R'oud Elements

AFter sampling literally dozens of oud fragrances for 48 hours each (and more whilst at boutiques) and springing for 5 tiny vials of various actual oud oils, I feel I am starting to get a bit of a better sense of oud than I had when I first smelled the department store ouds at sephora and bloomingdales that got me interested in niche perfumery in the first place. With that intro, I believe Kerosene is one of the more interesting, and definitely among the most discernable, most unique oud fragrances I have ever smelled (I want to say 'out there right now', but there are so so many, and I am only one nose in one place--the bay area--what the hell do I really know). I feel like it deserves an award of some sort, some kind of recognition. I want so badly to want it and to embrace it as a signature. Yet it smells a little too vinegar-y, a little too acrid, for my taste, ultimately. I keep wanting it to round out, to be a tad more smokey, a little more warm, and yet ir retains that grapefruit-rind/balsamic cinegar top half over the oud bottom even hours after application. I really applaud this achievement, although it does make the fragrance not the one for me. It is provocative. I like to smell fragrances before looking at the pyramid or learning the notes or much of its background, so that I can form an unbiased first and second opinion before returning to it more informed. So I feel confident and affirmed to find that not only are the orange bitters a priminent note in this cocktail, but that others also found that that note trumped the oud. I found it longer lasting and with more sillage than the average rater on here, but its unisex nature and lack of conventional 'sex' or 'musk' or animalic elements makes it appropriate for work or situations where people are confined in close quarters and stronger perfume might be discouraged. Try it out. IT could become your signature. PEople would remember you for it. It isn't dirty; it isn't barnyard. It isn't incense, either. I don't smell any lavender nor vanilla, but I do smell more than orange bitters and oud, so Kerosene has succeeded in making something that is far greater than the sum of its parts--more so than some far more lauded, more experienced and celebrity noses have (such as the 6-piece oud line Cartier currently has that is wonderful but, after smelling things like R'oud elements, a trifle over-hyped). This frangrance deserves more hype. It smells very niche, not mainstream. It is pretty novel, in a class of its own. Not powdery enough for me, but perfect for somebody... I DO keep returning to the sample I got to use it as a point of reference and compare it to other scents. It wouldn't be good for layering--it is too mcuh of a fiished cocktail already--but I know it is a Good Thing and has the signature of its maker all over, and stands the test of time, and when I've smelled too many other samples and gotten confused about what is too much to expect of a Good Fragrance, I use this as a staple to remind myself that, no, something that falls short is not just me being too demanding: fragrances that are complex and enticing and difficult and masterful (yet affordable) do and can exist, and are not too much to ask. I hope the maker lives long and prospers: more than anything else, R'oud elements makes me want to smell all the rest of his creations in hope of finding something I absolutely NEED for my fragrance library. I would like to meet its maker. This is a scent that I would feel proud wearing, if that makes sense. That is why I wish the orange bitters weren't a bit of a turn-off for me: I feel really proud of the scent and wish I were in a position to show it off more. If I had a boyfriend or female roommate and he or she liked it, I would, for instance,gift it to them and push them to wear it often. Most significant is that the oud and the orange bitters seem to last equally long, and neither dissipates or overtakes the other as time goes on. It lasts for hours yet doesn't hit other people in the room in the face, I don't think. It's right on the cusp between heavy and enormous sillage (but I'm always dissatisfied with sillage and longevity, so my votes may lean toward under-representing the average experience).

The title is great. R’oud Elements. Rude Elements. Oud has been placed on a pedestal, lofted so high above so many other materials that, today, it has a sacred and revered status amongst Eastern and Western perfumery. A genre all to itself commanding cult like reverence, its followers seething and frothing at mouth if you lack an encyclopedic knowledge of their Master. John Pegg wants to put oud in the chair of a Dean Martin Celebrity Roast. And he is going to be absolutely rude to it. Oud is nearly always dark, deep, serious, complicated, fungal and funky, medicinally fruity, animalic and leathery, oily woody, hay like and earthy floral - with an emphasis on the first four characteristics regardless of which notes (or set of notes) are pushed forward. Oud doesn’t have a sense of humor. R’oud makes oud bright, shallow, aloof, and unostentatious; there are hardly any fungi or funks, animalics or leathers. In fact - psst, let me whisper this - I think there isn’t any oud in here at all.... I think the big, rude joke is sandalwood. If there is any oud it’s been emasculated and neutered to be nearly unrecognizable to the ouds we know today, similar to the Western ouds of the early 2000s (think M7), perhaps a drop or two of synthetic substitutes or something similar instead. A huge squirt of bitter and oily orange zest runs through R’Oud, adding an immediate feeling of playful levity. It’s the punchline of R’Oud, making sure whatever self-importance and seriousness oud has cannot escape derision. The way it coats and flexes against the wood notes and amber notes made me think of Orange Star by Tauer for a lot of the time - which is to say high marks, particularly for the way the orange note carries on for so long and so tenaciously. Oily herbal and floral lavender does the same, and a buttery orris accentuates the soft, musky, and milky qualities of the sandalwood amber base. There is leather at the final dry down and skin scent, the last attempt by oud to regain some dignity. The sandalwood and amber notes are lactone heavy; there is a significant amount of creaminess spread like cream cheese all over this toasty and orangey goodness, a bit sour and a touch salty, but it never reaches anything close to sickly or thick. To this last point, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I am a big fan of the way Pegg puts a lot of air and space into his perfumes. They feel enormous and spread out, like a Western US sky, and the notes - for however rich, loud, and/or complex they may be - never crowd each other. And R’Oud, this creme d’orange dessert at the expense of oud’s ego, is no exception to Pegg’s excellent skills. I am completely taken with this perfume, though I had no expectations to be. “An orangey and creamy oud? - how tf is that supposed to work?!” I had no idea how, but I’ll be damned if it doesn’t - and brilliantly at that. It just goes to show that Pegg has more tricks up his sleeve than just gargantuan spices, wood smoke, and earth, and he is a seriously talented perfumer to keep an eye on.

I had a short visit in Parma in Italy, and in my third perfume store was shown the Kerosene fragrances. R'oud elements stuck out from everything else I had smelled, and I fell asleep that night in my hotel room intermittently sniffing my forearm that had been sprayed earlier in the evening. the bright and bitter orange citrus I felt in the store, and the woody oud amber with hints of vanilla came out in my hotel room. After getting home, I went online and researched it, and discovered the backstory, but I came at it as it was just another bottle in just another perfume store, and I had to have it. Now that I got my bottle I ordered online from the kerosene store, it smells just as good as I remember, but now I noticed the metallic aspect of the citrus opening that I didn't percieve before. The drydown is just great, with everything I could ask for. it is still present, waking up the next day, and the oud reminds me of oud wood from tom ford, just fainter and wrapped in a slightly sweet cozy amber. I really like it, and plan to use it for my signature scent this fall and winter. I also recieved a generous 5 samples with my order, so consider ordering direct if you want to sample more of the Kerosene line. The bottle is beautiful and looks great on my shelf. very classy. One last note... I was in a local perfume store and tried the Carner barcelona Black calamus. the drydown was similiar, but I think I prefer R'oud elements.

The smell of a lone orange tree within a dark and lush forest. Have you ever wanted an oud scent that you can wear at any time, and at any place? Something daring, yet something entirely versatile? Well boy does Kerosene have something in store for you. A squirt of bitter orange on top of a dark old woody oud slaps you in the opening. Sharp and fresh yet woody and complex. Gorgeous. As it begins to dry it the edges begin to smooth as powdery lavender and iris support the fresh assets, while the dark and woody oud rounds out with some slight creamy sandalwood and amber sweetness. I am a sucker for sharp and fresh citrus on a darker note, and while "Arid" by Piper & Perro has sharp blood orange on leather/suede, this has that bitter orange on oud. Most versatile oud I've ever smelled. Most versatile from Kerosene. Very good performance and projection as per to be expected from Kerosene. 10/10. Signature Scent Worthy. Idk how some of you all are getting Bull's Blood by Imaginary Authors, this is not at all similar with BBs heavy damp patchouli, rose combo with a dark musk backbone... might wanna get your nose checked out.

Absolute gem 10/10. Masterfully blended with high quality ingredients. This is a smoky dry woody fragrance. I don't get any Oud out of this as it's in the base just like Adp colonia oud. I don't get the orange peel much either and it's a great thing. But there's this bomb of a note the legendary mysore sandal note the peppery dry yet creamy and overtly dominant note. This dirty sandal tones out every other note and makes a very well balanced strong masculine masterpiece. The best and the most generous use of the highest quality of a sandal note. That's why even though its harsh woodiness could be overwhelming at the beginning it tones down astonishingly into this airy sandal woodiness done to the level of perfection. Its Roud and loud. Hats off John Pegg. I have 8 other fragrances from this house as decanta and each one is unrealistic olfactory experience. This guy is the master of woody frags. I got a full bottle of this before it is watered down cos this is some really high quality stuff. Update: I get an airy Lavender, A nice juicy orange too. Sandal is spicy woody. Still no oud.

Now THIS is the unique experience I look for with niche perfumery. This thing smells totally weird and I couldn't really describe it. The oud and sandalwood are dominant. The opening smells exactly my my garage. I'm not talking gasoline either. My garage smells like stale musty air, dust, potting soil, lawn treatment chemicals, pesticides, old wood, car parts, coolant, brake dust, and clean motor oil. Very interesting! As it dries down it becomes more like smell of being in the woods or a woodshed. Almost like an antique store filled with vintage artifacts and aged wood. I'm not sure most noses will like this one, and it certainly won't drop any panties 😂. But this thing gets major points for being original and artistic merit. Kudos for this creation. It's not super functional, but people that appreciate artistic perfumery will like or possibly love this one. Great Job Mr. Pegg 🙌 Scent 8/10 Performance TBD

A blizzard of bitter orange is my initial stance to this stunning scent by Kerosene. It immediately brings to mind unsweetened marmalade and within moments warm woods shadowed by amber are revealed, then completely envelope the brief yet acerbic onslaught. A beguiling fragrance of developing soft and smooth ouds with good sillage and a longevity that is excellent upon me. For those who usually do not like ouds - as mentioned by others including Kerosene - I would certainly recommend trying this striking fragrance, which is neither exceedingly sweet nor smothering and has nothing of the barnyard that can deter the tender-hearts like me. This is a distinctive and good EdP that has remained close to the skin half way through my day - drawing me into a comforting and balmy golden haze. Put quite simply, I like it, this warm and golden oud. Do give it a try.

Most people on this website say the same shit. If it's not spicy or sweet or heavy then it’s not done right. That tells me either they don't know what they’re talking about or they are not experienced relatively at all. It's extremely difficult to create a fragrance that smells like it has been picked off right from nature. That moment you are trying to capture is fleeting; the creation of a fragrance trying to emulate such a moment is at the height of their craft. John Peck may not be classically trained, but he has the soul of an Artist. He has the ability to create olfactory stories, in my opinion, more evocative than some major names of today. Especially lately! Sometimes it's good to come in from the side door during off hours.

i feel that describing this as orange fanta or cleaning solution cheapens it, sells it as something plastic and synthetic, which this is far from. i do agree that the citrus has a fizzy quality, but to me it's the fizz of a well crafted cocktail with orange bitters in it. it's truly unisex, bright without being tame. the iris and lavender lend it a classic quality while the oud and sandalwood work together to lend it a more contemporary and bohemian feel, all of it set against a creamy, inviting background. if you want someone to subconsciously see you as more cultured and cool than you might actually be, wear this.

I do not consider myself an Oud fan, but it doesn't matter when it comes to this fragrance. He did a great job of creating unique blends of very high quality that still remain pleasing to the mass market. A lot of times we go into niche and the people around us wonder what the hell kind of stink bomb we are wearing. I have gotten compliments from wearing this fragrance as well as others from his line. I think he creates a really nice balance between uniqueness and smoothness and this oud is very wearable and pleasant. The orange bitters give it a kick and than it transforms into a creamy oud that isn't overbearing.

Kerosene consistently delivers standout fragrances, and R'Oud Elements is no exception. It's a mesmerizing blend, rich, layered, and masterfully composed. The sharp bitterness of orange gives it a unique signature, seamlessly softened by hints of lavender and vanilla. As it dries down, a warm base of amber and woods grounds the scent with depth and character. It’s truly unlike anything I’ve smelled before. While Oud Maracuja, another fruit and oud pairing, can feel overwhelming, this one strikes the perfect balance: bold, but never abrasive. A true achievement from a one-man perfume house.

wow. This is a winner. This isn’t about Oud other than to attract buyers. You may come for the Oud but you’ll stay for the sandalwood. This is about taking sandlewood and emphasizing its aspects with other notes. Oud for depth amber for syrupiness iris for high end sizzle orange brings out its citrus roundness and lavender to round out the citrus. In the end you get one hell of a sandlewood that has gotten a face lift breast implants a tummy tuck a PhD in persuasion lip injections and a few pole dancing lessons.

Short but sweet here. A challenging bitter orange, amber and oud opening, backed up by a sandalwood base with hints of barely perceptible iris. Each note is quite clearly delineated and identifiable, but also combine together in a very unusual, kind of post modern, industrial way. Projection is fairly moderate and it's not so tenacious, but it's skin hugging dry down is lovely, warm and does stay with you. This is a great fragrance that certainly stands out in a crowd. A stirling first up offering indeed.

This perfume is elite! It does not smell synthetic or like “Fanta” to me. It transports me to a bonfire at the beach. It quite realistically smells like fire and smoke and the magic is that it somehow also translates to a beautiful perfume. Even though there is no marine note, it triggers that in my brain. Perhaps the lavender. I was in love at first sniff from a sample, I immediately ordered a full size bottle. I can see myself wearing this all of fall. I bet it smells even better in the cold!

I bought this fragrance because the moment I smelled it, I was taken back to Christmas morning at my parents house. To me it smells like sitting on the floor of their living room by the Christmas tree (a live one, of course) with a fire going in the fireplace eating orange slices after breakfast. I get orange peel, pine, woodsmoke, ash from the fireplace & even the slight dusty smell from the chimney bricks. This brought tears to my eyes remembering places & people who are gone. Pure magic.

Okay, I don't know what to think of this one. Firstly, the sample spray comes in a great sprayer. Just have to say that. The scent itself isn't too bad. Primarily citrus, but mildly oudh and sandalwood. Doesn't really progress, though. After the first ten minutes, it's pretty stagnant. All in all, though, it's really not a bad scent at all. I probably wouldn't buy it, but its definitely more interesting that most oud scents out there in the West. The price is definitely right.

My personal signature scent and my all time favorite. I truly could not rant about this one enough. It’s beautifully woody, bitter, floral, and smooth, all with the most gorgeous oud. I truly cannot emphasize the wearability of it all year round despite it being super unique. John Pegg is a genius. If you are reading this take it as your sign to find a way to smell this

My first ever niche brand purchase awhile back and I still hold it so highly. The oud is very strong, slight vanilla, and quite incense-like, and it mixes wonderfully with the bitter orange notes. That is really the main part of this fragrance, oud and orange. I love it for a cold fall/weather fragrance and if you like oud, it should really be one you look into. 9/10.

You step out onto the deck of a mountain log cabin on a sunny but crisp autumn day. There is the smell of wood smolder in the air from last night's firepit, and freshly cut wood for tonight's. You are sipping on a steaming mug of gunpowder black tea with lemon. Artistic, unique and totally genderless. For me, full bottle worthy.

I'm out and I need more. I love a good creamy citrus in the summer and this is the longest lasting citrus on my skin. It's like a orange Sprite. Not orange Fanta which is sweet...but a dry orange sprite being drunk in a spice shop. I got a 5 mil decant and used it up in one weekend. Full bottle worthy and so far my fave by them.