Exploring the Allure of Oud: The Essence of Luxury in Perfumery

Warm and earthy, oud perfumes are celebrated for their distinctive woody profile. These scents feature-rich, leathery notes with a subtle smoky accent. Much like musk or amber fragrances, oud is cherished for its aromatic intensity. Often referred to as ‘liquid gold’, oud is one of the most expensive natural substances in the world. Let’s delve into this opulent ingredient and explore some exquisite oud fragrances from The House of Creed.

What is Oud?

Oud is an intensely fragrant oil extracted from tree resin. In perfumery, it is commonly used as a base note, providing a sensual, woody dry down with its deep and rich aroma. Oud perfumes are synonymous with seduction due to their earthy notes and intriguing character.

Part of Oud’s allure lies in its rich history. It has been used in herbal medicine, perfumery, and spiritual rituals for centuries, particularly in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Dating back to 1400 BC, oud appears in the Sanskrit Vedas as a substance symbolising wealth and luxury.

Oud oil features in many religious texts and traditions. Agarwood, from which oud oil is extracted, is mentioned several times in the Bible’s Old Testament, and Muslim prophets were said to cleanse their clothes with their smoke. Today, agarwood chips are often burned as incense in religious ceremonies across China, Japan, and India. Oud oil is also used as a token of hospitality in mosques, temples, and homes worldwide. Additionally, oud is prized for its healing properties, known for its anti-inflammatory and soothing effects, and is often used in herbal teas and meditation rituals.

With its global cultural significance, oud perfumes pay homage to this precious substance’s rich history, conjuring ancient traditions and providing an exquisite olfactory experience.

How is Oud Made?

In Arabic, ‘oud’ literally translates to ‘wood’, reflecting how the substance is made. In its purest form, oud is a natural resin extracted from the heartwood of the aquaria tree, native to Southeast Asia. This tree is particularly found in the rainforests of Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Thailand. The Aquilaria tree has fifteen different species, but the resin used in perfumery is typically extracted from Aquilaria malaccensis.

Oud is formed when the aquilaria tree becomes infected, causing it to produce a dark, fragrant resin that seeps into the wood. The tree’s heartwood, usually light and pale, turns a dark ochre or amber hue upon contact with the resin. Artisan perfumers use various methods to extract the resin from the heartwood, such as steam distillation or melting the substance. Similar to other natural resins like labdanum and benzoin, oud resin is dense, sticky, viscous, and dark in colour. Once extracted, the oil is used to craft exquisite oud fragrances.

What Does Oud Smell Like?

Oud’s scent is mysterious and alluring, with a distinctive profile. It is typically described as warm, intense, earthy, and sensual, with a slightly animalistic note. Many fragrance connoisseurs liken oud to the scent of fresh, slightly damp soil, a barnyard, or hay drying in the sunshine.

Naturally extracted oud’s scent can vary depending on the species of aquilaria tree it is derived from. Some resins have a sweeter aroma, while others are smokier and more balsamic, with their character developing as they dry down. Synthetic ouds also have a different scent profile, being less animalistic and typically sweeter and nuttier than their natural counterparts.

The profile of an oud can also vary depending on its top and heart note pairings. For instance, Royal Oud features the ingredient’s signature woody spiciness with a fresh twist of bergamot, while Royal Princess Oud intensifies the oud’s characteristic warmth with vanilla and buttery iris.

Why is Oud Expensive?

Oud is one of the most expensive ingredients in modern perfumery, and agarwood is one of the most costly timbers globally, at $100,000 per kilogram, due to its rarity. Only one out of ten trees in Southeast Asian forests naturally produces the resin, making it an extremely precious substance, highly coveted in fragrance formulation.

The extraction method also contributes to oud’s high cost. Before distillation, resin-infused wood chips are carved out by hand, a process that often takes several hours. Due to its rarity, the aquilaria tree is now a protected species by the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). Many trees are now artificially treated with a microbial compound to produce the agarwood resin, leading to the use of synthetic ouds as an alternative.

Intense Oud Perfume Brand

For those seeking the unparalleled richness and complexity of oud, several brands stand out for their exquisite use of this luxurious ingredient. Let’s explore some notable Arabian oud perfumes that capture the essence of this precious substance, including offerings from esteemed houses known for their dedication to crafting intense and evocative oud fragrances.

Ishq Perfume | Arabian Oud Perfume

Ishq | عشق

Ishq, the Arabic word for obsessive, passionate love, perfectly encapsulates the essence of this exquisite Arabian oud perfume. Suitable for both women and men, Ishq is a mesmerising fragrance that tells a silent story of irresistible passion through its carefully crafted notes.

How Long Does Oud Perfume Last?

Due to its potency, oud perfume can last on the skin for several hours up to a full day. As it is used as a fixative in fragrance formulation, oud is the ingredient most likely to linger the longest on the skin. Once the top and heart notes dissipate, traces of an earthy and animalistic aroma remain.

Oud fragrances typically have a slightly longer shelf life than their lighter counterparts. Scents with heavier and richer base notes, like oud or ambergris, are less sensitive to oxidation. Generally, oud fragrances have a shelf life of around three to five years, although this can vary depending on formulation and storage conditions.

With its rich history and alluring scent, oud is one of luxury perfumery’s most treasured ingredients, conjuring warm evenings and time-honored traditions.