Woody

Oud

Note Profile

Botanical 2,259 perfumes

Also Known As

Agar Wood, Fruity oud facets, kyara, Laotian Oud, multiple ouds, natural oud, Oud Absolute, Oudh, Synthetic Oud, synthetic oudh

About

Rich, complex agarwood

Scent Profile

Oud has a deep, resinous, and woody aroma with complex facets of earth, leather, smoke, and subtle sweetness. The opening is sharply medicinal, all iodine and Band-Aid, and that phenolic edge is the part of oud people argue about. Within minutes it yields to wet leather, animalic warmth and smouldering incense over a balsamic base. The richness and longevity of oud make it a distinctive and powerful note in perfumery.

ScentWheel

Breadthmedium

EnvelopeBase · ~44h lasting

Family Woody & Earthy, Amber · Musk · Leather

Read off the wheel, not a label applied to the note.

What this is made of

Oud names no single substance

Reconstructed

Almost all commercial oud is a reconstruction; genuine agarwood oil is rare and not in the imported set.

How the layers join

Origin

Oud is derived from the resinous heartwood of Aquilaria trees, primarily found in Southeast Asia. The resin forms as a response to fungal infection, and it is extracted through distillation or solvent methods from aged, infected wood.

Usage in Perfumery

Perfumers use oud mainly as a base note due to its tenacity and depth. It is often blended with florals, spices, and other woods to create opulent, long-lasting compositions, and is especially prominent in Middle Eastern-inspired fragrances.