Light Wood

Light Wood opens herbal and bright - lemon, artemisia and chamomile lifted by a curl of incense, the gourmand-herbal start that gives Nur its character. It moves into a dense amber heart touched with soft apricot, powdery orris and cedar, then dries down to a powdery blend of leather, vanilla and musk. Against the SoOud original the dupe reads a touch flatter and less refined: the sophisticated, beautifully-blended dry-down that fans praise is simplified, and the Russian-leather facet is softened into something gentler. It wears as a powdery, sensual amber oriental built for cool weather, evenings and dressier occasions. Projection is modest and longevity skin-close after the opening hours, the usual budget trade against the strongly-performing original. As a smell-alike it captures the resplendent amber-incense-leather idea that made Nur a niche favourite while losing some of the polish and tenacity.