1001 OUDS

It took me a full year to finally appreciate this one. I love aoud, generally; Montale's aouds are, for the most part, gorgeous. Especially Black Aoud and Aoud Forest. After I'd purchased 1000 Ouds, I intermittently wore it and just couldn't get into it. After I finally stopped expecting it to be something it wasn't, I relaxed into what it truly was...the perfect blending of aouds, each one complimenting the other. All notes combining to yield the perfectly balanced, exotic yet clean aoud parfum. It really is beautiful and should not be heavily applied. I find one spritz is sufficient. The longevity is forever, and the sillage is intense. If not overused, this frag is perfect. In my view this is better suited for use in cooler/cold months. Aouds can go south quickly in warm weather. It's not an inexpensive parfum, but one flacon will last you years. That is my experience. If you're looking for a unique, clean take on aoud, give this one a try. I wouldn't recommend this as a blind buy. Try a decant first. Enjoy!

The elegant name of this frag, with reference to the ancient tales "1001 Nights" (or "Arabian Nights"), introduces to the many variants of oud used by Annick Goutal here. The opening ouds feel dry, maybe due to Papyrus and to some delay for myrrh to rise in the air. Then coconut faints a short fight it can't win with the middle note ouds, sweetened by a magnificent rose and soft myrrh resin. All in all, even for the remaining skin scent after more than 12 hours, these ouds (I guess she used 4 or 5 different variants) are truly unisex. Some may say that these ouds lack the sharpness of the Tom Ford or Montale frags, but I prefer the softer and more complex scents of the precious ingredients used here. Those who dislike this frag will soon be relieved, as I was told by a Goutal boutique manager here in France that it will be discontinued by the end of this year.

What many reviewers here probably smell as rubbery/burnt/medicinal/oud is not oud at all. Indeed, that "screechy" feel is given by the use of Rose Bourbonia absolute (a not so commonly used rose, which has a green/bitter facet, and at the same time some sweetness in the background) combined with a crushing cypriol (aka papyrus, a very bitter/medicinal note, strongly reminding me of Dunhill Century). In the drydown, there is indeed a noticeable myrrh note, and a woody support (where I can finally detect some round clean oud under the gaiac note), but the cypriol is definitely still there to show its bitter side. Only in the late drydown, when projection has fallen to soft, the presence of oud becomes more obvious. Quite unique, and safe at the same time. I love it, but might be a risky blind buy for some.

1001 OUDS is the most gorgeous perfume!!! It's beautiful, so gorgeous!!! Such a rich and deep and luscious perfume. It's one of my favourites - maybe my very favourite, I think? Anyway, it's absolutely exquisite!!! The oud itself is so deep and rich and smoky, and the myrrh!! Beautiful - sensual and intoxicating!! And the birch tarry smell adds a gorgeous dark mystique that I relish!! I relish this divine perfume!!!! I get so many compliments too, and my husband really likes it (he doesn't like many perfumes!) so I wear it A LOT!!! I adore it!!! And it lasts for so long! 16 hours easily! It's just fabulous!!!!!

This is a beautiful oud; with lovely tar and resins. Gorgeous. Beautiful. Wonderful. Rich and comforting. Loooong lasting, and great compliments!!!! And my husband adores it!