left the card alone for a week and then tried it again (it does last that long on a fragrance card). This is a fantastic fragrance, where the coffee note delightfully plays inbetween the other notes. Whilst far from a masterpiece, this is an awesome fragrance and in my humble opinion, well worth buying a full bottle.

No idea why some are voting the performance down on this fragrance. I sprayed an official tester once on the back of my hand, and could easily smell it some twelve hours later. I will be ordering a bottle of this, and will write a more in-depth review once I have worn it for a few days. The oud is very slight, and simply adds a thin animalic theme to the roasted coffee note during the drydown.

A cinnamon and ginger bomb in the opening, similar to what you get in Megalium or Shaghaf Oud Azraq, but here it's followed by such a wonderful coffee smell. The opening is to die for. Oud is a supporting note. Lovely scent.

such a mature and calm scent... I really like it. When I smelled it, I immediately thought of autumn leaves on the path on a still somewhat warm autumn day... a very cozy scent.9/10

בושם אוד קפה ווניל בושם נחמד מזכיר לי טיפה את הווייב של הבשמים של מוגלר הישנים מי בחינת מחיר מעולה חייב לציין הביצועים שלא נמוכים עליי וזה דיי מבאס אבל אני אוהב אותו

Smells like best and most luxurious coffeeshops with wooden interior. Smell really nice, spicy,creamy and hint of floral. Positively surprised.

What a great niche gourmand composition! The performance is stellar!

A clearly structured, modern oud fragrance. The opening features cardamom, cinnamon, and ginger. The spice ratio is relatively high, with a noticeable warmth that isn’t harsh. It feels like dry spices gently heated, releasing their aroma. The opening carries a brief sharp warmth but settles quickly. The heart moves into coffee flower and geranium. The scent softens at this stage, developing a slight roasted nuance along with a light floral tone as the spices gradually fade. Oud begins to appear here. It’s a clean oud without animalic notes, more like wood blended with coffee, giving the composition a distinctly dry woody character. The drydown combines coffee, vanilla, and oud. The sweetness is low, with a faint smoky quality. Amber is present mainly to smooth the texture rather than changing the overall dryness. Longevity is around five to six hours. The strength of this fragrance lies in its clear structure and balanced proportions. It avoids the density often associated with traditional Middle Eastern oud. The overall impression is clean and composed, and it works well for both men and women.

What is most fascinating about this scent is its bold interpretation of Oriental notes; the blend of cardamom, ginger, and coffee creates a warm, almost hypnotic opening that transitions perfectly into a deep, robust oud. The quality of ingredients is undeniable, with impressive sillage and longevity that lend an air of luxury and power to the wearer. However, this fragrance is certainly not for everyone. Its character is distinctly mature—it is not intended for a younger audience or those who prefer modern, airy scents. The Other Side of Oud strongly evokes a vintage aesthetic, carrying that unmistakable "old-school" signature reminiscent of classic, spice-heavy compositions from a bygone era. It is a scent with history and weight, requiring a certain level of maturity to truly pull it off. Rating: 6/10

This is very nice. The opening is warm and ambery with mild wood with a touch of cinnamon spice. It's not very strong, but it's good while it lasts. In the drydown, the vanilla and geranium overtake the other notes, but a subtle earthiness in the background prevents it from coming across as too floral or gourmand. While certainly a unisex fragrance, this strikes me as being more for mature/classy men who choose to wear it as opposed to the younger, hip crowd. It's a great fragrance for autumn days.

Great for gloomy drizzling evenings, formal occasions IMO. The strong coffee-smooth oud blend with spices and sweetness makes this one very comforting, cozy, and classy. I also get whiffs of vibrant ginger zing that come through from time to time, giving a vibe of effervescent ginger ale and tonic. A multifaceted scent, performs wonderfully (beyond one shower), not entirely unique, but a good offering from the house.

I got a sample without wanting it, so i just tried it one guy in the bar just pull is girlfriend to smell me was one of the weirdest think that happen related to my perfumery journey, i may not get it as i have a lot similar but this is very good. Projection and longevity is excellent. I put this in one hand and Black Phantom from By Killian in the other and i prefer this one. Great release by Atkinsons

Cardamom and cinnamon with hints of oud and vanilla to my nose. I find it pleasant with a nice mild oud. It does have similarities with Davidoff Leather Blend in the mid and dry down. This would work for spring and fall nights out. Overall a winner if you can find it for the right price (less than $80 US). Enjoy!

Leave the Oud to the Arabian Perfume Houses. Thanks God this mess doesn't last long. It was a massive mistake to buy a full bottle in Sale.

Smells almost identical to 1 Million. I can't smell the oud.

Quite a strange one to me. Super spicy, lots of Cardamom, Cinammon, Cloves probably Anise with the Ginger - veering dangerously close to Christmas potpourri. Held together with something that smells more liquorice than coffee to me, but with a vaguely medicinal tinge. Almost like a Strepsil, Fisherman's Friend like back note and it certainly has a nose clearing quality to it. Calling it 'The Other Side of Oud' does lead to the temptation to say, the side of Oud that simply isn't there you mean? Nothing animalic to my nose. Nice enough, I guess, if you're after a spice bomb. Update: As this fades the wood does come through, and it is the smell of old greyed burnt wood from a campfire smelled a few weeks later. Actually really quite pleasant. Still no animalics. About 5 - 6 hours on the skin.

Got a tester of this and meh. It really is the other side of oud as I find no oud here. Something remotely woody is detectable, but it is disturbingly unnatural. I just don’t get that word oud in the name with this perfume. The opening is camphoric, so somehow this messes up even cinnamon to smell like medicine. Reminds me of Ted Baker AG for that camphor opening. This gets a bit better after the catastrophic opening calms down and the coffee vanilla combo appears and the cinnamon starts to smell more like cinnamon. It is quite pleasant after half an hour. A valiant try but far from a success. Many people seem to like this, however. For me, if that cinnamon opening was toned down in the opening, this might be tolerable. But still way overpriced for what it is.

Great burnt rubber, with strong longevity

Directly get cinnamon, cardamom and roasted coffee beans smell. The cardamom is a lead all the way, from the opening to the mid and dry down. No sweetness at all. However, it would be greatto add some sweet citrus notes. It kinda dies on my skin when I spray it. No projection, no sillage

My bottle had to macerate... When I first got it... It had absolutely zero performance and the scent profile wasn’t even able to develop. After a handful of wearings / testings... I honestly waited 1-year before going back to it. It now performs very well... Sweet, spicy coffee scent with hints of a darker, yet clean woody accord as it dries... Definitely has gourmand qualities.. Slightly refined for a Sweet / gourmand-ish fragrance. Not a bad option for Winter / holiday season. The cinnamon/coffee/cardamom just gives me that holiday season vibe.. So I have a hard time wearing it outside of very specific situations. People lean hard on Burberry London as a “Christmas” / holiday season fragrance, which I can agree with.. But I can easily wear London in a number of situations/ occasions. This... Not so much. However, It is a nice fragrance and if you are looking for a gourmand-ish type scent with a touch of maturity.. This is a nice option. I want to try more from the house... But something about the house / fragrances makes me end up passing for something else.

سيء اشم رائحة واحدة من البداية للنهاية وهي رائحة القهوة الرخيصة مثل الي في الحلاو المصاص بنكهة القهوة، قهوة رخيصة وحالية هي الغالبة وليست محمصة وفخمة. كما انه حاد وغير متوازن ٥/١٠ - Bad. I smell one note from start to finish, which is cheap coffee, like the kind in coffee flavored candy. Sweet, low quality coffee dominates, not roasted or refined. It is also sharp and unbalanced. 5/10

Disappointing. A bit gourmand-ish and cinnamon, not ground breaking, and unfortunately completely muted on my skin. Maybe if I spray 20 times it might last longer. But four sprays does not do anything for me. No sillage, no longevity, not even a skin scent after two hours. No oud, no campfire, no rubber, no coffee. It is a big let down from this well known house.

Given the list of rich notes, this smells surprisingly hollow, which indicates that this is mostly made of synthetic materials. The smell is nice, but the perfume would be much better if it were denser. The sillage is immense, so adding naturals would have also tamed it down to a more reasonable level.

It reminds me of Boss Bottled Elixir. Just buy the boss, it’s cheaper and does much the same thing... There are better scents for way less money..

Honestly, I couldn't give this a fair review. I tried... I really did, but I got hit with such a immense blast of cinnamon that I had to scrub it.

When I first got it I liked it but didn't wear it much. One day I tried it and I really enjoyed wearing it. I like it more every time I do.

عطر جميل ورائحه القهوه والهيل واضحه فيه وبالنسبه لاداء العطر متوسط

Smells like 1million? That's a f*****g insult to this perfume...