Oud Serenade

Oud Serenade opens on the signature juicy pineapple that made Nishane's Hacivat Oud a cult favourite, sparkling against citrus and a bite of pink and black pepper. The heart turns resinous and smoky, frankincense and olibanum wrapped around a thread of jasmine. It settles onto the dark base the original is built on, smoky oud, Haitian vetiver and earthy patchouli with a touch of vanilla. Set beside Hacivat Oud, the Perfume Parlour interpretation is the most divergent in the line, wearers note the opening and heart drift off-target and the oud can read a touch skanky and synthetic where the original is rich and supercharged with naturals. The original is a legendary beast-mode performer; here longevity is the real weak point, often fading to a skin scent within an hour or two. For a few pounds it gestures convincingly at that smoky pineapple-oud signature, an inexpensive way to sample the Hacivat DNA for cooler evenings, but it cannot match the original's depth or staying power.