Too Oud to Be True

Saffron arrives first, warm and spicy, backed by nutmeg and a touch of lavender in an opening that stays faithful to the Initio original. Oud takes over the heart with a smoky, slightly leathery quality, joined by patchouli for extra depth. The base is where it pulls back the most - amber and oakmoss provide a woody-resinous finish, but nothing close to the original's legendary Iso E-driven power and reach, which is often cited as the hardest part of Oud for Greatness for any dupe to replicate. Still, the opening hours capture the opulent, saffron-heavy character that made this fragrance so hyped in the first place.