Black Oud

Fragrances, like people, come & go in one's life at the right time & place, I have come to believe. Having thoroughly enjoyed a couple samplings of Black Oud a few years back it was always at the back of my mind to obtain a big bottle. But like the proverbial child in a candy shoppe I am spoilt for choice in this fabulous world of fumes, vintage & new, and so was distracted elsewhere in the pursuit of olfactive diversions. And yet the immortal, transportive power of scent to render all time irrelevant as the heart & mind instantaneously arrives at that mysterious, illuminating moment of "aw~" - that ethereal other realm... mystic, invisible, and yet always surrounding us - never fails to work its magic at the mere turning of the key, or should I say, uncorking of the bottle. Thus it was my reminder today as I re-stumbled upon the LSG boutique and Black Oud was sat there, unassuming, still waiting for my return. However overly effusive it feels to rhapsodise about a fragrance which is no iconic or exotic stunner, nor "black" as the name implies... sometimes an old, reliably delicious friend is better than a nouveau, glamourous acquaintance. There is, although not listed in the notes above, most definitely sandalwood in this - playing tag team with the patchouli for a slightly sweet, powdery touch to the dry woods and agar/incense impression. Although for my skin plentiful application is required, Black Oud feels grab-it-and-go signature worthy, even, for coolish DRY Autumn days. This does not do well in humidity I find. Despite not being very powerful in the least, sadly, (but alas, what moderately priced creations are these days?) I look forward to renewing our intimate relationship to the full this falling leaf season in tandem with Black Oud's sibling scent, Incense Oud - I find they compliment one another nicely when layered. ★★★☆☆

A balsamic patchouli fragrance with a woody accord made of oud & incense. The way they do oud in the west is very different than the east. It's only recently European & North American houses started to do oud fragrances the way its made in Asia, including Middle East. Western ouds are usually centered around another note & only supported by oud as a secondary or tertiary woody accord. Les Senteurs Gourmandes's ouds are perfect examples of that. Take Black Oud for example. It's starts with a strong patchouli note accompanied by a balsamic woody note that is difficult to determine. I would describe the woody note as soft & rich, with a mature depth, & a mild hint of incensy sweetness. Or I can just say it's "ambery". This smell develops with the woodiness dialing down a bit & the patchouli remaining the same. The oud, despite the name, is barely noticeable as note in itself. This is the case of a majority of oud fragrances coming from the west until say ~2015 when an oud frenzy took the industry by storm & every single major house released their own oud fragrance(s) with a more noticeable oud note. And yet, failed to keep oud as the top smellable note. I noticed, however, that on fabrics, Black Oud smells like a honey-oud mixture while on my skin the patchouli is much more prominent. Overall, LSG's Black Oud a lovely smell of warm, woody patchouli fragrance that has an alluring charm & I would recommend to anyone interested in trying LSG's fragrances. They claim that this Eau de Parfum is composed of 84% natural ingredients. If I had to name it, I'd call it "Amber Patchouli". I believe that actually describes Black Oud best. Big "Like"!

I got a vial as a free sample along with another order. It's a very simple fragrance: heavy on the oud, with some incense (more a sweeter smokey note versus a dry resin/frankincense note) and a bit of patchouli. While it smells great, it unfortunately doesn't last very long at all. Fades away significantly after 2-3 hours, and is completely undetectable after 5-6 hours.

Finally, the Les Senteurs Gourmandes line is on Fragrantica. I looked for it a few years ago, and it wasn't here yet. The Black Oud is great, great, great for a dark night out, doing something sexy. It is the opposite of a fresh, white floral that belongs at a garden brunch. This is a strong scent, although the dry-down turns somewhat bitter on me. But what I like about this scent is that is knows what it is trying to be. It is a dark, black, deeply oud incense monster bomb going along for the ride on your sexy night out. You do not wear this on a first date -- you wear it with someone you are planning and expecting to spend the night with. This perfume is a partner in the evening's entertainments, believe me, it does not get left behind. This scent is a real character and very straight-forward about what it is. Love it.

I definitely smell all three notes loud and clear. They combine to create something that is not as dark as the branding leads you to believe. It could definitely be an everyday fragrance for the right kind of person. Intense and uncomplicated.