Elevated Oud

Where My Heart Beats Although many people associate Elevated Ous (EO) with Guilty Absolute pour Homme (GGA), I fail to see the similarity between the two. EO opens with an explosion of semi-bitter and strongly citrus accords and then evolves towards dusty, woody and creamy nuances. GGA, on the other hand, in the opening notes, already presents that spicy and leathery character that will later become its signature, with just a whisper of citrus notes. By the will of the master Alberto Morillas, GGA is a scent whose fragrance does not change after the first perfume application to the skin. In the beginning, I said to myself, "Take Guccy Guilty Absolute PH, remove the leathery peaks, a little musky and woody, and add the soapy and a little creamy ones, thus obtaining Elevated Oud", almost like two heterozygous twin brothers, with a similar DNA but disparate. But no, the more I try the two perfumes side by side, the more I realize that they are not each other's inspiration. I like EO like crazy, just as GGAPH was love at first sight, but I would never buy EO as a substitute for GGAPH because, to my nose and on my skin, they are two beautiful perfumes in themselves. Therefore, I will describe the harmonies that revolve around EO without dwelling too much on the hypothetical similarities. The creation is a woody fragrance that unveils itself layer by layer. The presence of oud in this, and all other scents, is not suffocating or challenging but wearable even by those who fear oud. It announces itself with a sour twist of citrus fruits, ranging from the bright bergamot, omnipresent in the fragrances, to the more sour lemon, almost reminiscent of a mixed citrus fruit salad, citrus blossoms, and even a pinch of orange bigarade with a thick rind. It's pithy, like the white, spongy part of a citrus fruit between the hull and the thin skin of individual segments. Sniffed up close, after the first few moments, you can perceive the aroma of the peel and the spongy layer underneath. From the beginning, we recognize the presence of oud, here very soft, smooth, tamed, in the European style, with dark tones that embellish the fragrance without being too animalistic, leathery, or aggressive. Immersed in this riot of citrus fruits is a shy cardamom, green, perceptible but not ostentatious, which adds freshness to the tartness of the citrus fruits. In the heart, I observe a first change. The fragrance takes on spicier tones, and the cardamom releases edges of soapy spices but pungent soaps. There is a powdery aspect, perhaps due to a hint of iris or violet, but very moderate, which does not alter the nature of the perfume. While offering powdery and soapy puffs, the fragrance remains confined to masculine characters; there is no trace of fine lipstick, baby powder, or beauty soap. There is a bit of sweetness and gourmand in the heart, thanks to the sophisticated and irresistible notes of black vanilla and pralines, but nothing cloying. In the dry-down, another change happens and the perfume takes on decidedly woody tones. The oud has moved to the background, while in the foreground, you can feel the creaminess of the sandalwood and just a hint of cleaned patchouli. Overall, if smelled closely, delicate mineral and earthy nuances are obtained. The final nuances leave a woody trail, and the sandalwood bark and the oud flavour last long. Instead, the spicy facets have weakened, and the leathery or resinous accords of conifers are almost absent. I waited a while before purchasing this fragrance because something didn't convince me when I smelled it from the paper strip. But on the skin, it's a whole different story. There is that veil of praline sweetness that is enhanced by the warmth of the skin, while on paper, the essence is colder and more citrusy. The result of GGA is a fragrance with dry and deep woody notes, intensified by Patchouli oil and Vetiver, and I don't perceive all these facets in EO. Inside EO, I miss the mixture of old leather jacket aroma and aromatic, natural-smelling green cypress that rushes into my nostrils. Anyone who wants to smell original and different from most people should get their nose on Elevated Oud as soon as possible. Season-wise, this is a fragrance designed and intended for the cold season. Due to the moderate performance and heavier notes, the funky side would become more evident in higher temperatures in the summer season. This would be a great choice as a fragrance to wear daily for a night out, a big dinner, or an outing with friends. You could dare to go to the office, it shouldn't bother other people. Longlasting, with an above average projection the first hours, moves close to the skin or clothes. I'm writing my impression based on a bottle I've owned since September 2023 (BC 32300).

There's a specific kind of thrill in finding a gem that others have overlooked. Enter Zara Elevated Oud. The moment I got a whiff of this fragrance, I felt like I'd struck olfactory gold. Imagine walking into a citrus orchard just as the sun rises, the air crisp and invigorating. That's what the opening of Elevated Oud feels like — only this orchard has been sprinkled with freshly-ground cardamom. The result? It offers a sour-bitter tang that hits your senses delightfully, brightened by a subtle undertone of bergamot. It's nature in a bottle, vibrant yet sophisticated. As the curtain rises on the next act, oud takes center stage, like a lead guitarist breaking into a soulful solo. It's potent, yet elegantly so — think of a vintage wine that's powerful but not overwhelming. This isn't a typical Middle Eastern barnyard oud; it's more refined, more wearable, tailored for Zara's customer base. Just when you think the scent has peaked, you're greeted with vanilla pralines and creamy spices that swirl around your senses like ballroom dancers. It's slightly gourmand and utterly irresistible, adding a sensual layer to the experience. As the fragrance dries down, its multifaceted character comes to the forefront. Is it animalic, salty, smoky, woody, or even mineral? The truth is, it's all of these and more. The complexity of this fragrance makes it unpredictable. While it generally leans masculine, its versatile profile makes it an excellent base for layering for both men and women. Two sprays under your usual perfume could produce something extraordinary. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention a certain kinship with Zara Magnificent Black, another favorite. There's an intangible quality, a shared DNA, that connects all Zara fragrances, but especially these two scents in a way that's hard to put into words but is palpable nonetheless. It's as if Zara has sprinkled a secret concoction throughout their whole fragrance line. It's subtle, almost transparent, but it's there — lending an extra kick of potency and longevity to the scent. It's like a chef's signature spice, only perceptible to those well-acquainted with the menu. It's a detail you might overlook, but one that ultimately enhances the experience. Not to be overly dramatic, but Elevated Oud has broken into my top 5 fragrances. It's a head-turner, a conversation-starter, and, most importantly, a feel-gooder. It brings to mind that obscure B-side track you love but no one else knows about; it's that good, that distinctive. In a nutshell, Zara Elevated Oud is a low-cost masterpiece. Priced at a mere €14, this fragrance is a steal — a diamond in the rough. Out of the entire Zara line I sampled, this one outshone its peers by a country mile. Its complexity and longevity are impressive, and it's got that indefinable factor that makes it stand out. Forget any preconceived notions you might have about 'affordable' scents. This fragrance is a game-changer, offering a luxurious, slightly Middle Eastern olfactory experience without the hefty price tag. Sure, Zara has other options in this line, but trust me — none holds a candle to this one. It's like finding a Michelin-starred dish at a fast-food joint. So, if you've been sniffing around for a fragrance that packs a powerful punch without breaking the bank, your search ends here. Elevated Oud is an experience, one that's well worth the incredibly modest investment. Opening note: 8+ Sillage/Projection: 7- Dry down: 10- Longevity: 9 Blend/Composition: 10 Versatility: 6 Uniqueness: 9+ Value for money: 10+ Bottle design/Aesthetics: 8 Overall experience: 10- Blind-buy rating: 3+

To me zara elevated oud has one of the best price vs quality ratio ever! I tried all the line at the zara store and this one was an immediate hit. The citrus opening fades away quickly, then u can detect praline and vanille. Thanks god the notes are very balanced, so nothing overly sweet or gourmand. The next stage Is dominated by a smokey "occidental" oud, patchouli, sandalwood and a very soft leather. The smokey smell is the protagonist of this fragrance, no church or graveyard vibe here, but something very sophisticated, refined and confident. Someone can find a bit of many fragrances here, a touch of bvlgari black, a drop of Bentley Absolute, a hint of gucci guilty Absolute...the overall is a fantastic blend, hard to think that this is from zara. The performance is above average on my skin: very good projection for two hours, then more quiet but still living. Longevity great too, the next mourning my gf said she still can smell the scent. So nothing to complain. Better for cold seasons, for casual and formal situations, not for every day use because the smokeyness can be a bit "heavy" to smell all the week. I get compliments with elevated oud, Alberto morillas did it again, bravo! Elevated oud è un profumo di zara di grande qualità. Un oud fumoso e "occidentale ", tocchi di vaniglia, patchouli e sandalo. Mai stucchevole, elevated oud è elegante, raffinato con un tocco di mistero. Sulla mia pelle la performance è ottima, lo vedo in occasioni particolari, meno per un uso giornaliero perché la nota fumosa a lungo andare potrebbe stancare. Personalmente è il migliore della linea, Morillas ha fatto un ottimo lavoro, provatelo! Scent-8, 5 Longevity - 8,5 Sillage-8, 5 Versatility-8 Presentation-8 Uniqueness-8 Compliment factor-8,5 Backup bottle? Yes My vote-8,5 In one word- elevation Alternative - Gucci guilty Absolute, Bentley Absolute, dior fahrenheit Absolute, bvlgari black, lalique encre noir Extreme..

I bought a bottle of this about 3 months ago when sniffing through different fragrances in the Zara shop. Straight away, this one got my immediate attention & I sprayed some on the back of my hand & then walked around for 15 minutes to test the dry down. After 15 minutes, I could tell that this was going to last a good while & it has to be purchased. I want back & grabbed a bottle, then while waiting in line at the check out, something in my head was telling me to buy a backup bottle, but the line was to long to go back & re wait so I though I will get a backup bottle next time when at the mall. Then last week, the price dropped from $39.50 to $22.95 as these are now being cleared from the shelves and discontinued. I got 4 more bottles because this fragrance is that good. It makes you smell like a man & is totally versatile & could be signature scent & does bring compliments. You can wear this dressed up or down & it lasts a good 7 - 8 hours on my skin & can smell on clothes the next day. To my nose this dries down to Gucci Guilty Absolute, but without the medicinal aroma hovering in the background. It is truly sad that this is being discontinued, but no worries here as I have plenty to last me loads of years. Fantastic value & in my opinion is worth easily over $100 per 100 ml. Online, these are sold out, so you have to visit Zara to get what ever is left on the shelves, before they are all gone forever.

An excellent alternative to Gucci Guilty Absolute. Not an exact clone, but the vibe is definitely there. The patchouly bomb at the drydown is exquisite, the oud is a bit too prominent for my taste, luckily the citrus turns it down considerably at the beginning, but it's there, as expected, and for quite some time. Be gentle with the sprays and make them light fingered, it may turn unbearable if you put more than 5 strong sprays. Nonetheless, It's a great blend from master Morillas, and as said, good to use it as alternative for GGA (if you cant find it, or find it too expensive). Anyway, even GGA is not an office friendly frag, nor for everyday use, so this should last quite the time in your arsenal as well (unless you live in the middle east and oud-based frags are common and strong frags accepted in your surroundings/workplaces all the time). Another good thing about this one, is that the black vanille is not as sweet as common vanille, giving it a darker appeal. Quality: 9/10 Versatility: 5/10 Season Suitability: Winter / Fall / early Spring Day/Night: Night Etiquette: Dates / Smart casual Price: very affordable for the quality