YoooHoo! Posse! Portia from AustralianPerfumeJunkies in the posse today and we are talking the most ubiquitous 21st century fragrance trend, OUDH. Love it or hate it oudh is here to stay. Coming from Asia and the Middle East, oudh is the offspring of Aquilaria trees that are infected with a certain mould that eats away at the wood. Once a tree is infected it turns a dark colour and resins form to fight the mould. The mould, wood and resins when farmed are turned into chips or incense which creates a beautiful scent to the smoke as it burns, or to oils which go to make fragrance. As most of the wood has been over farmed and is threatened with extinction the fragrance industry has turned to chemistry to recreate the multi faceted fragrances of oudh.
Accord Oud by Byredo 2010
Photo Stolen Fragrantica
Fragrantica gives these featured accords:
Top: Blackberries, saffron, rum
Heart: Leather, oudh, clary sage
Base: Patchouli, powder, musk
I have smelled a couple of the very expensive real deal oudhs and they are as confronting, outrageous and interesting as all that you’ve heard. The synthetic recreations are quite different but both are equally valid in fragrance and many of the synthetic based oudhs are extremely beautiful, wearable and much less of a challenge. I’m cool with that.
Photo Stolen Wikipedia
In Accord Oud we open to a lovely bright and boozy fruity cocktail in a very chi-chi polo saddlery and stable. People are drinking, laughing, mingling in the beautiful fresh made leather saddles. Loads of horsey Hannahs braying loudly in their designer casuals and navy blazered, chino wearing Ruperts are drinking beer and trying not to step in horse apples. That sweet honeyed after smell of fresh hay and old urine wafts around everything and some old hippy is literally drenched in patchouli oil. It’s probably one of the Jills and Jonahs who are stable hands, either in their gap year or living a sea change. Accord Oud is all this and a little bit of raunch as well, perhaps the party is played out and two of the guests end up in a tryst. A happy, hungry, drunken lovemaking filled with passion, patchouli oil and booze.
Photo Stolen Wikipedia
Further reading: PerfumeSmellinThings and IntoTheGloss
LuckyScent has $145/50ml
First In Fragrance has €140/100ml
If you wondered about oudh and wanted to try one that’s not too in your face, a soft focus, very well mannered oudh that only hints at shit and band aids then Accord Oud could be the one to try. Actually, I think it could be one of the most wearable Byredo fragrances. It’s modern and lovely with a nod to exotic from across the dance floor, or even library.
What is your oudh?
Portia xx
It’s the band aid bits I can’t stand in oud. I don’t mind a good shit accord in the least, but I prefer that accord in the form of indolic jasmine. I like my jasmine verrah, verrah, durty!
But I am an absolute slave to By Kilian Pure Oud. Whatever Ma’am did to make it smell of fur gets me every time. It smells exactly like a gorgeous furry big cat that’s been sunning itself in a window all day. Next to a fireplace, maybe, and it may have drug its fluffy tail through an inkwell.
No, no….. it SAT on an inkwell, because there is just that hint of ass.
Heaven.
(Are we insane, or what??!)
If you like ASS but hate Band aid, have you tried the new Surrender To Chance and AbdesSaalam La Via Del Profumo jasmine frags? Surrender and Cold water canyon?
I think they may have been made with you in mind Tammy.
Portia xx
Portia, they are top-of-my-list to try! I I’m having a hard time finding a job, so it won’t be this year, but try them I will! They do both sound like my dream fragrances. :o)
Good luck in the job world Tammy. We all have our fingers, toes, legs, eyes and teeth crossed for you.
Only joking about the legs.
Portia xx
I have not tried those. I’ll check them out next time I’m at the mall. Thanks!
You’re welcome.
Hi Portia! I have not had much luck with ouds. I hate that band aid smell. This one sounds pretty strong in a lot of the facets. Is it? I don’t know if I’d want to try this one or not. Great review by the way!
Hey Kandice,
Right, you probably want to steer clear then. What about some of the softer synthetic oudhs like Jo Malone? How do they hit you?
Portia xx
Howdy, Portia! Now I am about as far from an oud girl as you can get (have only been able to wear 1 or 2 of Kilian’s), but this one sounds do-able. Will have to try it next time I’m at my Neiman Marcus, which now carries the whole Byredo range — whoo-hoo!! Hope you all are well and settled happily back into your new digs.
Hey Ann,
This could be a winner for you. How do you go with the Tom Ford oudhs?
We are well, settling in. Life is rosy. I hope it is for you too.
Portia xx
What is interesting in Accourd Oud by Byredo is its ability for perfect layering with another brand’s products. If you want to get really astonishing and gorgeous results – mix it with Rose Noir.
Interesting Chisto,
I would never have thought to do that. Thanks,
Portia x