Essence No. 4 Oud

I must concur with MarkoPeeko who mentioned the vetiver comparison. I too detect vetiver. Perhaps there are some types of oud that activate the same olfactory receptors as vetiver. Essence No. 4 Oud Isn’t the oud I was expecting or wanting, but as it so happens, it is the type of oud I need. It is slightly medicinal and rubbery with a birch bark tar aura yet manages to feel fresh and light. It doesn’t feel loud and the silage is respectable. Or so I thought but an hour after just two sprays, my partner came home and immediately on entering the room said, “Whats that smell!? You smell like a rich Arab. Can I have it!?” It is an interesting and classy scent that I think will go well in any environment, be it at work or play, summer or winter, day or night. And I believe it would take on a different personality in each scenario. Speaking of which, the scent does seem to subtly and effortlessly evolve after application. It quietly screams quality in a way that is self assuredly assertive. The bottle comes in a nice if somewhat superfluous little black velvet bag that I suppose might serve a purpose to protect the bottle if wanting to carry the perfume in a briefcase or weekend bag. The box is also black and on the back it says: “An infinite variation around a black monochrome, a tribute to the mystery and nobleness of oud wood”. There is well known myth that artists won’t paint with pure black pigment. John Singer Sargent and Claude Monet used to go out and paint together. One day, Sargent had left his paints behind and asked Monet to lend him his to work with. “Where’s the black?” asked Sargent. “I don’t allow myself to use black,” replied Monet. “It’s against the impressionist theory. In nature, all colours are made by mixing.” Sargent refused to understand how anyone could paint without black. Personally, I’m on the side of Monet. To me, black is too absolute, it is devoid of life. This perfume is anything but dead. It is very much alive. Whereas some perfumes are beautiful yet synthetic, Oud Essence No.4 is beautiful in a seemingly natural way. If Oud Essence no.4 is black, then it is more a sensation of black made from multiple hues and depth. It is not so much a black void filled with nothingness, but rather a deep alchemical cauldron where the miracle of new life is formed. I might even buy a backup bottle. And for someone that has many dozens of different perfumes, that is indeed a rarity.

Stunning fragrance, signed by Francis Kurkdjian. This fragrance is completely oud-focused. One can spot several expression of oud, typical of the multi-faceted laotian oud that has been used here. (considered by many as the most interesting oud, the reason why F. Kurkdjian uses it for his creations at MFK - together with aromachemicals, let's not be blind -, as well as Guerlain in their higher-end fragrances) It starts with a very medicinal/balsamic oud scent, very vegetal and minty. It is nearly astringent (probably the benzoin), and to be honest, I was worried about my blind-buy at this point. I have been reassured shortly after, when the green freshness and the mint both disappear, and the oud morphs into an asphalt/rubbery oud, and black pepper starts to show up, (only as a supporting note, not in-your-face). Then, the oud becomes pure heaven: it tames in terms of scent, but not in presence. It becomes (and will stay from now on) a beautiful dry woody but round oud, with hints of smoke (but not burnt). Hard to describe at this point, this is the smell of laotian oud, pure luxury-smelling bliss. I may suspect the presence of a very light rose, and a hint of saffron, but very subtle. Like other comments stated before, the notes in this fragrance help the oud to develop, but only as supporting actors. The oud is the main and only star here. Interms of performance, it's not a beast, but has a great projection in the first hour, then keeps having a moderate/good projection for the follwoing 5-6 hours (I kept sometimes smelling whiffs several hours on, without placing my nose on the skin). Longevity is overall average. The drydown shares some similarities with Santal n.8 of the same line, but the fragrance os Santal n.8 is the opposite: low projection and very long lasting. As of today, THIS is my best oud fragrance, and my favorite fragrance in my 50+ bottles collection. In the past, you would have gotten what you payed for ($250). Except in this case: you get much more than what you pay for, because at currently $55 for 3.4 oz at discounters, it's just the best steal ever!! Note: the pyramid is unaccurate. According to Francis Kurkdjian, this fragrance has been blended with the following oils: laotian oud, black pepper, cinnamon, cedar, sandalwood, and benzoin.

This fragrance does one thing and does it very, very, well - Oud. In fact, I would say that this is one of the best oud fragrances I've ever put my nose on. Elegant, smooth, and incredibly well blended. I was shocked when I heard that Francis Kurkdjian was the perfumer for the Elie Saab Essense line. The quality of no. 4 is amazing. This oud is not "skanky" or "barnyard" in the least. Nor is it overly medicinal. In short, it is almost perfectly balanced and opens with the slight boost of Pepper for the first 30 to 45 minutes. After this, the pepper diminishes and a barely detectable benzion appears to soften the edge. But the oud is the star of the show for the lifetime of the fragrance. Longevity is outstanding on my skin, with 4-5 sprays lasting 9+ hours. Projection is arms length for 3-4 hours, and this leaves a nice scent trail without being overpowering to those around you. Completely office safe, and I have received a number of compliments wearing this at work. I was actually pretty shocked, honestly. I wouldn't think twice about wearing this in any scenario - and that certainly isn't something that can be said about a lot of oud scents. This could certainly be worn by both sexes, but in my opinion leans masculine. If you've been wanting to get "into" an oud fragrance for the first time, but were hesitant because of the potential of getting an "offensive" scent or didn't want a rose/chocolate/etc blend - this is a perfect starting place. Full bottle worthy.

Много приятна изненада от покупка без тест. Първото ми впечатление от кутията беше за намек на ветивер, което за мен е ок, страхувах се от сладостта, която други усещат, защото очаквах сух натурален уд. Е, това и получих. Има кожен акорд, ще е супер кожено яке. Смолист и разкошен, стилен, присъствен без да крещи. Красота. Като жена, която обича също чисти и пудрени аромати, признавам си, че очарована и се радвам, че го купих. Имам още един шедьовър от тази колекция - туберозата. Ако обичате истински смолисто дърво, малко пушек, щипка черен пипер, това е за вас. Няма нищо излишно и нищо не липсва."A very pleasant surprise for a blind buy. My first impression from the box was a hint of vetiver, which is fine by me; I was afraid of the sweetness that others experience because I was expecting a dry, natural oud. Well, that is exactly what I got. It has every accord; it will go great with any leather jacket. Resinous and gorgeous, stylish, present without being loud. Beautiful. As a woman who also loves clean and powdery scents, I must admit I am enchanted and glad I bought it. I have another masterpiece from this collection – the tuberose. If you love true resinous wood, a bit of smoke, and a pinch of black pepper, this is for you. Nothing is redundant, and nothing is missing."

No. 4 opens soft smoky wood with a lightly medicinal smelling oud. As the smoke starts to fade off a hint of sweetness pokes through. This is a very smooth and well blended fragrance. I really love it. No. 4 smells like a softer, smoother version of Acqua di Parma Oud. But, due to No. 4s light and airy feel it reminds me of Tom Ford Oud Wood or MFK Oud. It's not an exact smell as those mentioned, but they would definitely be grouped together in the same category of light airy fresh Western oud fragrances. I've worn this now in NYC (75° to 90°) and it hasn't lasted for more than a few hours. Maybe, I've been nose blind to it, or it has just vanished after a couple hours. Each time I've varied the amount of sprays. Each time I've worn No. 4 for the first hour the silage to me is amazing. I am enjoying this immensely, and look forward to wearing it more especially as the weather cools off a bit this fall. Underrated fragrance for sure I eventually sold this because it did not last on me. If it had longevity it would have been a keeper.

Light Heavyweight MFK continues to shine in this line. Many consider his best work is actually potentially outside of his own brand. I am not convinced about that but I am convinced this is exceptional. It is a light oud, by a big heavyweight in the game. Very nice quality and can be now found at discounters, if you get a chance - this is a must have for most wardrobes especially as rumour has it will be discontinued. The scent is ironically more "Vetivery" rather than "oudy". I get an "ashy" not smokey vibe. It is similar to Le Labo's style but cleaner. Specifically, if you like Santal 33, you will love this. However, The real value is it has the ability to be layered. This oud is so versatile that it can be layered with most scents, and certainly your favourite amber, rose, or vanilla, and musks. I do not think it is real oud so for real oud (only) fans this is a pass but for almost anyone else, a must try. 4.25/5

Very strong fragrance, specially the first few sprays, will choke you if you over do it, the opening is medicinal, harsh, in your face, even pungent if you dare spray it on hot days. Having said that, the drydown is beautiful and potent, it never gets sweet, it never gets savory, it stays true to the name. This is a fragrance that will wear you if you don't have the confidence for it. I would not recommend to beginners of the "oud journey" but rather for someone that wants that potent Oud as part of their collection. I can pull off this fragrance only a few times a year, when it's cold out , I'm wearing a good suit and I'm sporting a well groomed beard, then I can rock this. When Im wearing shorts and a T-Shirt, this fragrance will wear me and kick me for not being worthy of it. I would not recommend as a blind buy, for that, try the mini version of it before committing.

Blind bought this a few months ago (After falling truly/madly/deeply in love with Essence No. 3 Ambre) - and love this one too. This is a work of art. A beautiful and mesmerising fragrance that is not 'skanky' at all. Starts off beatifully and softly and the Oud shines through without being the star (or pretending to be one). It comes through and brings along it's friends (Saffron and Cinnamon) in a quiet manner. I think there is a hint of sandalwood in there as well - which takes the fragrance towards a diiferent turn during drydown. It is listed as Unisex but IMHO - leans a tad masculine. According to the parent website - it can be layered with Essence No. 7 Neroli, but haven't tried it yet. SO, in a nutshell. IT is: Classy Gentlemanly Warming Not suitable for warmer weather but perfect for Fall/winter evenings and dinners/date nights.

I already made a review for this one, but I feel obliged to make a new one as I discovered new facets to this perfume. From the beginning you’ll get the pepper, sandalwood (same sandalwood found in the n8), benzoin and oud. At first it may appear rough around the corners mainly due to the burnt rubber facets coming from the oud. But no worry, as it dries down (and it dries down quickly) everything melts in together and it polishes out into a soft coherent luxurious resinous oud. There’s not one tear of sweetness in this. It’s effortlessly elegant and distinguish. No animalic weird barnyard stuff, just refine sophisticated, mature scent like francis kurkdjian knows how to do. Very masculine by the way. The more you wear it the more you’ll like it.

@Dark-X: oud has many different faces depending on origin, which tree it comes from (agar trees have several sub-species), if the tree is ill or not, and how the oud chips are processed and how the extraction is done... Here, it is a laotian oud note (with probably some synthetic added), that has a burnt/balsamic profile, very different of indian oud (round and barnyard-ish/fecal - ie. F.Malle The Night), Papua oud (fruity), Borneo Oud (sweet/floral), or synthetic oud notes from IFF or Givaudan (what all designers use, like YSL, Tom Ford, Versace, Dunhill and even houses like MFK, Montale, Creed and Amouage...). There's a very good article on oud on Fragrantica should you be interested.

Class oud. I have been trying all kinds of oud scents since beginning this scent journey. I knew that I liked and was drawn to this strange wood product. I have tried it blended with many other notes as well as alone like this one. It is just a pure, fresh, smooth, refreshing woody oud scent and I love it. Glad to have found this one. Not too expensive and gives me a comforting scent. I have not reviewed in some time. Often feel like others have already done an excellent job or I have not the words to describe what I’m smelling. Here, though is an Oud worthy of attention. May you all enjoy it’s simplicity as I do.

Maybe my nose has taken the day off. I get more vetiver than oud. Almost reminiscent of Guerlain’s vetiver. Bright, green and sparkly. Don’t get me wrong, this is fantastic. I’m unsure if my bottle is tainted but I was maybe expecting something stronger and denser. Peppery, ever so slightly resiny. Full on vetiver to my nose. Can anyone confirm if they experienced the same? Happy to have this in my collection. Still a banging scent. Edit: Ran a side by side comparison between GV and this. Lots of differences. GV is much brighter making this seem a bit denser. That said, I still get more of a Vetiver note than oud.

Elie Saab Oud (2014) - oud is king - dear #franciskurkdjian you are forgiven for creating those extremely synthetic ouds - for having created this wonderful perfume. I believe most #oud I own have a floral accord attached: either Rose or Saffron. Mr. Kurkdijan did none of that in this perfume. Not only did he use real oud, he made it the star if the show. He balances the oud with dry spices: Black Pepper and a hint of Cinnamon bark. In the base, I do get hints of Patchouli and Vanilla-like Benzoin. Reminds me of new rubber shoes, spice cabinets and leather.

Elegant, sophisticated, and luxurious Just blind bought it today, and first impression was like "same as oud noir by versace". Although it's a good release by elie saab, high quality ingredients and mr FK never miss, he always create such a good fragrances even in the designer range. Essence No4 ou opens up with a punch of rubbed oud and black pepper, and after 10min the benzoin come to play it role to put on some warmth and bit sweetness (not cloying sweetness). I'm glad to add it in my collection, it worth every penny 8.5/10

Got my bottle today and I am really pleased with this blind-buy. The oud in here is not too medicinal and not too animalic. It really does smells like real oud mixed with some leather notes. It is masculin but you can ofcourse use it as base with your more floral scents above it to get a really nice and balanced smell. I think it is one of those perfumes which you think has disappeared after an hour or two, but which still is there after many hours. Scent: 9/10 Longevity: 8/10 Projection: 8/10

This style of oud is one of my favorites- no big florals or other large players sharing (or stealing) the stage, only supporting actors gently rounding out the blend. This one is the pinnacle of that style. It is a non-fecal, non-skanky oud, and is extremely smooth. Understated yet stunning, and comes across as quite natural. Priced quite fairly on the discount sites. Silverquick's review a few spots down reflects my own experience quite accurately.

As a woman I love a good oud fragrances but this on its own is too harsh but I salute how this perfume is well composed and well blended by the master francis kurk. I love love layering this with more aromatic and floral scents which the oud on the background compliments each other in a sultry and seductive way and my god it is a long lasting perfume 🥰

A gorgeous masculine scent (pepper burst) doest last that long on my skin or on clothes & not a projection monster but a very nice scent profile. NOT a skanky or an unpleasant oud smell. Good dry down...Reminds me of Bentley Absolute abit but this has class of its own! Simple bottle with a magnetic cap.

Quite a straight forward presentation for oud. Pepper and light resin don't overwhelm oud like other cliche stuff did, instead they are decorations in the same theme of a smoky, pure and almost meditation-like atmosphere.

Remind me of Armani Privé Oud Royal Giorgio Armani for women and men very elegant and one of best oud I have. My vote 10/10