Dark Oud

Dark Oud opens on aromatic geranium and green cardamom against a wash of dried fruit, more tart plum than sweet jam, before warming into rose and frankincense with a honeyed saffron thread running through the heart. It is the house's oldest scent, and the one wearers most often reach for on a night out, one describing it as a fresh, electrifying thunderstorm that dries down into something metallic and mysterious. The base is where it earns its name: oud, ambergris and opoponax build a leathery, oceanic-salty depth that several reviewers single out as their favourite in the whole range, calling it their long-term go-to bottle. Performance reports are honestly mixed for the rollerball oil specifically, some find it projects fiercely and lasts most of the day, others find it fades closer to an EDT's pace, which is worth knowing given it comes in 2ml and 15ml sizes rather than a spray. It reads unisex leaning slightly masculine, sits comfortably against other fruited, resinous ouds, and rewards patience: reviewers note it intensifies and reveals more character the longer it sits on skin.