Aoud

This was my first review (written ages ago but not posted for some reason??) of Roja Dove and Aoud was good but having tried the range I'm somewhat a fan of these fragrances. Well, well, well Roja Dove fragrances! Hyped and bashed in equal measure. I'm going to try to get to the bottom of this and hopefully bring some clarity to proceedings. I've only tried two from this exclusive line and Aoud was the first one. The reason I didn't hurriedly put pen to paper (or finger to iPhone) to document the momentous occasion will become apparent. The sample vile looked extremely inviting, containing a thick, oily, dark, dark amber goop. As soon as I tried it on my skin I got a smoky ploom of woody Oud reminiscent of fragrances from countless houses but Zerjoff sprung to mind due to a distinct 'diesel' quality. This is backed with hints of resins and tiny florals peeking through. It's nice...very nice. I made the mistake of thinking that Aoud was a lovely thing which oozed quality but was linear and somehow lacking in depth other than the great Oud and labdanum. It's only now that I've tried it a couple of times that I can appreciate the subtle complexities, which almost makes me want to rethink and revisit several fragrances, to see if I change my mind on them. As I said I tried RD Aoud a few weeks ago now and haven't thought a great deal about it since, until I got it out for my girlfriend to try. She loves strong orientals, Ouds as well as quite feminine florals so she's pretty well rounded. I should maybe have given her no prior knowledge about the fragrance but I decided to give her a quick bio of Dove and the price of this juice. Her reaction was wild! She absolutely couldn't get enough of this scent. I bore/bombard her with allsorts of fragrances on a pretty much daily basis and normally reactions are fairly blasé but this provoked a BIG response. I then did something I never do, post trying a fragrance myself. I proceeded to look at other reviewers on YouTube etc...just to see what the buzz was. I came across one guy who seemed very balanced and knowledgable about perfume and the process of perfumery in general, who was offering up his opinions. Have to say his description 'Stale Newport cigarette's and the cheapest feminine drugstore perfume.' I just don't get? To say that this fragrance gives NO hints as to the quality of ingredients used, shows a fundamental lack of understanding about perfume. Whatever you think of the composition or what your tastes might be you have to give credit where it's due. I did appreciate his point about the use of 'finest ingredients' and what people mean by that and 'Can you smell it?' I thought he was missing a trick slightly assuming that people think 'fine quality ingredients' mean 'naturals' then going on to make the point that Amouage readily use synthetics. Well the truth is, majority of houses do regardless of price and I think it's a bit patronising to assume that other frag heads don't know this. when I say something smells 'synthetic' I don't mean it in the literal sense, same with 'cheap' or whatever? It's difficult to explain and for another time perhaps? The point is Roja Dove Aoud is a very opulent and strong scent which delivers what I expected. Anyone who is looking for the holy grail of fragrances will probably be a little disappointed because high price and exclusivity don't guarantee anything. Aoud is very, very good...even great for me. It's by no means that original or groundbreaking and if you think it's worth the money then good for you, there's a ton of fragrances to get before this one would figure on my list....but eventually I think it would. Great projection at first, great longevity as you would expect.

Roja Parfums Aoud is a luxurious fragrance that offers a sophisticated and refined take on the traditional oud scent. This perfume is designed for those who appreciate the complexity and opulence of oud but want something more polished and accessible🙌 The opening is immediately striking with a rich, smoky oud that is not overpowering, but rather warm and enveloping. It’s accompanied by a subtle floral and citrus undertone, which helps to balance the depth of the oud and prevent it from feeling too heavy or overwhelming. This sophisticated interplay of ingredients showcases Roja’s signature style—masterfully blending tradition with modern elegance. As the fragrance develops, it evolves into a more resinous and woody composition, with hints of rose and a faint sweetness from amber, creating a luxurious yet not cloying scent. The musk and spices in the dry-down add a sensual, almost velvety quality to the fragrance, making it feel incredibly refined. One of the standout features of Roja Parfums Aoud is its longevity and projection. The scent lingers for hours without becoming too intrusive, allowing its complexity to unfold gradually. It’s a fragrance that demands attention but in a way that feels sophisticated, rather than overwhelming✨ Final Thoughts: Roja Parfums Aoud is a beautifully crafted oud fragrance that manages to capture the essence of this traditional ingredient without feeling too bold or challenging. It’s perfect for those who want an upscale, nuanced oud experience that is both approachable and long-lasting. While it sits firmly in the luxury fragrance category, its smooth balance of elements makes it wearable for various occasions, from formal events to evening outings. If you’re a fan of oud but seek something polished and refined, Aoud is an exquisite choice👍 Follow me on IG @ag_frags🙂

They have this available in a travel set of five 10 ml bottles, and it includes this (Aoud), Sweetie Aoud, Amber Aoud, Enigma Aoud, and Taif Aoud, for just $250, and I got a couple free samples for ordering that, including Aoud Extraordinaire and Elysium Pour Femme. Other than the wait for it to be shipped, because I guess they send it directly from the UK, I don't see how they keep those travel sets in stock! I've seen Roja fragrances, and tried them at Neiman Marcus, but that's a few hour drive for me, and I don't think there is anywhere in my area that carries them. I haven't actually received the set that I ordered yet, but I got 10% off because they were having a Boxing Day Sale too. I like how their sample set costs so much less by volume than their full bottles, since the full bottles are so much fancier. I'm really excited to get my nose on those scents, because I bought a 50 ml bottle of Sweetie Aoud, four months ago, and I love that stuff so far! Sweet oud fragrances have been my thing lately; I love Bond No 9 Nomad and Xerjoff Alexandria II and so many more. I might get LV Les Sables Rose or Fleur du Desert next, or try more Frederic Malle, because I have a travel bottle of Promise and Portrait of a Lady, and I love both of those; I just wish their stuff wasn't so expensive! At least they have the new Desert Gem, Hope, available in a travel spray, even if it does cost $250! The smallest size of The Night that they offer is 50 ml, and it's the same price by volume, $25 per ml!

This is so good I want to bite into it. A most spectacular oriental-chypre: oud/rose but done in the 3-tiered French style. Mysterious, luxurious and expensive. Not one to do things by halves, Roja has drenched this in finely contrasting notes: a deep oud, a lush sweet rose, bitter oakmoss, brightened by ylang-ylang and jasmine, textured and salted with ambergris, sensual with musk. Every facet, every nook and cranny has something hanging off it or poking out. Way more than just a deep oud/rose oriental. This is on a completely different plain of perfumery. Comes out the gates heavy with a dark oud - sharper than Amber Aoud - then turns a hard left into an obvious chypre profile, but then smooths down to something very sexy and sensual. All mixed up with some magic elixir and black magic. My favourite of the three Roja Aouds by far, and one of my favourite fragrances EVER. But I feel like Tiny Tim staring through the window of the butchers - something so far out of reach. The oakmoss and rhubarb were completely unexpected but are awe-inspiring. There is also almost an old-fashioned soap accord that I think comes from the tartness of the rhubarb with the florals. But by no means does this fragrance smell soapy - if anything it almost gives it an even more edible appearance. None of this makes sense. How on Earth can soap be chewable? Try it and you might know what I’m talking about. Yum.

This is an absolutely gorgeous fragrance. It starts off harsh in my opinion however after the first 5 min it starts to settle into such a wonderful Rose and Oud combination. It is more sharp then Amber Aoud however they share a lot of similarities in my opinion. To me this fragrance is well worth the cost and it absolutely draws attention. It is not overpowering as most Roja fragrances do not fill up a room however this will last 24hrs on skin for me. The only negative note I will say is that this WILL RUIN CLOTHING!! I apply my fragrance and allow a few min prior to putting on my under shirt however when this is applied it looks as if I am going into surgery:-) It looks almost like iodine on your skin. It is very dark and even if you let it dry it WILL transfer some of the oil to your shirt. I actually have undershirts that I wear specifically when I wear any of the Aoud offerings from Roja. I would wear the crystal parfum however I bought the original (red juice) prior to knowing this so if your wear clothing without an under shirt it will absolutely leave a stain that is next to impossible to remove..... It is so worth it though!! AMAZING fragrance from Roja and I can't get enough. Truly stunning.

Aoud initially opens with fantastically bright notes of lemon, geranium, jasmine and ylang however quickly develops more depth and complexity as the oud, rose, saffron and ambergris become more prominent. These notes blend together so beautifully, and this opening blows me away every single time I wear it. The dry down bears a noticeable similarity to Amber Aoud as the composition of rose, oud and saffron is the same. However as it lacks the fig and intensity of the ambergris, the resulting scent is much less sweet and instead more dry and woody compared to Amber Aoud. The warm spices of cinnamon and nutmeg are also slightly noticeable, however the rest of the notes are so well blended you would struggle to pick them out. To me this is the best rose-oud fragrance money can buy, and my absolute favourite from the Roja Aoud line. It perfects this classic scent profile with ingredients of the highest quality which will leave you breathless. I would advise against following the hype and trying this before buying Amber Aoud as this is much more regal and refined, a one of a kind fragrance and a true modern masterpiece.

This is a rich, opulent and heavy scent that has wonderful sillage, whilst not being overpowering. It certainly smells far- eastern and is most certainly a formal scent for when you’re dressed to impress. I can imagine a strong woman or gentleman wearing this scent. The image it evokes for me is an incredibly darkly lit hotel bar, filled with people only of interesting (and sometimes shady) character doing their own thing in private booths, candle light flickering on the many glass surfaces. I would feel incredibly confident wearing this out in the evening however I just don’t have £600 floating around for a top of the range evening scent right now! I’m definitely a fan though, as my old bottle of Chanel Egoiste would be my go-to spicy, thick evening scent. This is more spicy with a beautifully dry oud fragrance floating through the initial spice. One more quirk of this unique scent is the fact that it’s a deep brown in colour, and it actually looks as though it would leave a mark on light fabrics. Anyway, try it for yourself, if you can find a sample somewhere!

Fragrance -Aoud Roja Dove Bottle from - 2016 In my opinion,Aoud by Roja Dove is one of the best fragrance on the planet.This is a story about a romantic, elegant and sensual,yet brave,proud and magnificent rose. Aoud reminds me of an unfulfilled desire,longing or need for something great,exceptional and transcendent.Something beyond our comprehension.It has similarities to Amber Aoud by Roja Dove. Longevity - 10/10(10+ hours) Silage/Projection - 9,5/10(heavy projection and silage for the first 3-4 hours) Weather - For more or less any time of year.I personally wouldn't wear this on a really hot summer days. Age - 25+ Compliments - 10/10 Scent - 10/10(masterpiece) Main notes according to me - rose,oud,ambergris,spices,leather,ylang-ylang,cedar. The drydown is a bit woody,musky and spicy and I get some sandalwood,cedar,spices,rose,musk and vanilla. Emotions -desire,longing,transcendent,divine,romantic, elegant,proud,love. Occasion -life defining moments,special occasions,romantic evening and date. You'll get compliments and LOVE with this one.

Roja made it clear that he was inspiried by attars from the east with for this line. What he’s created here is his interpretation of a classic combination of Oud, Rose, Musk and Saffron. To my nose this is muskier than than Musk Aoud which has been discounted. It also has a resemblance with Musk Oud by Kilian. But then it will also resemble a million other oud rose combos. This is well done though. The name can throw one off as they might be expecting an oud bomb. Rose Aoud would have been been more apt given that is what it is. It’s not as dark as the liquid (and the stains) would suggest. It has an airyness. And it’s well blended. Apart from the prominent rose at the beginning and the musky dry down everything else is blended so as to not stick out. There is a fleeting citrus opening which adds a nice twist. If you’re pinning over this scent, it’s worth checking what inspired this fragrance. The best example being Mukhallat Rashid by Ajmal. It’s more full bodied and potent. And a fraction of the price.

On its initial spray you can immediately tell that Aoud was the prototype for Amber Aoud & Musk Aoud. It immediately opens like Amber Aoud then quickly displays its Jasmine, Ylang Ylang, & a bit of Smoke reminiscent of Musk Aoud. After that it becomes its own fragrance with Lemon Verbena pushing up from underneath a heavy Agar Wood, a sharp May Rose, Geranium, Patchouli, Ambergris, Leather, & Saffron. As it moves into the base it smooths out with Musk, Cashmere Wood, Sandalwood, Vanilla, Cedar, Nutmeg & Cinnamon. I have yet to pic up a Rhubarb note. But I do get quite a bit of Smoke from a phantom Birch note. Of the 3 Aoud & Amber have the best performance. Of the 3 Aoud isn’t sweet, & of the 3 Aoud is the most masculine. Performance is about 15 hours on my skin. Over 24 hours on fabric, & projects moderately strong for about 2 hours then projecting softly afterwards for about 8 hours. Aoud is Woody, Leathery, Rosey, Smoky, lightly Spiced, Dark, Mysterious, & very sexy.

I have recently acquired a vintage bottle of Aoud, the first batch ever created back from its original release - the old paper label and blood red juice is absolutely beautiful. As for the scent, it’s stunning: an absolute work of art and compelling masterpiece. In the opening, the rhubarb note is more noticeable than in current formulations, while the lemon and verbena have a slight aged bitterness. The rose and jasmine stay true to my current bottle, however here I find the geranium to be more prominent which gives the heart a certain greenness. The oud here is far dryer and almost ‘dusty’ which might just be due to its age, while the ambergris has a lot more depth - bringing that addictive saltiness combined with a deep leathery amber sweetened with saffron and sandalwood. This perfume is magical to me and I feel these vintage batches are worth seeking out if you already love the current formulations of Aoud.

Roja Aoud Extrait 3.4oz 2022 version I'm going to come at this from a different angle as the breakdown of the fragrance has already been covered. Roja knew how to do large , lush roses. The geranium backing up the rose material is as old as time, but still highly effective bringing out that green aeromatic spice to support the rose. Classics such as Caron Or et Noir presented roses in this fashion to modern day Serge Lutens La Fille De Berlin. The rose here is large, dramatic and romantic. It's given backdrop of middle eastern oud, ambergris and saffron sets the stage of Rojas interpretation of the Rose/Oud fragrance concept. It's about as luxe as a Rose fragrance can get, and still holds up after all this time since the dozens of releases at all price points exploring this idea. If you love roses or on the hunt for the best rose fragrance in your collection.. this one is hard to beat. It's a timeless classic.

While this is a dressed up good old rose-oud combo fragrance, the quality and the nuances are through the roof. I can probably name 10 fragrances this can compare to and probably all 10 won't stand a chance of side-by-side comparison. Just gorgeous!!! I opted for Crystal version (the brown juice is really dark and stains everything (unless you wear all black). Very nice, augmented rose note, supporting tames citruses and great wood spice accord supporting the oud. Love the development, very precise projection and great longevity (even though for an oud fragrance this is probably considered "tamed". Must try!!!

This potion knocks people’s socks off even after 5 hours of wear! Smooth and stunning deep rose plus pure clean oud. The funny thing about these kind of juices that it promotes reactions of people around. Even if nothing is said, your worst girlfriend starts to pull her fake smile on, after giving you a “generous” hug. Roja Aoud makes an impression. Some people excitedly start to ask about my scent, others show their true rotten inside. Most strangers just either stunned or staring at you purely random. You have to look your best wearing it, no excuses

I recently reviewed my other two favorite rose/oud fragrances (Epic 56 + Dusita Montri). Now on to Roja Aoud to complete my top 3. This is stunningly beautiful. I'm not a big fan of Amber Aoud, I find that one has a powdery/doll's head vibe... so I really don't get the comparison because Aoud has none of those characteristics. Roja Aoud is a decadent and jammy rose. I imagine this is what an ancient goddess would anoint herself in. This is truly a treasure and it seems to be slightly over-shadowed by Amber Aoud..I'm really not sure why?

Aoud is actually so stunning, compared to Amber Aoud, this one is underrated. With that being said, I understand why, this is more traditional and Amber Aoud is sweeter. This is very dense, oily, almost inky oud/rose. There’s a bunch of salty ambergris here and the saffron gives a nice and smooth sweetness, it’s actually hard to imagine what this smells like just by description, one simply has to try it. Aoud will be my winter daily from now on :)) By the way, you can definitely wear this all year round.

Roja fragrances are masterpieces. Aoud is no different...the amount of complexity I get from each and every west depending on time of day, temperature and season is amazing. It’s my scent of the day today and wow. It’s warm out and I’m really getting that lemon and lemon verbena shining through as when I wear it in colder weather I get prominent oud, rose. I still get that today as well but wow I love the complexity and ever changing nature.

Aoud is the best oud fragrance. I've tried out all fragrances from the Roja Aoud collection, and Aoud is the best. I feel like this is the "Goat" of all oud fragrances, simply because of the craftsmanship it has. It has a very nice combination of oud, rose, saffron, and leather. Its dark, but not too dark. 24+ hours of longevity with moderate projection. It's so good that i bought a 100ml the day that I smelt it.

A beautiful rose perfume, with geranium and lemon verbena giving it a bit of poke. It's a beauty from the top, through the middle, to the base. The drydown is a gorgeous rosy, soft leathery musk with a creamy sandalwood. I get zero oud from this, and that's alright with me. I got it for under a third of it's usual price on Notino, so I'm enjoying bathing in it.

If you like this perfume but the price is steep for you, I recommend testing alhambra l'oudh. It's not a clone of aoud by any means but it's in the same genre/realm of aoud. It's dry oudy rosy and a bit salty sour like roja aoud, but much woodier and more leathery/animalic. I think if you like aoud like me, there is a high chance you would like l'oudh too.

What a pleasure it is to wear this, and today in honor of my middle Eastern brothers and sisters! It’s just gorgeous. High quality florals, spices, ambergris and aoud. I have the crystal version which is the exact same as the regular. This has such a special presence to the scent. What a great gift to all of us fragrance wearers!

I just want to inhale myself whenever I wear this. It dries down to such a clean, rose oud scent. Whenever I grab drinks after work, this is my go-to. Rojas are such a special treat. If you’re a collector that loves rose scents, this would be such a lovely addition to your collection.

My first roja in my collection, I find this scent completely unisex, not any one gender could pull this off anymore then the other imo, I prefer this to the amber aoud from the aoud collection. Elegant, classy, great projection and some may disagree with me but i find it unique.

Possibly THE best Oud your money can buy! Heavenly creamy, warm, sensual, rose, sweet but aromatic and not cloying. Does not cause a itchy throat, like so many Ouds can cause. Perhaps the best (reference) oud out there. Irresistible! 10/10 as an OUd fragrance.

Aoud Opening with a jammy, sensual rose and citrus, followed by some grenery. I pick up on the rhubarb note slightly. The dry down includes the rose, some fizzy ambergris (not fishy) and a slightly animalic oud. Overall this is romantic and a masterful blend.

So I have 30ml bottle of this overpriced fragrance and I love it 😂. What Roja Dove did with this formula is nothing short of amazing perfumery. Absolute gem in my collection. Won’t buy again because of the price but I got lucky it was discounted. Must try!

I'm going to keep it very simply - I have many Oud oils, and Oud styles, this has to be one of the most opulent western style Rose/Oud combos that has ever graced my nose, it is stunning - the same applies to all Roja creations I've smelled or own.

i love this stuff, probably one of the best fragrances ive smelt. the rose works amazingly combined with the other notes and the drydown is easily 10/10, it lasts a good amount around 7 hours for me.

Wow Wow Wow!!! This is SO good!!!!! It's gorgeous!!!! It's such a lovely oud (aoud). My goodness me. I can't speak. I'm speechless!!! It's perfection.

a very pleasant oud. it can be debated whether it is the best but it is truly attractive.

I’ve got a crystal aoud tester bottle I’ll trade for Amouage gold man. It’s almost full.

UPDATE This has the most addictive sweet/sour accord that is drool worthy.

This is as pure as it can get! Real Elite Oud! Very high quality! Love it!

I got hard the first time I tried this 10/10

This to me is a rose fragrance, not a real oud fragrance. It smells very high quality and beautiful but i‘m glad i paid 220 bucks for the 100ml i got, as anything more than 300 would be absolutely criminal imo. It checks all the Roja boxes that makes me dislike this brand so much. High quality but overpriced, Luxurious but Tacky, nice smell but a 100 notes listed of which you can only smell half of and as if all that wasn’t bad enough, he decided to add multiple artificial colorings to the fragrance, to make it look more middle eastern, dark and indie ? Making it basically unsprayable on white clothes because it would leave stains. Roja Dove (actually Roger Bird) and his brand could use a hefty dose of honesty. Stop the overpackaging and insane prices, stop coloring your creations, stop gifting influencers and finally he should have never have acted like he was the perfumer. could have been one of the great directors with Christopher Chong, as he does know how to sell fragrances but he is no perfumer and everyone knows, which only adds to the ridicule. Fragrance is nice but the brand and its CEO is the most pretentious and insincere that’s out there. Edit: Also am i the only one that has an absolutely abysmal longevity and sillage with this ? This is a skin scent in less than 2 hours and barely projects at all. Very bad Performance for a rose oud combo. I compared with Amouage lyric and lyric is SO MUCH STRONGER, although being presented as a fresh rose without any oud, it’s insane.

Decent rose fragrance, but not necessarily oud. I get the saffron and citrus and the musc blend but the oud is fairly hard to notice for a fragrance named aoud and priced at 300+. Compared to rose incense this one is a bit more "screechy" at the beginning. The ending is very similar, i prefer that to this, but thats just me. Not bad just not as calm of a profile but it feels like this was made willingly. It sticks to the skin, this thing does not wanna come off, like at all. I sprayed this after i bought it on my hand at around 11am, since then ive washed some dishes, taken a shower, washed my hands and this is still present on my hand. It is now 6pm. Not worth the price imo (rarely any perfumes over 200 are), not the best rose oud fragrance you can get, but certainly special and its well made. It does stain you but ive found ever on my white skin its not super noticeable. Spray this behind your ears once. Any more and it would be too much smell wise. And there it wont stain anything if your hair are dark.

I have to begin with a warning, which I only received myself when opening the parcel, namely that this liquid stains any clothes, so beware! Given the exorbitant price, it should have been made clear before ordering the product, so that each potential buyer should decide whether to invest in it or not. Apart from that, the scent is very good and long-lasting. Maybe there was something to set it apart when it was launched, but nowadays it has become one among many that step on the well-trodden path of the rose and agarwood combination.

It is a very gracious aoud, indeed. Wine & rose & aoud in a well balanced combination. Lovely compound, such a pity it doesnt last at all. But it does NOT last, after less then 2 hours was already gone from my wrist. I could never imagine wanting to pay so much for something so weak as staying power. Also silage almost non-existent, skin scent.

The oud here is of the barnyard type. However, the roughness is tempered by the jammy rose accord. In the dry-down you pick up on saffron, leather, and a hint of patchouli. The fragrance is just OK. It's definitely not mass-appealing, if you care about that. However, Roja's Aoud WILL STAIN YOUR CLOTHES! That's a deal-breaker for me.

Wow wow weee wa the juice is dark! This is a wearable oud on my skin and I enjoyed it. It's quite mature, but still modern. Notes are blended nicely and I prefer it to amber oud (which I found too sweet on my skin).

This is so enveloping and refined oud. It changes with time from rose to incense to burning oud. Unfortunately the price tag is huge.

AI generated con: may contain oud. My digital brother in Christ, it's literally in the name.

the nutmeg is such a nice touch

This is very refined and high quality, probably too high quality for me as it was quite difficult to pick out many of the notes but sometimes I felt like I could detect the nuances of some over the course of x amount of times I've used it. I love that the liquid is dark, it symbolises the depth and complexity of oud, and gives you the impression it is some seriously strong stuff! Unfortunately for me, for the RRP which I paid for a 30ml directly from Harrods, it doesn't seem to perform too well. maybe 1.5hr and then it seems to just flatline to a skin scent.

Roja Aoud - the liquid is very dark and will stain clothes, so be careful where you spray. It starts with sweet & sour oud, ants smell (animalic?). I can smell a bit of manure/fecal & animalic after drydown. It's not repulsive for me, but I don't love it either. I prefer the Amber Aoud or Musk Aoud from the Roja Aoud collection.

STAIN ALERT: Will stain your clothes. Good fragrance with decent performance. For the price and staining issue, you have multiple choices! Shukran Habibi!

Found this on a discounter for about 350€ and despite never trying it before decided to buy it. I mean, it is Roja's Aoud after all no? While I did like the other two of his Aouds I found them relatively timid, too sweet and overall simply not noteworthy enough to pay the high asking price. I had high hopes for this one though, seeing it described as the least sweet of the three and perhaps the most traditionally Arabian rose-oud combo. Well... I can't say I hate it, but after wearing it for a couple of times I couldn't help but feel ripped off, even at the discounted price.... Idk, it just feels so restrained, almost unfinished and lacks the oomph, the almost arrogant presence the real Arabian rose-oud combos display, making it feel plain, simplistic and unremarkable. Never have I thought I'll say that about Roja but here we are... From the start, this is predominantly a rose perfume. Yeah the citruses, geranium, rhubarb , lethery saffron and some woods do make themselves known, but rose is the dominant note throughout the lifetime of the perfume. Unfortunate for me, the rose here isn't the rich, thick and opulent kind, but comes off as rather watery and at points almost screechingly metallic, which I really don't enjoy. Closer to the rose in Declaration d'Un Soir or Lustre than to the sweeter rose fond in the likes of Zemfira, I'd say... It does keep any excessive sweetness at bay, but in turn feels kinda boring and without depth. It really works best in the opening, where the brisk bergamot adds an amazing, juicy spark to the rose and then gently fades away, giving space to the sweeter geranium which in my opinion always complements rose perfectly. But then, after like 30 min... It's gone. And all it's left is the one dimensional metallic rose on a bed of hard to define mix of non-descript woods (calling this "aoud" is a complete misdirection, if there is any real oud in here it's buried so deep it's as good as wasted anyways) and a feeble rhubarby-saffrony leather. Since performance kinda sucks as well, it wont take more than a couple of hours for this to dry down to faint, unremarkable leathery skin scent which tbh I was kinda happy about after the full-on rosey overdose. All in all, I honestly think Aoud lacks depth... The woods are burried too deep and don't really balance the almost solinote rose that is absolutely too dominant. There is a reason why oud rose combos are so popular, rose simply needs a equally powerfule counterpart to balance it and the leathery saffron with some weakass dry woods here simply weren't up to the task. I think I would have liked the perfume more if the rose was a bit sweeter or if the leathers aspect of the dry down would be heavier, woodsier and more animalic instead of dilluting it further with rhubarb, but as it is Aoud for me just ended up being perhaps the biggest blind-buy disappointment ever... There is a lesson here: don't come to European niche houses for Arabian smelling perfumes, no matter how inspired by them they claim to be...

This is the second time I wear this fragrance and all I can smell is some rose, a fainted wood and traces of saffron. The overall smell reminds me of an insecticide to kill bugs. Either my bottle is off, my skin has some sort of disorder that totally morphs this fragrance into something horrible, or all the great reviews are written by praising the price of this perfume, not the smell of it. I dare anyone to do a blind test on this one and I am sure that they won't be able to differentiate it from those generic rose-oud perfumes that are so common nowadays. A big disappointment for me and a hard pass. I have Vetiver Parfum and that one is in another galaxy compared to Aoud. It smells of quality and it is quality at its highest! People will write just about anything to justify the price of this juice! They will say that it smells like this, it smells like that, it reminds me of this, it reminds me of that... when actually what you get most out if it is rose. Plain and simple. Rose. The only great thing regarding this perfume is the bottle with that cap that reflects the ray of light, it's like a prism which breaks white light up, and from my understanding, those are Swarowski crystals glued by hand onto the cap. So there you have it! You actually pay for the bottle, the fancy cap and the box - which is not that great, and I have seen better. Save your money, don't blind buy, don't believe the hype!

A pleasant enough rose dominant Oriental chypre style fragrance with absolutely nothing in it to warrant the huge price tag it comes associated with. The perfume opens on a citrusy note with bergamot, lemon and verbena. The floral heart showcases geranium, jasmine, may rose and ylang-ylang. The perfume settles into a woody powdery base of Oud, cashmere wood, cedar, cinnamon, nutmeg, patchouli, rhubarb, saffron, sandalwood, ambergris, leather, musk and vanilla. Unisex with moderate to strong sillage and good lasting power. Given the glut of rose Ouds out there many much cheaper and better this seems like a really overindulgent pedestrian luxury in my humble opinion.

I tested Aoud with Roja's Aoud discovery set, and initially I was in love with this smell. This has a somewhat screechy presence to the notes and the whole composition smells synthetic, both of these started bothering me after a second wearing. Make no mistake, the blend is balanced and gorgeous, but this doesn't smell natural at all. The liquid in the sample vial was dark in color and didn't stain my skin at all on first try, but did so during the second. So there's a reason why this is still sold in the crystal-concentration. Way too synthetic for my taste, Aoud is a pass.