Oud de Carthage

This is very interesting! It's the roundest and politest oud I have smelt! It is so good and I feel that it's modest enough to wear it in office. Smells like Guerlain or Hermès in their perfection of sweeter kind of scents. I don't know yet about the longevity though but it lasts many hours at least. Since the oud is so fine here and I can wear it at work I just had to get a bottle which I did. It is not primarily an oud scent though: oud is only a background player, very much tamed. The whole scent smells more expensive than what it is by the price. There's only one other oud-related/named scent (at the moment) that I could wear outside and maybe even in the office: Flor Oud by Khadlaj where the oud is barely there under faint and unique florals, very interesting and quality stuff for a cheapie. After having got the bottle and smelling it again on hand and shirt: it is patchouli oud! Patchouli is not even listed but I like it in here. Any similarity? The modesty actually reminds me Another 13. It's like the less-sillage oud version of that and Another 13 is one of my absolute favourites. Then I read the reviews here. Similar to Black Orchid? Sprayed it on to verify -- absolutely not. BO is so strong and so different, started smelling over ODC. Man in Black? Sprayed it on as well -- absolutely not, this is so much more sweeter and stronger (and I have many others similar to this one, none of them are similar). Someone mentioned hay. Is it September? Sprayed this one on my skin too just like the others and I'm already running out of my free hand area -- again, absolutely not, September is a hay vetiver type and not sweet (it is one of the best mild grey vetivers). Since I started smelling patchouli after a while, maybe it's the Premium II L'Eau de Parfum by Korres? Although the patchouli should be tobacco instead? I barely found any free place left on my hand but I sprayed it a bit -- not really that one either but after a while they became more similar. Later I also compared with Bvlgari's Kobraa and there is a bit similarity but Kobraa is so much stronger and also stronger on patchouli. So I think the mentioned scent by Korres is most similar. But how did other people consider those other scents similar to this one? Whoever knows mathematics can possibly understand when I say that their "similarity" equivalence relation class of Oud de Carthage (and possibly other similarity classes with other scents) just happens to be bigger and this can happen easily when people either haven't smelt enough different scents or they just haven't smelt the particularly close one or because noses are different. I do have many scents of this type because I like these and that's why, even though I can say they are generally similar (by their type or something), I won't consider them similar enough so that if I have one then the others are unnecessary. To put it another way: I do have Oud de Carthage, Premium II, Man in Black, Black Orchid, Velvet Orhid, Ombre Leather, Noir Extreme, Nerotic, Kashnoir, 303 and maybe even more, but to me, despite being of the same type they are all different enough to have them and enjoy them, they're not redundant to each other.

I just got this in the mail and first impression is this is unreal!!! One of my most successful blind buys EVER, pretty affordable for the quality and size. This fragrance is beast mode btw, like truly. One spray on my wrist and it literally filled the room. This smells utterly delicious and perfectly unisex. My first Boucheron but definitely not my last. If you’re thinking about buying this just do it. Update: this perfume is absolutely AMAZING and I’m just totally obsessed. I swear it keeps getting better and better! I’ve found myself reaching for this more and more to the point where it’s been practically the only thing I’ve been wearing even though I just got several new perfumes. And I love them. But this is just SO GOOD, it’s all I want!! And the more I wear it, the more I notice new facets that weren’t immediately obvious. For example, it is chocolatey! The way the oud interacts with the honey and other notes it creates this incredibly rich and delightful chocolate note! Chocolatey like TF Black Orchid or Angel or any really rich chocolatey patchouli type fragrance, not a thin sugary milk chocolate. And the honey combined with the other notes also gives me the impression of spiced apple pie-like amber, just like in Hermes Ambre Narguille. But despite being utterly mouth wateringly delicious, it never gets too sweet because the dark, rich, leathery oud just tempers the sweetness just as well as it melds with it, which is so well! The notes in this fragrance are all delicious and some of my very favorite notes, but the fragrance they create is more than the sum of its parts. This is a masterpiece and I just want to bathe in this stuff and drink it! I can’t understand the middling reviews at all-this is NOT. A generic western oud scent at all! Nothing wrong with those scents btw, but this simply isn’t that. It may be a more western oud (though far less so than say, TF Oud Wood) but it is NOT generic, it’s very high niche quality and absolutely unique, especially among western ouds. Of course there are many scents in the same family as this, but I have never smelled anything just like it or that I could even remotely consider as a dupe or replacement. I am so super excited to try more Boucheron scents from this collection now! I love that they’re pretty reasonably priced for a “exclusive” line, and definitely for the actual quality! The quality is easily that of a $300/$400+ perfume. The bottle is also stunning, as is even the box that it comes in, and it’s hefty, weighty, and just oozes quality and luxury. The sprayer mists it out absolutely perfectly. It’s the little things that Boucheron all got right that in addition to the scent itself really makes this feel like a $500 bottle of perfume. I’m stoked to try Feve Tonka de Canaima, Ambre d’alexandrie, Cuir Venise, Iris de Syracuse, and the vanille one (forgot the name) as a well as probably a few others down the line. And yes, I will blind buy them! I am that confident after this one. Edit: I don't know how, but I even get whiffs of Hypnotic Poison in this, another all time favorite of mine! Magic!

In the sprawling tapestry of fragrances, there exists a scent that transcends time, whisking us away to a moment when it all began. Boucheron Pour Homme, an elixir of distinction and allure, first graced the senses in the hallowed halls of Bullocks department store in Westwood, Los Angeles, three decades ago. An origin story steeped in history, this perfume emerged as a beacon of sophistication in an era dominated by eau de toilette and eau de cologne. Immerse yourself in the aromatic symphony that is Boucheron Pour Homme, and you're greeted by an opening as fresh as the Pacific breeze, a tribute to the grandeur of its inception. The scent's regal notes dance upon the skin, evoking an air of royalty that is both timeless and contemporary. It's as though the essence of nobility has been captured in a bottle, ready to accompany you on your modern-day adventures. What sets Boucheron Pour Homme apart from the ephemeral fragrances of its time is its unwavering longevity and a performance that defies expectations. With each spritz, a transformation occurs, enveloping you in an aura that refuses to fade into the background. This masterpiece, an eau de perfume in a world dominated by lighter concentrations, heralds an era of sophistication and depth that is rare to find. I remember the moment vividly, when I first embraced this olfactory marvel - it was not merely a fragrance; it was my first love. Now, three decades on, that affection remains unwavering. Boucheron Pour Homme's exquisite blend is a reminder that some loves are meant to stand the test of time, growing more enchanting as the years unfurl. Closing my eyes, I'm transported to a world of sleek suits and the glittering allure of LA nightclubs. The fragrance conjures images of Venice Beach sunsets, a riot of colors melting into the horizon, as the waves serenade the sun goodnight. Boucheron Pour Homme is more than a scent; it is a vessel for memories, a passport to an era where elegance was paramount, and every night held the promise of enchantment. In conclusion, Boucheron Pour Homm is not just a fragrance; it's a journey, a time machine encapsulated in a bottle. Its inception at Bullocks department store marked the birth of a new era for men's perfumery. Its fresh and regal notes, its enduring performance, and its ability to transport you to a world of sophistication and nostalgia make it a masterpiece that continues to captivate hearts, even after 30 years. Like a vintage melody that never fades, Boucheron Pour Homme remains a testament to the artistry of perfumery and a cherished companion for those who seek to infuse their lives with elegance and timeless allure.

So I'll get to the point. I just love the DNA around Penhaligon's Halfeti, Chopard Oud Malaki, Rasasi Satoor Waaw, Montale Oud Dream etc. (Halfeti is by far the best IMO). So you can understand there's no way I wouldn't like Oud de Carthage. It's not offering much difference in terms of scent - yes it's that close but you could say Oud de Carthage has more of a cedarwood where Halfeti has more of a leather and sandalwood kick. But there's just this quality difference, that I think only Halfeti can compete with Oud de Carthage. If you've only experienced Oud-Rose total Eastern type of scents and if that's the Oud you are conditioned to smell, then you might even think these have no oud note whatsoever. And you wouldn't be wrong. Since natural oud almost never find place in mass produced fine fragrances, most we find are fantasy oud interpretations usually made by reconstructed bases or Cypriol oil in combination with other ingredients, patchouli, Cashmeran and some woody ambers at times etc. In the end, doesn't smell like real oud note at all. Just a nice woody something. This is a smooth woody profile with honey note that has absolutely no sharp or dirty edges. It's the perfect warming scent for colder weather, so relaxing and at the same time classy. Typical accord from Dominique Ropion. Longevity is around 7-8 hrs on my skin with noticeable projection and I'm pretty sure it's actually longer but I didn't move much + olfactive fatigue. Safe to say performance will not disappoint. IG: @talkaboutscents

As many, i bought this release with the expectation it will be "Chopard Oud Malaki on a higher budget" but this is not what this is. The people that claim "those are the same fragrances" are clearly making sh*t up based solely on information they got online, instead through their noses. The initial opening blasting you with a fresh sawdust feel might be the only point the two releases touch for me. But that is quite quickly overtaken by the smoky and sweet notes and creates a much richer, denser scent that Oud Malaki ever manages to be. The "oud" note despite being marked as "agarwood" on Fragrantica is noted as "Oud Wood" on the official note breakdown, which pretty much matches with the westernized fresh wood chips type of "oud", but the combination with incense, labdanum and honeyed sweetness combined with the oud accord manages to drive it very successfully into a more earthy, darker almost middle eastern type of oud direction. On the drydown the tonka takes over from the incense and labdanum and redirects the oud accord into a sweeter, cleaner, more creamy balsamic direction, which might be a disappointment to the hardcore "real oud" fragheads, but i would say it works well for this release. All and all, an excellent composition and masterful blend by one of the biggest names in perfumery, Ropion. Got a bottle through a discounter for about 60 euro.. i would say, at that price its a steal.