Oud Malaki

There is an awful lot to like here. Oud Malaki (which basically translates to "Oud Happy") in Arabic, is a creamy, very refined oud fragrance of a refinement level and class that sits well above its price point of US$50-60, in my view. The bottle is a pleasingly heavy glass cylinder with a really fine metal magnetic cap that feels very premium. The atomiser is really good quality as well. On opening you get a grapefruity, slightly floral burst that frames the mainstay heart and base. It is almost like a fresh, fleeting cue for a rich and creamy mid and woody base; like a zesty introduction. It fades very quickly and the heart accords step front and centre. There are spices, a wonderfully rich tobacco and some polished, refined leather as well. The tobacco isn't smoky but has almost a pipe tobacco feel, and the leather is old and worn like a saddle from a really fine stable. I don't see any amber in this but there is a rich, slightly musky creaminess here that comes from the blending rather than a specific accord. It isn't sweet but it kind of suggests a brown sugary sweetness. The oud is supposed to be star of the show but it isn't aggressive or strident. It is whatever the opposite of sour, animalic oud is. It sits against the rich mids in very pleasing unison because there is no one accord that juts out or stands above the rest. This is one of those fragrances that is good because of how well blended it is; where the accords work together to make it more than the sum of its olfactory constituents. It is smoother and less intense than Mr Sam and I can certainly see the comparisons with the OF Halfeti as well, although the latter is certainly spicier and has a much more insistent amber in it than Oud Malaki doesn't have. Sillage is modest and restrained and it is a gorgeous, sensual, even erotic skin scent from the moment you put it on. I get eight hours on the skin from this one. It isn't a very strong or projecting scent but it does last, only quite close to the skin in a quietly assured way. As hyper-refined office scents go, Oud Malaki is absolutely magnificent but it is relaxed and friendly enough to wear casually as well. Interestingly, it has the classy chops to wear in formal settings as well if you are a bit more liberal on the nozzle. Oud isn't known for being this wearable and versatile. For a scent with this DNA, that Chopard themselves say is only for men, I do think it is creamy and soft enough for a woman to really rock this because the leather and tobacco in it are sweet almost, very restrained and not at all masculine. Not all the Malaki series are considered to be masculine only, but whilst Leather Malaki is undeniably masculine, I do think this is unisex. I'd go as far as saying that Oud Malaki is an oud fragrance people who don't know oud or enjoy oud. Although in fairness, I love oud and it is my all time favourite fragrance note and I really love Oud Malaki. Maybe it is a safer, crowd pleasing oud for days when you don't want something that brings the heavy oud energy. We all have days like that, right? There is a lack of pretence here that is very appealing to me. Oud Malaki isn't emotional or evocative really and it isn't telling a story or selling me and those around me a dream. What it is, is niche quality blending in a very refined and unchallenging package that smells about as mass-appealing as any oud fragrance possibly could. I do not know anyone who wouldn't like this. I've actually gone out and bought five (yes really) more bottles of this to give to my two brothers and my Dad in London, my best mate and a buddy of mine in Rotterdam who comes to Dubai a lot and who asked me to recommend him some "starter oud fragrances" that I think he will enjoy. That tells you all you need to know about this one. Three Word Summary - Oud For All (and all for oud!) Scent - 9/10 Sillage - 6/10 Drydown - 7/10 Bottle/packaging - 8/10 Performance - 7/10 37/50

Hi fragheads; This is a very pleasant and beautiful scent, although it's a bit old (2012) it feels like it is timeless. I tend to think that this is the predecessor to the current black incense malaki. Anyway, let's get right into it. Although this fragrance is aimed at men, it is still a unisex perfume. This is most suitable with a middle-eastern complexion (olive skin i think its called), imo this suits men / women 35+ its an elegant fragrance, so it requires some fashion to it, smart casual, semi formal, formal works best, casual stuff do work, but not the usual casual if you know what i mean (this is a unique scent in its own merits). (shorts and tshirts is a big NO) but a nice jeans with boots and a good cardigan or leather jacket is a WOW. its a winter/fall perfume ~ evening/night (for best results) (but yet you can still pull it off in the day); for summer it is possible to wear it if you live in a hot humid environment, like the arabian gulf. humidity is it's friend ;) Classy, calm, intriguing and sensual (that's how i would describe it). Although they don't mention it to be sweet, it is definitely sweet (not cloying or syrup type of thing) sweet in a very elegant and classy way, and the spiciness that comes along with it is just mesmerizing. (it says here that it is fresh spicy, i actually don't agree!! i find it warm spicy really) it has an intriguing and a mysterious fruity note (that smells like mango peach combo) but in the faar faar end, perhaps that the effect of grapefruit mixed with lavender. the opening of the perfume is strong but settles down within 20 minutes; the opening is sweet "fruity" and spicy. mid stage becomes quiet, elegant, well rounded and harmonious but with some power (it has a presence really) and this perfume demands respect; the mid stage is still sweet but a notch less than the opening and it is about spices and tobacco mainly and a little tiny hint of ambergris and leather that doesnt become offending to those who dont like leathery perfumes. I can NOT smell oud anywhere (real or classic oud) but rather an extremely refined oud version that suits the western nose (it is so refined that it is anything but oud if you know what i mean). Mid stage stays with some good projection and sillage of around 2-3 meters for 4-6 hours on skin. And then the end stage, here it is like a new mid stage that is more about the ambergris as it is quite there but what a beautiful deep and sensual note it becomes, spiciness is there in the far end and leather is almost out of reach, just a slight whiff, it is more ambery than woody at the end, but you could say it is woody because it is deep and warm, it is very close to you at this stage, could be smelled from an arm length or so away and it stays there for around 5-7 hours (but it is fainter when reaching a total of 10 hours+). RATING: Sillage: 8/10 (in the first 4-6 hrs 9/10 then 6-9 hrs 7/10) Projection: 8/10 (same as sillage) longevity: 8.5/10 (7 sprits on skin stays for 12+ hours) uniqueness: 8/10 versatility: 5/10 (cold humid weather is amazing for this) price: 6/10 (~140$) i got an amazing deal from a source on this for 30$ original, while debenhams and tryano sell it for around 140$) considering it is old, it should be sold for around 80$ tops. Performance: 8.5/10 overall rating: 8.5/10 Enjoy :)

Stay with me here. This isn’t one of those quick, punchy reviews where I get straight to the point. No, this is one of those long-winded, meandering breakdowns, like when you’re searching for a simple recipe online and end up learning way too much about the blogger’s Aunt Fran, her childhood in Vermont, and how she discovered the magic of saffron on a backpacking trip through Spain. To get to this fragrance was a journey that started with me feeling like I took a major L and ended up taking a major W. Fragrance journeys are like bad relationships; you start with high hopes, ignore the red flags, and convince yourself it’ll work out. That was me with Penhaligan's Halfetti. I trusted Cal Cologne. His reviews are honest and usually hit the mark, so when I found out it was his favorite fragrance I blind bought it, thinking I was in for something special. I was wrong. Instead of a creamy, luxurious scent, I got something... off. It had this sour note that I felt made me smell like a cat pissed on me. I kept trying, hoping it would grow on me. It didn’t. And the final nail in the coffin? My girlfriend took one whiff and said it made her want to throw up. So I cut my losses. I let it go. And yeah, I was disappointed...not just in the purchase, but in Cal. But then he reviewed Oud Malaki by Chopard and totally redeemed himself. It’s everything I wanted Halfetti to be. Rich, unique, intriguing, and with a creamy smoothness that becomes more prevalent in the dry down and without the weird sourness that made me self-conscious every time I wore it. It’s refined, classy, gets compliments, and unlike Halfetti, for me, actually works. If you're familiar with Penhaligans this off the rip smells like Mr. Sam and lands somewhere in between Mr. Sam and Halfeti only it has all of the good parts of each of them and none of the bad. Oud Malaki is a winner and to sum it up a great fragrance: Great smell, great value, great projection, great performance, great at pulling compliments.. this stuff just makes me happy. Also, shoutout to Bloomingdales for allowing me to return / exchange the cologne I didn't like after opening it and for their great customer service.

There is underrated and then there is UNDERRATED!!!!!!! Oud Malaki is easy to overlook or even underestimate, but as an oud based fragrance Chopard's Oud Malaki is a rich and original take on oud and tobacco, that earns its' praise and deserves more hype. The opening of Oud Malaki is sweet and spicy, but not in that typical sense of most woody spicy fragrances. With Oud malaki we get a good dose of oud, and it isn't hidden or tamed, it is framed by tobacco and spices. There is almost a dusty effect to this mix of notes and its really fantastic. After the opening subsides we get a bit of salty freshness with the grapefruit and ambergris. The arrival of these two notes gives the scent another dimension breaking up the dusty element and giving the scent a pulse of freshness. The dark woodsy notes and leather eventually enter the fold and add this time a layer of richness to Oud Malaki. Finally, Oud Malaki ends on a retro vibe and an herbaceous touch of class with a bit of lavender and artemisia. The note separation is remarkable with this fragrance and the Chopard quality is very apparent. Oud Malaki is not an in your face oud scent. Nor is it a rich tobacco scent. What you actually get with Oud Malaki is balance and versatility. This fragrance is well put together, this isn't a composition of a slap you across the face explosion of one or two notes, there is instead progression and variety that is unveiled to the wearer. Oud malaki is clearly a cold weather performer and slays under a sweater, scarf or heavy coat. OM is very long lasting so easy on the trigger. OM can dress up or dress down, so you can use this fragrance casually or formally. This is a real pleasure to wear so keep it out of the office and share it with those you hold dear. Give Oud Malaki a spray when you want to feel seductive and regal against a strong fall or winter breeze.

UPDATE: Earlier in 2020, I gave my initial thoughts on this fragrance. Here are my thoughts after some wear and time... I still really enjoy this one. I liked it at first but it keeps growing on me. The tobacco and woody notes are immediately evident, with more spice and oud making themselves known 5-10 minutes after spraying. I personally find this to be a very smooth fragrance. The tobacco and spices are somewhat held back in the sense that I dont get any piercing projection of spices, rather a smooth and even slightly creamy profile. Moving into the mid, the notes continue blending together beautifully with the oud and tobacco having similar strength and projection, as the spices continue fading. Into the dry down, the "ambergris" (smells like a slightly dirtier take on ambroxan) and leather come through, but always as supporting players. Now, the reason I am revisiting this is that I have recently heard a few people talk about the slightly animalic edge, especially through the mid and dry down. Fragrantica also has this facet listed with decent prominence, but we all know that this u is often not a great way to describe a fragrance. Any how, I personally do not understand this description much as all. I never really get anything that I would describe as animalic. Maybe you could stretch and say the leather and "ambergris" provide a slight animalic edge, but i dont really smell this facet either. For the majority of the fragrance. I get a smooth and creamy combo of the notes I described above with an ever so slight hint of sweetness going along with the other notes. All in all, I still very ,much enjoy this fragrance. Scent: 8.5/10 Projection: 6.5/10 Longevity: 7.5/10 Sillage: 8.5/10 Overall: 8.5/10 (projection, longevity, and sillage are all above average and have little weight on my score)

As expected, I get different reactions on skin versus on clothing. I strongly advise others to try both. On skin, after the initial burst of lavender and artemisia, the artemisia lingers on to join the leather/wood accord. Once the herb fades away, the leather/woody accord remains, and it is here where it shares similarities with Halfeti by Penhaligon. I would wager it smells smoother on my skin than Halfeti even. However, something about it felt simplistic and I did not enjoy the experience on skin, and was contemplating selling it later that day. Glad I didn't. Next: on clothes. The lavender and artemisia smells cooler, and I understand all the menthol references below. The spices - cardamom and cinnamon reveal themselves and join tobacco and what smells like benzoin/vanillic resin. At this point, there is a striking similarity with PdM Herod, Layton, and Amouage Boundless due to the sweet resinous tobacco. It's not the same, but in the same vein. Be prepared for this. Over time, it falls apart into sweet leather and woods. Overall, I really enjoyed the first few hours on clothes very much, and felt it had a lot to offer to keep me interested. Projection and longevity are decent. Best used for special occassions, festive events or nights out. Something about this scent just brings to me memories of celebration, fun and cheer. It suggests abundance and generosity. Probably performs better on cooler days and night time.

A classic masterpiece for modern times. An important treasure among thousands of perfumes that have been created in this new era. Very masculine and gentlemanly, reminiscent of a determined and serious man of the 70s who wears a dark brown suit and wants to go on an official date. The dry and realistic fragrance of luxurious and dry tobacco, you can feel the smell of oud and spices, but all these are placed to decorate and develop the scent of tobacco. For me this is not a sexy scent but to enjoy your masculinity. A gift and a masterpiece from the classical world for this modern age. Longevity and good smell - not at all for women to use unless they have a problem with their femininity. Stylish and beautiful bottle. 5/5 شاهکاری کلاسیک برای دوران مدرن . گنجیبه ای مهم دربین هزاران عطر ی که در این دوران جدید ساخته شده است . بسیار مردانه و جنتلمن یاد اور مردی مصمم و جدی دهه 50 شمسی که کت و شلوار قهوه ای تیره پوشیده است و می خواهده یک قرار رسمی برود . عطر خشک و واقع گرایانه از توتون فاخر وخشک شما می توانید بوی عود و ادویه جات را حس کنید ولی همه اینها برای تزيين و تکامل رایحه تنباکو جای داده شده اند . برای من این یک رایحه سکسی نیست بلکه برای لذت بردن از مردانگی خویشتن است. هدیه و شاهکاری از دنیای کلاسیک برای این روزگار مدرن . ماندگاری و بخش بوی خوب ـ اصلا برای استفاده زنها نیست مگر آنکه با زنانگی خود مشکل داشته باشد . بطری شکیل و زیبا

"Fix" If you're looking to get Oud Malaki., thinking that it could be a good replacement or clone of penhaligon's Halfeti. Don't do it. you might end up being dissapointed. An analogy of that perspective is simply like how crystal meth is compared to coccaine whereas Halfeti is the latter and oud malaki can be said as "a poor man's coccaine" I've smelled them both in my wrist., and even though they fall along the same lines oud malaki is a different fragrance on its own. The difference lies on the fruity bergamot top of halfeti., a green nuance and florals on its heart & the eternal longevity of it's leather. That being said., it doesnt mean that Oud Malaki deserves the bin. it's a good fragrance nearly great (if u get it on discount like i did). Oud Malaki is a victim of its own greatness. An overhyped fragrance that is nearly being labelled as a clone of other fragrances that came AFTER it. What you get with Oud malaki is a solid tobacco fragrance that is spicy, warm and dense. it has an aromatic incense note and a sweetness leans to a syrupy vibe. A couple of years after its release., this composition was revisited., tweaked and overpriced then was later called Halfeti by Penhaligons. I guess its a perfect time for me to get a 2nd mortgage and get me some bottles from penhaligons soon., CIAO. LOL

When I wear Oud Malaki, I'm not bothered by the scent at all, while I would sometimes feel a bit overwhelmed, warm and headachy with this level of spicy scents (Can't wear D&G The One for example). The thing is, Oud Malaki needs time to get used to, because it's INCREDIBLE and complex for the price you pay. Due to not feeling the scent much myself when wearing it, it's easy to think it's not giving much of Sillage, but people around me notice it, and it's way stronger than you perceive it when wearing it. If you're a fan of tobacco scents, this is a more mature and masculine version of Maison Margielas Jazz Club, think of Jazz Club, but as a more powerful EDP, minus the citrus and neroli in the top notes, and more punch of sexiness from the oud. The way it behaves is also interesting, the layers simply melt together perfectly during the first 40 minutes, and then it stays firm and nicely for a good 6 hours. My #1 Tobacco scent for sure, good value, composition, Sillage and confidence packed in this bottle. If I am missing something it would be a note of fruit, peach or pear would make it even more interesting. When would you wear it? Autumn. Suits professional circumstances as well if you go easy on the trigger. Chopard Oud Malaki - 9/10 overall!

This fragrance is exceptionally classy and elegant. It is suitable for everyday wear in winter or as a bold office scent, but it demands presence. Frankly, it works best if you hold a position of authority or leadership—it is too assertive for a junior or low-profile office role. The spice profile is well-controlled and never harsh, especially when compared to more aggressive compositions such as Amouage Outlands or Purpose 50. I have not personally smelled Penhaligon’s Halfeti, so I cannot make a direct comparison, but I do agree with Jenny Barren’s assessment of this fragrance. Having Grand Soir in my collection, I find the ambergris here to be closely related, yet executed in a more refined, bold, and elegant manner. In comparison, this makes Grand Soir feel almost like a skin scent. I genuinely enjoy both for different reasons. Final recommendation: absolutely worth buying. Confident, polished, and commanding—this is a fragrance that rewards decisive wear.

An oud daydream! Oud Malaki starts woody, spicy, smokey, rich, & warm. All at once. Like the smell of a cigar smoked by a grey haired man on a cold winter night. Then the spices reveal themselves with the unmistakable scent of oud. Oud dominates from here on. At last! A fragrance that claims "oud" & delivers oud! The drydown is spicy tobacco & oud. No, not like Tom Ford's Tobacco Oud. More like Mancera's Red Tobacco but with a strong oud note. Heavenly. Oud Malaki is excellent! An intoxicating symphony of wood, oud, spices, & tobacco. A daydream fantasy for any lover of those notes! The name translates to "Royal Oud" from Arabic. Beautifully warm & rich. Mature & strong. It feels like confidence to wear it. Might be too strong for the likening of some. "Niche" comes to mind. What a beautiful creation centered around oud. "Love", my friends. Oud Malaki gets a "Love"!

Never try finding tobacco notes any further ; here is the whole thing . I have this royal scent on a strip next to my bed and I can feel the tobaccoy leathery juices filling the air all around me . Starts off a bit spicy , then it begins to get cooler and classier every minute , dries down into the best woody fragrance u might ever dream of . Reminds me of Gucci pour homme 2 when it dries down ,yet , GPH2 is just a faded shadow comparing to this Chopard masterpiece . Another pour homme jumps up into mind here ... that is Bogart PH , but again , bogart is too sharp and harsh while chopard's is more refined and well balanced . I will buy this Oud Malaki tomorrow to enjoy each and every drop . 100 ml for 85$ is what I call a good catch . Longevity 8/10 Sillage 9/10 Scent 10/10 Have to tell u that I am a huge wood/tobacco lover .

This is a good take on oud. Chopard has managed to give us a smooth smelling oud. It doesn't have the sharp hot tire smell of oud you can find in most oud dominant fragrances. It's like magic to my nose. It goes all the way to the point that it starts to get to hot tire territory, but it never gets there. After half an hour or so, I cannot pick anything but oud. If you don't like oud or not sure what it is, then do not blind buy this. On my skin it's very settle and doesn't have much of silage. Overall, I like it but it's not something that I would get a backup bottle for. Quick update: this fragrance lasts for 3-4 days if spayed on cotton clothes. I guess that is the nature of oud. I have a oud based fragrance that I stopped wearing it because it wouldn't go away even after washing my clothes several times.

Great masculine scent!! This is a woody, spicy, tobacco scent. The oud on the name should not scare you because is very faint if there is at all. It has a gentle sweetness and i find it very balanced! Yes, it's similar to Halfeti without the rose. It's not the same but in the same ballpark with scents like Hdp 1899, Bvlgari Man in Black and Spicebomb. Performance is ok, moderate to good longevity with moderate projection. I like that it doesn't scream to much because it makes it really versatile and easy to wear even in the heat. I find this fragrance very appealing, masculine and i am sure it will get a lot of positive attention! Overall, i really like this one! I was skeptical for a long time before i blindbought it but it is great! If you like Halfeti and this style of fragrance give this a try!

This is a Great Scent, Elegant, Classy, Spicy and Complex. You can't go wrong with it. I bought it blind-buy after reading the positive comments and I watched reviews on YouTube with reasonable price. It smells so good and very pleasant , l fell in love with it at first sniff ! In my opinion It is a MASTERPIECE by Monsieur Dominique Ropion . It opens up with fresh spicy, herbal and spices notes in the background then dry down is a bit sweet warm spicy, ambery tobacco and woody. I don't get Oud note and The Combination of Artemisia , Spices ,Tobacco notes are very beautiful and pleasant similar to Apricot vibe undertone. I really enjoy it when the weather is Cold. Longevity is good. Highly Recommend. Two Thumbs Up Bravo Monsieur Dominique Ropion ! Rating : 9 / 10

Fantastic smelling and quite blind buy safe. It's like a spicy oriental sweet tobacco scent, Oud is pretty much non existent. Nothing off putting in it whatsoever so ignore the dislike comments from people who obviously expect everything to smell like pineapple, chewing gum or ambroxin. Can't see myself wearing this during the day in any kind of warm weather but going out for a nice dinner with my partner or those colder winter days, most definitely. This would be a compliment magnet as people who are not interested in fragrances beyond retail outlets (normal people lol) would be aware of something like this. I've seen this online for 45 euro as of today on Notino... An absolute steal for the quality of scent you get in return.

As excellent as the hype would lead one to believe. OM balances all of its elements superbly, blending a rich tobacco with an ever-so-slightly funky oud. One might consider this the next step into the oud world, after more easily worn and accesible scents such as TF Oud Wood, Versace Oud Noir, etc. OM is unlikely to offend anyone but it offers the beginner a good intro to what might be considered a marginally more challenging profile. That said, even for (especially for?) the experienced, this is not to be missed. Not a t-shirt and jeans scent, however, and some might even consider this a mature man's profile. I think it's a little more unisex than that, and with the appropriate dress can be worn by most any age and sex.

Performance 8/10 Projection 6/10 Uniqueness 10/10 Presentation 7/10 Scent 7/10 (but it’s growing on me) Batch: 00J35H1 I really like this scent. It sits very close to the skin so it’s not overwhelming, seems more of an evening/night out type of scent. Sophisticated, mature, very pleasant scent. The opening is kind of a weird “sour/sweet” type of smell, not sour like citrus but sour like spoiled milk, but not in a bad way lol I think that’s the Oud. Dry down is great, has a slight spicy leathery woody feel to it that becomes more dominant as it dries down. Warm, cozy and deep. It's a top 10 for me 7-12 hours, skin scent after 4 hours, projects within arms length

Açılışı Man in Black'i andırıyor fakat kola gibi bir kokusu var biraz daha. Kurumuş halindeyse odunsu yumuşak bir tütün kokusu kalıyor. Kış aylarında kullananı üzmeyecek güvenli bir koku. Açıkçası "wooow" demedim. Performans tatmin edici kesinlikle tatmin edici. Sabahtan öğleden sonraya rahat kalacaktır. 8 saat civarı. Ben şahsi olarak daha baharatlı sevdiğim için Man in Black tercih ederim. Daha pürüzsüz yormayacak bir koku isteyenleri bu daha çok mutlu edecektir. Yaş olarak olgun bir giyim varsa 20+ yoksa 25+, geceye iyi gidecektir ama sonbahar-kış günleri de asla sırıtmayacaktır.

This gives me the same delicious, rich lavender fougère vibes as TF Beau de Jour, and on other days I get more of a Costa Azzurra Parfum vibe without the strong lemon. I'm not getting a lot of oud or grapefruit, and I do think it's misnamed, but so are 99% of the other perfumes I have, in my opinion. I love this, and it's amazingly cheap. Update: this is not oud, it's spicy lavender and sandlewood, in the same vein as Hayat and Papilefiko. It's a banging scent for very very cheap (40 euros from discounters) so save your money and get this instead, it doesn't disappoint!