Oud Absolu

Oud Absolu by Cartier is not just a perfume, it is a declaration of intent. In a market now saturated with "pleasant" and sweetened interpretations of oud, Mathilde Laurent (nose of the Maison) decides to return to the roots, offering a fragrance that is pure raw material elevated to art. Launched in 2016, Oud Absolu stands out for its "essential" nature. You won't find an olfactory pyramid crowded with citrus top notes or floral hearts. Here oud is the absolute protagonist, but interpreted with Cartier's typical elegance. It is a woody oriental that constantly plays between animal warmth and balsamic freshness. Upon opening it strikes with its almost medicinal and profound intensity, which quickly evolves into a resinous, smoky and incredibly enveloping scent. The true magic of this fragrance lies in its luxurious minimalism. Laurent has stripped the oud of all its trappings (no excessive rose, no overbearing saffron) to reveal its most noble facet. It is a perfume that smells of ancient wood, precious resins and an almost ancestral spirituality. Oud Absolu was also designed for layering. It can be worn alone for an austere and powerful effect, or combined with other fragrances from the collection to add depth and an unmistakable woody base. Oud Absolu is a fragrance for connoisseurs. If you're looking for a sweet, vanilla oud, you might find it too stark. If instead you are looking for the smell of sacred wood, thick smoke and skin warmed by the Eastern sun, this is probably one of the best interpretations on the market. He is sophisticated, dry and deeply intellectual.

I own and have tried so many great oud fragrances and this can compete with any of them. The comparison to Tom Ford Oud Wood (below) should not be taken seriously. They smell nothing alike. Oud Wood doesn't even contain any real oud whereas this absolutely does. It is simple in its construction and is somewhat linear. Notwithstanding, this is a surprisingly beautiful fragrance to wear. The closest comparison I can make is Oud Patagonia by the brand of Fueguia 1833 or perhaps an unsweetened version of Xerjoff Ceylon. It is incredibly smooth and smells and wears like liquid gold. Price is on the high side at £325.00 RRP for 45ml but the ingredients, to my nose, are of good quality. I paid £250.00 for my bottle whereas Tom Ford Oud Wood currently retails at £220.00 for 50ml. A no brainer in my opinion.

Opens prominently with animalic oud, and smoothes after a few minutes to just oud. It is pretty comforting oud after an hour but yes nothing outstanding. it has Cartier DNA oud for sure. It does not give a poop vibe, which many people are afraid of, lol, but it is still a little dirty, yes. It is almost identical to Oud&Oud Cartier, not far from Oud&Musk and even Oud&Pink. Same oud with a hint of rose in Oud&Rose, and same oud with a very good plum in Oud&Santal. I like Vanilla Oud which is a perfectly balanced sweetness+oud. BUT I am still questioning the purpose of so many similar perfumes in one collection. Will post an update about Oud&Menthe and Oud&Radeuox later..

The Oud in this fragrance is not real which is why some compare it with TF Oud Wood. The fragrance however smells pleasant and not potent as some may claim. It is more into the western Oud category for me, the siliage and longevity is very poor unfortunately for the price tag.

This is the best & most authentic oud from Cartier; if you (for some reason) feel the need to get an overpriced Oud from Cartier, don't waste your time on the others.. Just get this