Oud Dukhan

Yes, extremely refined. And underrated, but happy to keep it for myself. Ordered a few spray samples online from Ministry of Scent (ships in the US) and this one was a slow, magnificent burn. Interestingly, a female friend with very opposite taste from mine found it "so sexy." I personally reject the idea that some scents have mythical sex appeal over the entire opposite sex (:eyeroll:), but this was a surprising moment where we both agreed that Al-Dukhan is effing gorgeous. This scent feels classically masculine though none of the notes suggest a fresh, fougere-y or otherwise classic style fragrance. Somehow though, that's entirely the profile of this scent on the initial blast. I actually don't enjoy it much until about 45 minutes in, where Al-Dukhan lands in an exceptionally elegant drydown. Smoky and resinous, yet somehow still light – a perplexing balance of deep and fresh that has Ropion's fingerprints all over it. In fact, it's so well-blended I hardly have the nose to share distinct notes I'm getting. The mystery only adds to Al-Dukhan's beauty, a ultra-refined new addition to the fragrance wardrobe

I love this so much. It took me (a woman) a while to realize it leaned masculine (even though looking at the notes it’s like, duh) because it’s so light and weightless. Who knew oud could be so airy? I do wish it lasted longer, but I have a feeling that to do so you’d have to ruin the very qualities I love about Al-Dukhan. I see the similarities to Oud Wood, but Al-Dukhan is more spicy, less woody, more fleeting, and more interesting

This is SEXY. Immediately smelled it and was like yeah, I need to get a bottle of this for my BF -- not that it's not something I couldn't/wouldn't wear too, but it has a masc feel to it. I wish I was more well-versed in designer colognes bc I know this smells like something I've smelled before but a more elevated version -- maybe Chanel Allure Homme Sport?

Brutalist and stoic. A cold, mid-winter morning when the world is set in low-contrast hues yet you are obliged to drag your weary soul out of bed and face the world. Tendrils of wood smoke lifting from cold, brick chimneys set against a marbled, slate-grey sky. Spicy and powerful, yet restrained. Unisex, but for the confident among us.

I don't get it. It smells like a nail salon, down to the headache if I breath too much in at a time. Even then, I find myself addicted to it. Personally, I think you'd need a leather jacket and brooding personality for it to be your signature scent, but its one of my favorite "guilty pleasure" fragrances.