The House of Oud

The House of Oud (often abbreviated THoO) is an Italian niche perfume brand created in 2016 as a partnership between Italian master perfumer Andrea Casotti and Jakarta-based oud producer Mohammed Abu Nashi. Several sources describe it as a meeting of an Italian perfumer and an oud specialist from Jakarta, combining European perfumery with Middle Eastern oud expertise. The brand is officially registered as Italian and sits under the umbrella of HIC Beauty as its parent company.

Although oud is central to the brand’s identity, many releases use it in a measured and often modern way rather than as an overpowering focal point. The fragrances are produced using oud distillation know-how from Jakarta alongside broader fine-fragrance techniques, and perfumers such as Cristian Calabrò and Maurizio Cerizza have contributed compositions. A notable example is The Time, composed by Cristian Calabrò and launched in 2018, which features a citrus and herbal opening of bergamot, chamomile and wormwood over an oolong tea, lemon verbena and iris heart.

The bottles are a major hallmark of The House of Oud. Every flacon has an egg-like, oval form and is crafted and hand-painted in Italy, often with marbled, crackled or lacquered finishes, so no two pieces are exactly alike. The unusual way the bottles are displayed upside down, with the cap acting as a stand, was described by Casotti as a deliberate visual metaphor for looking at things from a different angle and for the hand gesture of holding and spraying perfume.

Over time the brand has expanded from a strict focus on oud into THoO sub-collections that explore wider inspirations such as cities, music, and contemporary art, while keeping the same sculptural bottle concept and Italian production. Across the catalogue the compositions tend to be unisex, layering woods, resins and spices with fruits, florals or gourmand notes, aiming to make traditionally intense materials like oud wearable in everyday contexts.