Sweetie Aoud

This was one of those love at first sniff and continued love at every subsequent sniff. *endoprhins* I'm fully infatuated, I would join its cult. (usually, I can easily leave a fragrance counter, and I prefer to wear something for a day before committing. I did. not. want. to. leave. that. counter. at. Selfridges.). The opening is this crazy gorgeous burst of rich smoky sweetness mixed with a little something spiced and wooded and pastried (not photo-realistic to my nose) that just grabs your attention. It's perfectly blended. I almost can't separate notes out; they weren't meant to be separate. *endorphins* You've not smelt anything like it (unless you already know Roja). UGH, I CAN'T DESCRIBE IT. It's impossible, AND I GIVE UP. How do you even put into words God’s Own Perfume? Seriously, there’s so much going on in this scent it’s like not even just a perfume, it’s a whole sensory experience. I remember when I saw the Red Shoes and thought oh they make movies pretty on purpose, and realised cinematography was a thing. This perfume was that experience re fragrance for me. OH SOMEONE LOVED AND MADE THIS. This perfume is literally my all-time fave. It was a gift, and totally responsible for turning me into a perfume addict. Note: If you genuinely want to learn what sillage means, then get this perfume (see also blending). It’s one of the few fragrances I can always experience all day on myself. Like, who just walked by and left that beautiful smell? Oh, it’s ME. *endorphins* Budget Note and Bonus Dua Review Note: I only wear it about three times a year because it’s v pricey and like, I’m not made of money. I do have the DUA version for the days when I want that vibe, but I can’t justify the splurge. Let me tell you, nothing compares to the OG. It's more like a DNA that's nearby and puts cream on the itch but doesn't scratch it. Overenthusiastic Perfume Friend Note: Listen, if the "people who like this fragrance" section 75% matches who you are, just get a decant (or try it in-store). Then say buh-bye to your money because once you try it, you’re hooked! Another Budget Note: I'm considering getting a second job so I can keep this stocked in my cupboard. 11/10 Mental Health Note: Writing this has released a lot of endorphins and now I need a cold flannel and lay down.

OMG!!! The most unique gourmand fragrance I ever smelled. I just finished the whole 2ml sample within few days and I just miss it so much that I have to get a full bottle immediately, which I already did and it should be on its way. I’ve heard many good things about it for a long time and I was willing to blind buy it if I can find a discounted one from reputable sellers because I just love gourmand so much but I just never could find one. I finally got a sample to find out if I really love it and if it worth the high price tag. I ended up gave up on waiting for a discount bottle and just went to get one from their official website because I just love it this much. At the first spray, the strong buttery opening was a little overwhelming but after couple minutes the buttery note would tone down a lot and then it starts to smell very much like French patisserie. Particularly a croissant. It’s not the cloying sugary sweet though, which I appreciate. I love gourmand sweet but I don’t like sugary cloying sweet. The sweetness is just right. Also once the buttery accord tones down, I actually love its perfect amount of the buttery and that compliment the whole vibe of it. Interestingly, I can smells the Oud in the dry down but still maintain the gourmand pastry vibe. Not animalic or barnyard at all. This is surely a masterpiece. Performance wise, it stays closer to my skin but not an intimate skin scent at the same time. I would say it projects about 2 feet from skin until 6-7 hours mark then start fading to a skin scent. It has amazing longevity though. It lasts 12+ on my perfume eating skin. My skin tends not to grip perfumes very well (at least 2 hours less than other people). I know it’s very expensive but I do think it worth the price; the uniqueness of the fragrance, the quality ingredients you can smell from it, the performance and the bottle are all at the top notch. Especially I personally just love this scent.

Unisex I had a difficult relationship with this special unique so called “gourmand” for long time. I loved it from the beginning, that was sure but I needed to get to know her better. I’m just not so big fan of gourmands - I like many and love some a lot but I don’t want to smell myself like many of those. There is just few gourmands which deserves the place in my collection and Sweetie Aoud is one of those. Sweetie Aoud is not so obvious gourmand since the gourmand note is “patisserie accord” which is not any concrete food. That’s why I love it a lot. It’s rather a feeling and a smell which is a whiff of a French or Italian cafe full of delicious pastries made mainly from butter dough. The smell is a littlle bit sweet and soft buttery but the genious blend gives in the same time such a fresh vibes which I find extremely interesting. There is a really herbal fresh opening with Bergamot and Artemisia and quickly after that follows Patisserie Accord which is the strongest during the first 30 minutes. It’s so realistic that you can just close your eyes and you can imagine yourself in front of that glass in patisserie choosing something delicious to eat with your Latte. Rose is only supportive note here and Cistus is barely detectable but those tunes down the sweetness. After this starts the main show! Next the basenotes take over your senses and the buttery note melts beautifully together with spicy, aromatic and earthy notes, Frankincense and Aoud being the prominent ones. Like all Rojas this juice is so well blended that it’s very difficult to separate notes but that makes even the gourmand perfume luxurious, polished and charming. This is simply a stunning perfume for wintertime! Thank you for reading, I hope my review was helpful. I would appreciate a lot if you want to follow me on IG and/or YouTube (English subtitles): @ninamariahperfumes It gives me a lot of motivation to write more. 🤗

I've owned this for a couple of years and refrained from reviewing it because for a long time, all I could smell was raspberry, really strong oud and some amber. It didn't do anything for me. But now I know the secret--the technique that opens up all the notes like a kaleidoscope. I was always applying it with a strong, concentrated spray to my wrists, but recently I discovered that I need to spray a fine mist from a much greater distance, the way I would apply a body spray from Victoria's Secret. Don't over-apply, and keep the application nice and gauzy. Before my technique, I never got the patisserie vibes that Roja says he created for this perfume. With the softer application, I definitely smell an entire patisserie shop, and I LOVE IT! It reminds me of sinking my teeth into my favorite raspberry, marzipan and custard danish. There is a tart note, I believe artemisia, that makes the jam seem fresh and realistic. I also detect a very discreet hint of chocolate. It's almost as if I am imagining it at times. Likely created with patchouli, as another reviewer mentioned. At times the berry note reminds me of the fresh slices of strawberry atop a slice of strawberry mousse cake. It is preposterous that there is no berry note in the pyramid because it's the most obvious note, aside from oud. It doesn't take long for a very natural, beautifully smoky oud to come in. This fragrance reminds me of Russian Tea by Masque Milano, except it is not as dark in character and is sweeter. The oud smells natural, more similar to natural oud oils I have smelled, not like what you will find in Montales and Tom Fords. Sweetie Aoud makes me think of Alice in Wonderland. It is whimsical, playful and makes me think not only of French and Italian patisseries, but also of tea parties and a rainbow of French macarons. This is such a beautiful and fun fragrance!

Sweetie Aoud is the most mouthwatering fragrance I have over owned. On my skin, it opens with a fresh-out-of-the-oven brioche, generously buttered and slathered with the most delectable blueberry jam. (The blueberry note appears in the fall/winter months, morphing into a sweeter raspberry one in warmer weather.) It is so outrageously delicious that I am literally unable to stop smelling my wrist. At the same time, I remain oddly aware of wearing a perfume. It is such a peculiar, albeit not unpleasant sensation. Sweetie Aoud is undoubtedly a delicious gourmand, but one that plays with your olfactory perceptions while staying true to its niche nature. I’d go as far as to say—it is an experience rather than a scent. The whole composition is seamlessly blended to evoke the tantalizing aromas of a French bakery where beautifully perfumed people pick out their morning pastries. To me, it conveys comfort, freshness and effortless chic that are oh-so-hard-to-resist! As the patisserie accord deepens, I get an infusion of rich, warm-smelling oud that feels slightly powdery and sweet, as if dusted with confectioner’s sugar. The brioche note doesn’t disappear so much as melts into the oud, imparting it that same delicious buttery quality. The scent stays that way for 4 to 6 hours, occasionally teasing me with a whiff of the initial blueberry preserves. Absolutely stunning every step of the way. To my nose, Sweetie Aoud is a unisex fragrance. On my husband I perceive a darker oudy base that has almost amber-like notes but still retains its lovely patisserie accord. Definitely worth a try.