Oud Sinharaja

It’s really gray and cold where I am right now. On the subway, everyone seems to be wearing Baccarat Rouge, it’s everywhere. Amidst this, the only natural scents are the earthy smell of wet soil and, oddly enough, kebabs. Reflecting on my time living in Asia, I’m always struck by memories of its peaceful environment. The exotic flowers, fruits, the humidity of the jungles, and the dense woods.They stay in my mind. So, ended up blind buying this fragrance, just based on what it was supposed to smell like. And now, I can’t seem to wear anything else but this and an amber cologne. I’m not one to stick to the usual ideas about perfumes being for certain seasons or genders. A lot of people online, like on YouTube and Fragrantica, say this scent is more feminine, and they often say it’s missing oud or something. But for me, it’s completely different. I might get a bit too passionate about scents I love, but this one? It’s something else. The oud is definitely there, but it’s gentle, mixed with Sri Lankan scents, and has these subtle cereal and ozonic notes. And the flowers in it! The way it opens with this bright grapefruit and then moves into frangipani, jasmine, and just a hint of magnolia, it’s amazing. A kiss from the good old days. What a rockstar you are Bortnikoff. Instagram : @lecheikhboheme

This floral-tropical liquor takes your thoughts to the islands of paradise. A complex scent, a real explosion of light and color transposed olfactory, impetuous, but delicate at the same time, where you can smell from a zingy citrus and spicy cardamom to Sri Lankan oud, which really melts into the composition. Sri Lankan oud has the initial notes of sweet oak, with a soft, slightly alcoholic, low-density bouquet. It lacks animal or spicy characteristics. It leans toward leather, semi-sweet part of the spectrum. Its complexity lies in the interaction between the woody sweetness with the fruity tint and the slightly moldy leather, but it is generally the semi-light category of the oud. Bottom line, there's no skank, no harsh or inky oud in this perfume, it somehow gives a body to the exotic concoction. The floral heart is where this fragrance really shines, and it consists of exotic and velvety frangipani, with slightly almondy, vanilla notes, delicate magnolia and lush sambac jasmine. A tropical lush treat!

Extremely sweet, creamy florals with a woody base. I get the Sri Lankan Oud in the initial blast, but it very quickly takes a back seat to the trifecta of floral notes which sit loud and clear for the duration of the wearing. I don't get hardly any bergamot or cardamom, but maybe a hint of cedar and labdanum. But make no mistake - this is a densely sweet, floral fragrance. At times my nose is fooled into thinking there is vanilla or honey, but it's just the power of the jasmine, magnolia and frangipani doing a tropical dance together. The drydown is a little slice of heaven on earth - still extremely floral/sweet, but now balanced with some of the woody/leathery base notes. I don't get a ton of Oud - just enough to know it's there. Leans quite a bit more feminine to my nose, but I love wearing it. Overall, a very strong release from Bortnikoff.

The oud used in Sinharaja is said to smell like cereal and that's what I smell in this. A strong whole cereal note mixed with tropical flowers and fruits. It is captivating and you can't stop sniffing your arm but unfortunately I always end up feeling it is a tad too sweet for me. Think of a stronger Amber cologne with tropical fruits instead and without the ambergris base... it is a catchy smell, great for summer, but I fear I'd grow tired of its sweetness if getting a full bottle. The 9ml is ideal. Don't get misled by the oud in the name as it has zero resemblance to the funky ouds in the brand. It does share some other aspects though with a few fragrances of the house (frangipani, magnolia, jasmin sambac) but the final product is one of a kind.

I prefer Amber Cologne, but you know what? You don't have to choose. I would get both. AC is lighter, more realistic citruses and tropical florals for a summer perfume (or whenever, currently craving in the dead of winter). Oud Sinharaja could work in the summer, but it's heavier. Both are heavier for the notes I am getting, but OS is definitely more oily, and denser. I get something nostalgic from this one that saves it from my anti-citrus brain. To me, oddly enough, this is the more masculine version. OS is punchier. Did not think I'd be loving this house, but it's doing amazing things with citruses and florals. Their prescription of oud fits right in without being animalic.