Mystic Oud

Day two and Mystic Oud is really growing on me. Different from any other oud in my collection. It is like a chypre oud, sort of old school with an aldehydic feel. There is an airy quality to it. It is dark....and fluffy. If that is such a thing. Lots of rose. On my skin there is a slight powdery quality to it. It is dirty and clean at the same time. One of my favorite combos. And as far as Duchaufour....he is a perfumer. He creates perfumes. That is what he does for a living. Not sure why he gets slammed for it. He is an artist and it is also his livelihood. He is working. And doing an excellent job at what he does.

I watched this bottle on eBay for months, hoping someone would sell an authentic decant I could buy first. But it didn't happen, so I had to blind buy it like everyone else. I just got it this afternoon so I've only sprayed it twice, but frankly it's a little disappointing. It needs stronger heart notes. It cannot be compared to Taif Rose. The description says it has saffron, rose, peony, geranium, clove and oud and my mind went into overdrive. But they're just not there in the strength I was hoping. I wanted a rosy clovey oud that gushes all over everything; Roja Oud for $85.. And I got a sort light oud with a lot of light base notes. It needs more patchouli too. Maybe I'll like it better tomorrow.

If you like oud fragrances, woodsy fragrances this is an olfactory orgasm of woods. It has rose, saffron, davana and geranium, so there are moments when it gets floral but not heavily floral. It's mostly a rose scent. There is benzoin which gives it a warmth and fiery quality. Vetiver gives it spice and there are cloves and spices but mostly woods and musk. The agarwood is the dominant note and the oak moss. There is aromatic patchouli and sandalwood. Smells Oriental and Persian. It smells like the interior of a Persian palace where there is a lot of sandalwood and incense. Strong stuff unisex masculine. It also smells so expensive and luxurious. Often times it reminded me of the classic Avon fragrance Occur! If you like animalic musky scents this one is a beauty.

Bertrand, you're a mad man! Has anyone ever seen a perfumer crank out so many perfumes for so many different houses? If you're not abundantly rich by now, you should be. Hard to believe you don't have your own line yet like Kurkdjian and Buxton. That would be amazing!

The dividing line between madness and genius is very,very thin. While Bertrand does have masterpieces to his credit, scents which stand up with the best in the world I do agree with snowtree.