Semi-Bespoke No. 14

Semi Bespoke No. 14 is one of the few Roja ouds that actually smell like oud - this is noticeably dark, animalic and bold, not his usual style at all. Upon first spray you’re blasted by this woody concoction of dry cedar and earthy oud - this earthiness is elevated with a heavy dose of patchouli which continues throughout the life of the scent. There’s a strong green and damp element from cypress and vetiver, which makes you feel like you’re walking through a dark forest after a rainstorm. This is overall smoothed out by touches of cashmere and sandalwood, with a gentle spicy sweetness coming from saffron in the base. I get strong Encre Noire vibes from this due to the powerful cypress/Vetiver combo, obviously this is far higher quality though. For those who love dark, earthy ouds then this might be the Roja you’ve been searching for. It’s a fantastic scent but personally it’s just not my style.

Just got this, only have had one wearing and the jury is still out for me on this one. I enjoy many of the RD oud offerings. . They are complex and unique. This one doesn't seem to have the same complexity and the blending is not so smooth. Kinda rough around the edges and feels like it might be missing a few things. I mainly get: vetiver, oud, and cedar. Now, its very natural. But that's all I get. And actually I would say its: 50% Vetiver, 30% oud, and 20% cedar. I was hoping for a bit more patchouli and jasmin. I'm still enjoying this, and hopefully with additional maturation in the bottle, I will get more nuanced notes. I'm going to keep you posted...to be continued.... 9/2/21 Update: So this has mellowed quite a bit. The vetiver has toned down considerably and now I get quite a bit of jasmin. It blends nicely with the oud. The base is a nice jamin/oud/cedar/ambergris with a very sensual vibe. There’s a bit of saffron that brings a bit of spice. This is very dry, not a bit of sweetness to be found. It's grown on me quite a bit. It becomes a skin scent after an hour or so with near eternity longevity, I mean like greater the 48 hours. Good stuff, especially if you like vetiver and oud.

This is an earthy woody leathery fragrance consisting primarily of sandalwood/cedar, oud, patchouli, and vetiver. It’s softened by jasmine and a hint of saffron but the real star of the show is ambergris. The heavy use of it really shines here giving the rather masculine ensemble a much needed sweet and salty glow. The result is a very charming and alluring scent trail that will no doubt turn heads. Definitely for the confident fragrance aficionado. 8.5/10 with great overall performance.