Universal Oud

A Meditative Incense Stick “Life is a mystery – mystery of beauty, bliss and divinity. Meditation is the art of unfolding that mystery.” – Amit Ray Incense is a resinous preparation to which essential oils of vegetable origin are added which when burned emit a fragrant smoke to perfume spaces and create environments for therapeutic or meditation purposes. You can choose from an infinite range of flavours and different benefits depending on the aroma you choose. Create an atmosphere of complete well-being for your home, office or meditation centres and enjoy the moment. Although it is sometimes used purely for aesthetic purposes, it is also often used in religious or spiritual practices, including during meditation. There are many different ways of meditating. As long as a meditation technique offers the opportunity to calm the mind and relax the body, there are many benefits of meditation for health and relieving stress. A strategy that some people like is to meditate with incense. Universal Oud is like a meditative incense stick. When you spritz it, it fills the room with a mysterious, soothing, and calming aroma of smoky rosy oud. The first thing that catches the eye is the bottle, which replicates those already used in the past for the collections created by Jo Malone, but which features a golden and knurled cap, which makes everything a bit sophisticated and gorgeous. Inside there is a smoked pink liquid, and the association with the rose comes spontaneously. As soon as the spray reaches the skin, a dark rosy and the spicy, slightly citric aroma spreads in the air. The pungent notes of black pepper mix with something rosy, damask rose petals, with a balsamic and mentholated background. I imagine myself getting up early in the morning, opening the window to reach the terrace, and smelling the redolence of the dewy fresh roses from the lush garden. It is a bewitching perfume. I would spend hours and hours smelling this opening. On the skin, it is softer, while on the paper strip it releases almost medicinal edges typical of cough syrup. An opulent, dark, and subtly mysterious base supports the top and heart notes. When I first smelled the perfume, I was overwhelmed by how rosy it was. There was something slightly citric and boozy in the background, but the rose was the overwhelming top note, with some mothball-like tints and perhaps saffron touches with its woody hues. In the heart, we find the amplified rose, which mixes with powdery notes of violet leaves, or iris root, and with the darker ones of oud resin. I don’t think this perfume is old school. Rose is certainly no stranger to the world of fragrances, nor will it ever be considered outdated, and the spin that Jo Malone puts on this rose is the addition of the patchouli, pepper and oud that give this fragrance a sweeter earthy vibe. There is a handful of floralcy in the middle stage. As time goes by, Universal Oud becomes more and more like rose-vanilla powder with a hint of candied violets. Very late in the drydown, I get a light, clean patchouli. It’s very light compared to other blends made from these exotic leaves, but I like it. The earthiness shares the last stage with spicy vanilla. In the blend, I detect both powdery and buttery nuances. I haven’t seen vanilla listed as a note, but I get that sweet creaminess that peaks during the dry down. Bottom line, Universal Oud opens with a familiar rose aroma, however, it feels sweeter and dirtier than other rose scents. But that’s what makes it so good. Smelling this perfume, I mainly take semi-medicinal oud, earthy rose, and bitter chocolate. These notes work together in perfect harmony. It smells opulent, and elegant, with a little feminine slant from the rose, but men can also make it if they have style. The oud in here isn’t too overwhelming, and not the oud of M7 (2011) for instance. It blends very well. You know it’s there, but it’s not centre stage. The rose, on the other hand, is as if it had been slightly dipped in chocolate. Pure earthiness with a hint of saffron, rose and vanilla comes together so well. Sometimes, I can catch a whiff of dusty paper, a facet of the iris that I cherish a lot. As for the performance, I don’t find the sillage to be that powerful. It is not weak, but neither is it intrusive. It stays on the skin for a few hours, the longevity is not bestial, but it is certainly very good. This is a unisex perfume, nothing makes it an exclusively feminine fragrance. Anyway, I like to wear it in the cold and I don’t think it would be too successful for anyone in the summer. It is rich enough for any time or climate with too much humidity or heat. it’s more something to wear for a night out, after dinner or a party. I base the review on a 90ml bottle I have owned since July 2022.

This is amazing quality for a Zara release 😳 Perfect unisex. Leaning into masculine side. I wouldnt say it is original, but it is truly great, classic oudish perfume. The notes are dry and european kind of oud which is beautifully mixed with something warm and elegant. I can also detect a hint of rose note, although it is not mentioned in the pyramid... This scent is linear but with good lasting power (6 hours) and good silage. Simply beautiful and classy scent 👏👏 I would call it „no-nonsence perfume” Makes you fell professional, powerful and put together. Sooooo elegant ! 😍 Smells like a niche perfume rather than fast - fashion brand. I can only highly recommend this one to anyone who likes oud note, but doesn’t want to have it too animalic or too smokey. The relation - price to quality is second to none 💎

I love this, I’m not a fan of very feminine rose smells and when I got this I was a little disappointed. It doesn’t smell bad at all..it was just to soft for me. I was expecting a powerful perfume with all the popularity it got on the internet. I’m so glad I gave it a second chance!! I decided to wear it one day to run some errands and the dry down is beautiful!!! Whenever I wear it, I feel classy and posh in tue best way. It’s smells like nothing I have on my collection. I think it’s a great for an every day scent or even an office scent since it’s not very loud or overpowering. I don’t really see this scent for younger girls or teenagers.. it’s a little more sophisticated( in my opinion) I need to buy another bottle! I don’t want Zara to stop selling this.

Wanna smell rich on a budget?!?! Go for Universal Oud by Zara!!! Sweet, spicy, statement fragrance. You won't stay unnoticed with this beauty. Smell, bottle, longevity and projection excellent for the price (15€) Not safe blind buy - for oud lovers only!

Very beautiful scent, interesting, more for colder weather. It takes some time for it to develop on the skin. I never spray more than 2 sprays, as it is very strong and may appear suffocating. With the right amount is is just perfect.

Beautiful perfume 😍 looks matching both Guerlain Oud Essentiel, and obviously Jo Malone Velvet Rose & Oud, IMHO a masterpiece Brava Jo 🌹 excellent perfume👌

opens with a bit of pepper, and then hits you with a smoky, dry oud that's delicious and luckily non-fecal. a true unisex oud that works for anyone

I bought it as a gift for my mother and she loved it so much. An affordable price for an oud fragrance. Strong and warm scented.

Proof that if european houses wanted to niche could be made accessible to all, love you for this Jo!

There's always a distinctive twist that accompanies oud perfumes. While they often share similarities, each one I own still manages to offer something unique. Here, the initial impression is courtesy of a slightly smoky, light oud with a subtle hint of rose. There's a noticeable touch of saffron and spices, accompanied by a dry, transparent, floral woody oud with delicate patchouli. The composition feels airy and well-constructed. Its profile is common among Middle Eastern fragrances, but it has been somewhat westernized to appeal to a broader Zara audience. The scent remains one-dimensional, staying consistent from the first spray without evolving much. It projects strongly for a Zara fragrance and is relatively long-lasting, with a refined and pronounced character. Although it leans moderately feminine, it's unisex, and as a man, I'll still wear it. It's versatile and non-offensive for an oud-based fragrance, lacking any animalistic undertones. Those who compare it to insect repellent clearly don't understand what oud fragrances smell like. I regret reading the reviews below, as popular offerings and brands often attract plebeian critics with poor taste who only appreciate the basic, simple and easy-to-like dimensions of fragrances. These reviews mostly had nothing to do with this scent. It's like a 90% less intense, toned-down sibling of Rasasi Faqat Lil Rijal. It's oud for those who want to dip their toes into the deeper waters of Middle Eastern perfumery without diving all the way in. And while it may not blow your mind with complexity, sometimes simplicity is exactly what you need. Opening note: 7- Sillage/Projection: 7+ Dry down: 7 Longevity: 8- Blend/Composition: 6+ Versatility: 7 Uniqueness: 7 Value for money: unavailable Bottle design/Aesthetics: 5- Overall experience: 7 Blind-buy rating: 4+

I have been very pleasantly surprised few times already by the quality of the authentic smelling Oud recreation in few other ZARA fragrances, but this one goes in a completely different direction than stuff like Bergamot and Leather Spritz, Magnificently Dubai and Bohemian Oud. The Oud here is smokey (but like gases from a car exhaust smoke, not church incense) and medicinal, not the warm vegetal and funky (indian, laotian and indonesian Oud) kind like in the above three. Combined with the wet soil like qualities of the patchouli, its quite the hardcore experience that will take some adjusting period for the less experienced noses to appreciate this one. In the deep drydown the medicinal smokey scent mellows down into the more herbal qualities of the patchouli and does not project that much, so even if you find the opening a bit too hardcore for your tastes, it will eventually become much more friendly, even a bit much if you ask me. Good quality from this release, again, some of these Jo Malone directed ZARA's have been punching way above their weight class.

Universal Oud is more or less what it says on the tin - a universally appealing oud scent, i.e. a mild, woody oud that is approachable for beginners (and for the Western market). Another of Jo Malone's many creations for Zara, UO is a simple, good-quality composition, in keeping with her work for Zara in general. UO is centred on a woody oud note throughout. Rich and slightly spicy initially, it is dry and woody, never skanky or animalic. A pinch of patchouli adds earthiness as it develops, marrying nicely with the oud. It fades to a musky, woody skin scent, oud-dominant until final fade. Sillage and longevity are moderate. Perfectly unisex, this is a transeasonal woody scent, as good-quality and elegant as it is simple. It is a versatile, easy reach for everyday wear. An unchallenging yet satisfying mild take on oud, this is a bargain gem. 4/5.

RUN don't WALK to Zara, this perfume is gorgeous, although not long lasting, on my skin the initial spray was quite strong woody, lasted around 3-4 hours, it did smell later on if you got close to the area. Remind me of Babylon and Cairo from Penhalogon's but without the intoxicating notes. A great fragrance.

I came across Universal Oud, and my first impression was: L'autre Oud by Lancome! I was quite surprised how good it was actually done! As owner of L'autre Oud, Universal Oud is great alternative,dare to say dupe😁 So if you love middle eastern vibe and oud, then give it a try!

Really loving it! I bought it for my husband, but actually it is for both of us :) Wonder what he will think about the pink box though... Same alley as Black Orchid. Dark, dusty, but with a little hint of something aquatic in there too. Complex and wonderful!

I like them Jo Malone creations coming back on shelves! Wondering if Ancestral Papyrus is standing in line 😎

شروع عطر بسیار تازه و سبکه.به خوبی میشه دست پخت جو مالون رو حس کرد فضای ادویه ای بسیار تازه و شفاف به همراه رگه های چوبی و نسیم ای خُنک به مرور این فضا تغییر می‌کنه،عود و رُز وارد میشن.عود حالت میوه ای و بالزام داره که به همراه یک رُز سرخ و قدرتمند در جهت عود میوه ای عرضه اندام می‌کنه و تُرشی ای هم به عطر داده وجه میوه ای به مرور جدا میشه و تِم بالزامیک هم متعادل میشه تا در نهایت به مسیر هموار ای از عود و رز برسیم که خیلی سنگین و چغر نیست اما چندان ایرانی پسند هم نیست تغییر نت خیلی خوبی داره گاهی من رو یاد عطرهای مونتال می‌اندازه و حتی در لحظات ای مثل نسخه‌ی سبک شده‌ی الوعد فردریک مال هم شد تست اش کافی بود ************ scent:6.5/10 longevity:8/10 sillage:6.5/10 purchase value:2/10 ******* overall:5.7/10

I sprayed it on store First impression - 😖 Let the paper sit for 2 weeks, the only smell I'm getting out of it is - pepper I love the bottle but I can't bring myself to test it on my skin because on paper, it smells like I just finished cooking something.. Positive - lasts forever, the smell on the paper strip is still standing 😌

the reviews saying that this smells like bug spray are right: it is SUCH a synthetic smell and it is quite tiring on the nose. i have a feeling that it may be better layered with a tad sweet (not sugary though). on its own, a huge miss for me personally

I bought it for the bottle really. I don't really like Oud, although I must say that this is a very light/user-friendly type of Oud. I'll use it for layering. Objectively it's a well done fragance.