Hipster Oud

I just got this one in the mail so I haven't had any time at all to get to know Hipster Oud (approx. 2 hours since I sprayed) but I had to write my initial thoughts on it as I was very skeptical in the beginning. I was in a bit of a rush when I ordered them, I basically threw some extra bottles in my cart while purchasing something else as there was a heavy discount on them and I thought to myself "why not?". Zara has been impressing me lately and I happen to love the ups and downs of blind buying. As it turns out most of my blind buys are successful and this order was no exception. Two of the fragrances I got were Perpetual Oud and Hipster Oud. When I sprayed Hipster Oud on I was immediately turned off by a watery note that also smelled a bit like strawberries? Or Watermelon? I have no idea what it reminded me of to be honest but it smelled watery and sharp and my nose was like "nope". But perhaps 15 minutes in I could smell something sweet and that sharp water had dialed down a lot. I quite liked it then. Another 15 minutes in and I sniff again and to my confusion I smelled Oud Satin Mood. I hopped on Fragrantica to see if it was supposed to be a clone of that but no, not at all. I went through every single review to see if I was alone in this and I found one other reviewer that mentioned this, so I guess I'm not completely going insane, lol. I am by no means saying you should get this as a cheaper alternative to OSM, it doesn't smell exactly like it, but by the 30-60 minute mark I definitely am reminded of it. It's sugary sweet, but not too dense or heavy. In the beginning I smell sharp, watery sweetness, I can't even distinguish what exactly it is I'm smelling and at that stage I don't care for it too much. But around 15-30 minutes in it has settled nicely and then I smell sweet and sugary roses and something darker, a slight burning(?) smell in the background - perhaps that's oud and as I've never smelled oud as a single note I can't know what it's supposed to smell like - but it's not off putting, it's rather cozy, warm and sexy. Around that time I also start to smell the vanilla and amber and the watery note has taken a step back but it's still there. At this strength I actually like it and feel like it adds to the fragrance instead of dominating it. I'm almost 3 hours in at this point so I can't really comment on longevity but so far I can smell it on my skin where I sprayed it very well and what I sprayed on my sweater is very noticeable, my coworker smells me from an arms length at this point - so far so good. And I will update the review after I've given it some time to settle from the traveling, but just within the first 3 hours of wearing I'm loving it. Oh and by the way - I keep seeing people knocking it down because it apparently smells "mass appealing" and "juvenile" - two phrases I keep seeing thrown about in a lot of fragrance reviews as those are supposed to be the ultimate insults to fragrances along with "grandma" and "bug spray". When the term "mass appealing" is used to explain that yes, many people would like this, that's fair, but for that to be an insult just gives me heavy pick me vibes. Chocolate is also "mass appealing", should we stop eating that to be different and cool? I don't care if I smell the same fragrance a lot on others, nor do I care if others think to themselves "jeez, she smells generic" when they smell me. Which I doubt they do anyway. This smells lovely and many people would love it. That's not a bad thing in my opinion. Edit February 14th. 24. I've worn Hipster Oud repeatedly since I got it and just received a large backup bottle already since it turned out to be a big love for me. Longevity, projection and sillage are amazing, this lasts hours on my skin and days on my clothes. People regularly comment on it, sometimes even hours after I've sprayed it on so the performance is wonderful, especially given the price. And it has shot to the top 3 of most complimented fragrances I own, I get a compliment every time I wear it from family, friends, coworkers and the occasional stranger. I absolutely love it. And just for fun; last Saturday night I went out with some friends and decided to layer Hipster Oud with La Nuit Trésor, because why not, and that combination is lethal. I don't think I've ever gotten so many compliments on how I smell ever. Can't complain about that ❤️

I will forever be so sad and mad that you can't get this fragrance at the store anymore, at least where I live. I bought it by pure accident. I was supposed to buy Bohemian oud but had taken the wrong package at the store. But when I smelled this at home. ISTG, I have gone through the 100ml bottle so fracking fast over the last year and now I try to save every last drop of it. It's so sweet and juicy. The blackcurrant and saffron notes make me roll my eyes to the back of my head every time. The oud is so smooth and soft on the background, definitely suitable for anyone who isn't big on oody fragrances but is still looking for that smooth rose oud base. It's extremely ideal for any weather or occasion. I've worn this to work, out, class you name it. It's not offensive or cloying at all. I have to say it might not be the most lasting or projecting fragrance of mine but for the price I paid for it, it's easily one of the best purchases in my collection. Obviously, I'm not big on supporting Zara anymore and wouldn't probably get more of this even if they had it. Sad to see there isn't anything quite like it on the market today, everything that would seem like it is either discontinued or extremely expensive. If anyone has a "dupe" or anything similar to this in mind please please please let me know.

I actually ended up really like this one! I don't get the scratchy or metallic undertone at all, perhaps it's a skin chemistry thing. As someone who really likes roses (and doesn't like orange blossom), I enjoyed this more than Mojave Ghost, I feel like Hipster Oud makes it a little more sensual & classy rather than the clean & classy vibe Mojave Ghost has. I wouldn't say I like white florals but to an untrained nose, it's blended very well and barely detectable. I have more guidance on my other arm. People online said it smells like a nice and clean hoohaa after a while, and that's true after 4-5 hrs XD. But before that, it smells complex but not very enjoyable for me at least. It started clean, then progressed into an almost dirty and dusty quality, the dry down being the most wearable. Hipster Oud overall was much more of an enjoyable experience. I really hope they keep this one for a while because it's absolutely beautiful.

I've had this fragrance for about a year and it's highly impressive. Zara definitely did a big one here. I receive so many compliments EVERY time I wear this out. She's a TKO on her own, but I like to layer this over Urban Indulgence's Cocoa Shea Souffle in "Cocoa Butter Cashmere" (awesome stuff- keeps you moisturized and smelling incredible) for that extra OMG effect. Hipster Oud performs and wears like a niche fragrance, definitely leaving the wearer in a nice scent bubble. People will definitely compliment you or ask what it is you're wearing. I also want to take a moment to shoutout Zara for making quality fragrances and prioritizing affordability. Not only is HO within a great price range, but consumer's also receive a a sizeable amount of product as well. My standout notes: amber, pink pepper, orange blossom and saffron! 10/10, definitely recommend.

This is such a pretty fragrance. At first I didn't give this collection a chance because I thought that the Oud will be heavy but it's not the case, especially with this one. I cannot detect any Oud at all. It's very feminine without being sweet, it's powdery, soft and can suit any occasion. The rose is super well blended with the other notes. Little update: Ended up getting the scent. Just wanted to mention that you can smell the Oud. I was mistaken before since I expected a lot more from the name. The Oud is very very faint but it's there. Perfect if you're a total beginner and not ready to go bold with the Oud. This became an everyday scent.