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Oud Essentiel Eau de Parfum bottle Oud Essentiel EDP
EDP Concentration EDP
U Gender M
2024 Year 2021
££ Price Tier £
Qaa'ed Al Shabaab Eau de Parfum bottle Qaa'ed Al Shabaab EDP
Our Verdict

Qaa'ed Al Shabaab and Oud Essentiel both deliver leather and oud, but diverge in style and refinement. Qaa'ed Al Shabaab is a raw, unapologetic leather bomb, leaning heavily into its animalic and smoky facets. Oud Essentiel offers a smoother, drier oud experience, though some find it metallic. The Lattafa is a budget-friendly powerhouse, while the Guerlain sits in the mid-range, offering a more polished, though potentially divisive, take on the central theme. If pure leather intensity is your goal, go with Qaa'ed. For a drier, potentially more complex oud, consider Oud Essentiel.

ScentArt

View Liquid → Oud Essentiel EDP
View Liquid → Qaa'ed Al Shabaab EDP

Which Should You Buy?

Choose Oud Essentiel if...
  • You want a bold, uncompromising leather scent.
  • You prefer a more animalic and smoky fragrance.
  • You're on a budget but want niche-like performance.
  • You appreciate raw, authentic leather notes.
Choose Qaa'ed Al Shabaab if...
  • You prefer a smoother, drier oud experience.
  • You want a more refined and complex fragrance.
  • You are willing to spend more for higher-end perfumery.
  • You want a more wearable leather-oud combination.
Our Verdict - Oud Essentiel EDP
This one's a proper love-it-or-hate-it affair. Expect strong opinions - some find it a sublime, dry oud masterpiece, others get hit with a metallic, mothball-like wall that's anything but pleasant. Definitely not a safe blind buy.
Acquired
Our Verdict - Qaa'ed Al Shabaab EDP
This is a bold, uncompromising leather bomb of a fragrance, not for the faint-hearted. It’s a polarizing scent that people either adore for its raw, authentic leather and outstanding performance, or recoil from its intense, industrial edge. If you’re into serious leather, this Lattafa offers niche quality at a bargain price.
Acquired

Scent Profile

How They Wear

Showing: Overall Blend

Mood

Mood Energising
Calming
Character Playful
Serious
Sentiment Uplifting
Brooding
Oud Essentiel EDP
Qaa'ed Al Shabaab EDP

Notes

Oud Essentiel
Qaa'ed Al Shabaab

Base Notes

Base Notes

Only in Qaa'ed Al Shabaab
Osmanthus 53% Ylang-Ylang 47%
Only in Oud Essentiel
Oud 50% Rose 50%
Only in Qaa'ed Al Shabaab
Leather 67% Cedar 33%
Only in Oud Essentiel
Leather 100%

Accords

Oud Essentiel Qaa'ed Al Shabaab
100%
Oud
79%
84%
Leather
100%
57%
Animalic
71%
Woody
68%
66%
Rose
Floral
64%
Amber
61%
Fruity
58%
46%
Smoky
51%
Sweet
45%
Oud shared
100%
79%
Leather shared
84%
100%
Animalic shared
57%
71%
68%
66%
64%
61%
58%
Smoky shared
46%
51%
45%

Performance

Oud Essentiel Qaa'ed Al Shabaab
Long (6-10h)
Longevity
Long (6-10h)
Strong
Projection
Strong
Strong
Intensity
Strong

Season and Occasion Fit

Oud Essentiel

Seasons

Best For:
Autumn Winter

A cold-weather scent - best worn in winter and autumn.

Occasions

Best For:
Date Formal

With its strong projection and exceptional longevity, Oud Essentiel is too potent for an office setting where it might overwhelm. It excels in formal events and dates, as many reviewers noted, offering a sophisticated and memorable presence without being an everyday wear.

Qaa'ed Al Shabaab

Seasons

Best For:
Autumn Winter

A cold-weather scent - best worn in winter and autumn.

Occasions

Also Works:
Date Casual

Its nuclear performance and intensely strong, animalic leather accord make it too overwhelming for polite office settings. It's best suited for casual evening wear or specific 'bad boy' occasions rather than formal events, though a subtle hand on a cold-weather date might work.

Similarity Breakdown

How alike these two fragrances smell, scored from their full scent profiles.

Overall scent match
61%
Key Similarities

Both lean leather, oud, animalic

Key Differences

Subtle differences in overall composition

Where to buy

Oud Essentiel EDP
Qaa'ed Al Shabaab EDP
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