Amber Oud

Amber Oud, you beautiful wannabe. Too bad Kalemat Black and Masha'er Gold by Oud Elite have cemented their positions as my all time favorite amber ouds (heh). I can't call you a beginner oud (that patchouli is of the skanky, not earthy type) but there's a part of it that reminds me of the more recent Western Maison oud infused releases (can't recall if it's one of the D&G's)

So when I put you on I immediately think of the pine disinfectant they would use to clean the floors of my primary school. There is no mistaking the dense, piney note that my only reference for is pine cleaner (not pine forests which of course smell completely different). So why then, with such a clear and generally unpleasant association, do I KEEP COMING BACK TO THIS day after day?? I have an absurd collection of fragrances, I could wear something new every day. I DO wear something new every day. But not the the last weeks... I put it on in the morning and then crave more of it by the time I'm home . Is it ambery? In a way, yes, but not a western amber. Is it oudhy? Not discerningly, though it does have the monstrous density of middle eastern mukhallat fragrance. Its very exotic. Oh i love it. Serving dettol realness. Reads clean, but via a very strange journey - clean like a floor is clean? But still, I love it. Big thumbs up.