Oud Bouquet Eau de Parfum

This review is a year in the making, proof you need to give scents time to really learn what kind of effect they have on your senses. Like Parfait de Roses, I had tried this one last year and thought, "Fantastic! Splendid! Good job, Lancome! Just too sweet for ME personally. Pass, but honorable mention." To clarify, at the time I tried the newer version of Oud Bouquet, which has the clear bottle with stained-glass-esque backdrop and is part of the newer line of Maison Lancome Haute Parfumerie. The oud is not very authentically Middle-Eastern - by that I mean it's just too "clean" and lacking the fecal qualities of real oud. It's most likely the common synthetic version that's floating around designer fragrances these days. However, if you can imagine oud done in perfect harmony with sweet chocolate, caramel, and rose, this was Oud Bouquet. I put it out of my mind until a year later and I am going through a sweetness craving. As in, perfumes I long forgot are popping into my mind and I'm seeking them out like an addict. The first two, the VERY FIRST that I was reminded of are Parfait de Roses and Oud Bouquet. Lancome delivers the goods, you guys. I needed the Lancome level of sugar dosage. I went straight for a full bottle of Oud Bouquet, but the original gold bottle because it's just so gorgeous. I don't think I like the scent *quite* as much as the newer version, and I will explain why, but WOW is that 60s-mod abstract rose fabulous or what?! I had to have it for the scent as well as the bottle. So here is Oud Bouquet in the gold bottle: WINE. I get a blast of yeasty red wine emanating from the sprayer and in the opening on my skin and it is soooooo yummy. Supported by the warm, sticky praline and piqued by the clean oud, this perfume is just a stunner. The opening is all about this wine and sharp oud with a teensy bit of rose, but the drydown rests on the praline. It is here that chalky chocolate comes out. If ever you were looking for a boozy chocolate perfume, this is it. To my recollection, the newer version was more rosy and possibly *slightly* less sweet and boozy. Which is still pretty sweet overall. It's got fewer gyrations in extreme directions, if you can imagine; more cohesive. (For once a reformulation for the better; can I get an AMEN?!) Both versions of Oud Bouquet have Lancome's characteristic praline found in La Nuit Tresor and La Vie Est Belle. This is just the grown-up lady's nighttime version. She's a woman now. For those who are looking for a "starter" oud and have found much they like in the current designer scents, Oud Bouquet is a great introduction. It is my personal favorite of all the Maison Lancome concepts. I noticed the sprayer only delivers what amounts to a half-spray. Do not be alarmed. This is likely by design because Oud Bouquet will fill the room and stay on skin for 24+ hours with a half spray. A small amount is the best way to enjoy this powerfully decadent perfume. 10/10

Two words: Unicorn Tears. First, this should be the hallmark of performance that every other scent should try to live up to. This has the PERFECT heavy sillage, and yet it's heavier for the wearer than it is to those around them. No problems with anosmia whatsoever, and after this settles about 15 minutes in, this fragrance maintains its perfect projection for longer than any other scent I've ever tried. I mean, this stuff doesn't even start to quiet down for about 8 hours! Talk about perfection! Plus, ONE SPRAY is usually enough, so a bottle of this would last a lifetime. Honestly, a decant would last most of us for years! Except, this could potentially become a new favorite scent, causing you to wear it every day this fall! :) Guys - don't be put off by the praline note! This is absolutely unisex. This scent has that rose oud combination you've likely smelled before, and yet it doesn't just pigeonhole itself into being a basic rose oud. The notes play off one another to create an overall effect, rather than just different notes together. The oud is not very pronounced in the overall composition, but it is there, and if you can search past the praline note and the way the notes meld together to lend to such an effect, you will find the rose oud combination you've likely smelled before. Still, it feels like there are more than just 5 ingredients in this scent. I actually get two subdued woody oud accords, shrouded by praline, rose and vanilla, equally. I also get a tiny bit of spice that I have a hard time attributing to the listed notes. My girlfriend and I call this "Unicorn Tears" as an inside joke, because it's rare and it smells exquisite - like something largely unobtainable. This composition, as a whole, smells like something you could travel the world searching for and few would ever find. I've gotten huge compliments on this scent and everyone agrees it smells rich and unique. This is a new favorite to join the ranks, and since one spray is all it takes, I'm sure I'll have this for a very VERY long time. PS - If I should die before I run out of this scent, please spray it on me for my funeral. This is THAT much of a love for me.

So, As a guy who’s only been into fragrance for a short while (despite being 41 I never had the confidence to experiment and try new things often) I wanted to give my opinion from both perspectives of buying with a lady in mind and seeing myself. I purchased a sample whilst searching for a new gourmand/sexy/date/bedtime! fragrance for a special lady in my life and my interest was based on a number of online reviews (Demi Rawlings, Delicious Delights, Brooklyn Fragrance Lover etc) as their descriptions really appealed m despite my concern about the Rose. Like some others have mentioned, the first spray/experience wasn’t love at first sniff but I kept feeling compelled to go back to the strip and smell again every time I walked into the room it was in. Even 2 days later the tissue carried the scent and it became more gourmand and richer so I figured ‘why not try it on my skin, I’m on my own all night, who cares’? Well, apart from the initial hit (which is powerful) it dried down faster on my skin and became warm and rich quite quickly and I found myself enjoying it a lot through the evening. Fast forward to yesterday, I was visiting my friend for lunch so chose to wear this and see her reaction. We kissed and she said I smelt beautiful. Over the evening she kept burying her nose in my jumper. Her description of marshmallow, caramel match others but the word that summed it up was her saying ‘you smell delicious’. I’d agree, I can’t pick out individual notes yet but I definitely get the soft rose which I’m surprised I like then follow a rich, deep, warm, sweet sensual vibe that makes me want to smell more. So, I bought this sample with a woman in mind and am certain it would smell amazing on her but guys, don’t be afraid to give this a go - it’s perhaps a little unconventional for a ‘bloke’ but it is truly beautiful the performance is fantastic (still very strong on clothes over 24hrs later)

I am a HUGE frag head. I have wanted Oud Bouquet since 2017, and my husband finally got me a bottle for our two year anniversary, and I am obsessed to say the least. Oud bouquet is an absolute masterpiece. The blend of Oud, wood, rose, praline, and vanilla is swirled “just right” into this incredible juice that actually lasts and projects. It’s one of the most incredible Oud/rose/praline scents I have ever smelled. I’m an oversprayer, but with this particular juice over spraying might turn people off to it due to the Oud and wood. I think it’s beautiful and will spray however much I like and don’t care who doesn’t like it. First spray is intense with Oud and wood, but soon it settles down on the skin to this rosey/praline/vanilla with Oud in the background that compliments my body chemistry like no other. I usually wear baccarat as my signature scent, but getting my hands on this gem has changed it up for me. You also get an incredible deal on it. 3.4oz for 146$ (it was on sale at Lancôme so we snatched it) originally 206$ your still getting a damn good value just because this juice will last long for a lot of people. This juice will be in my arsenal as long as I’m alive because I just love it that damn much. If you don’t like oud or woods, then I would probably stay away from this. The rose and praline don’t come out until it’s settled on the skin for a bit. Lasts about 6-7 hours on clothes and skin. Projection is medium and sillage is amazing. Bottle is gorgeous, and even the newer formula (the one I just got in 2023) it’s still just as strong and beautiful as ever. I love heavy hitters, and this is definitely a heavy hitter. This has become my favorite fragrance EVER in such a short amount of time, and nothing tops baccarat for me. If you love middle eastern fragrances and you love rose and oud and heavy hitters, then you might just love this masterpiece.

This has become my signature scent. It is a very sophisticated, sexy and regal scent. This is a unisex fragrance. I had 6 women come up to me and ask me what I was wearing. My confidence just got BOOSTED 100%. I am new to this Fragrance Lifestyle and after those compliments I AM OFFICIALLY ALL IN. The Oud, Vanilla and Rose notes are blended flawlessly. This is Niche Fragrance Quality. I have just purchased 3 more bottles one for my mother, girlfriend and for myself. I will purchase more because this is a hidden GEM and I'm sure Lancome will either raise the price, reformulate it again or discontinue it. I will stock up because I want to wear this from now until the grave. This is a Beastmode Fragrance. Serious Compliments, Sillage is off the chain, Last 8 + hours. You all must get your noses on this. Update: I had a dentist appointment today. As I was getting my teeth cleaned the dental tech in the next room stopped in and ask my dental tech did she smell that scent. My dental tech pointed at me and said that is him that smells so good. They asked me what fragrance I was wearing. I told them and gave them the website I purchased it from. As I was leaving the dental office I held the door for an elderly man. As he walked past me he stopped and said, Son you smell good. I thanked him, I went home and immediately went online and ordered 2 more bottles. Update: If your still on the fence you better act fast. The price has went up on many sites to $125 for this fragrance. Notino is still selling at $57 but not for long. I just purchased 2 more bottles from Notino at $57, because all sites including ebay and amazon are selling for no less than $125. I told you all this was a hidden Gem. Now the word is out and the greedy corporate vultures have raised the prices. Next Reformulation, Next Discontinued. "And So It Begins"