Cardamom, Tonka & White Oud

Cardamom, Tonka & White Oud is the house's nod to the Arabian perfume tradition, a warm spiced oriental built around three headline notes. It opens bright and peppery, with lime and mandarin lifting cardamom, clove and nutmeg, and fruity hints of cassis, plum and a little mint in the longer note list. The heart is soft and floral, rose and orange blossom with lily and freesia, before a sweet base of tonka bean, white oud, sandalwood, cedar and amber takes over. Wearers agree on the strength and the sweetness. They find the cardamom and tonka easy to pick out and call it a strong perfume that lasts a very long time, with sweet oud and oriental hints. Opinions split on the oud itself: one wearer cannot find it, finds the whole scent old-school and, to their nose, a little cheap, while others count it among their favourites in the range and find the oud comforting. It is on the sweet side, so it can feel dense to some noses. It suits cooler months and evenings best, as a date or dressy scent, and the house describes it as unisex with a regal, resplendent character. A good fit for anyone who wants a sweet, spicy, oud-flavoured fragrance with real presence, made by hand in the UK by a small London house.