Royal Oud - 517 - Intense

No. 517 - Intense amplifies the house's take on Creed's Royal Oud, using a higher fragrance concentration to push projection and depth beyond the standard version. The pink pepper opening is brief before the woody core takes over: oud and Lebanese-style cedar are boosted here, giving genuinely more sillage and a warmer, spicier feel than the regular No. 517. The sandalwood base is rich and lasts well, which is the strongest point of comparison with Creed's smooth, refined dry down. The gap with the original is the same one that shows up in the standard strength, just louder - the oud note leans sweeter and more synthetic than Creed's restrained, almost mineral rendition, and the composition reads as more forceful than luxurious. For anyone who found the regular No. 517 too light, this delivers noticeably more staying power and projection, though it still doesn't capture the precise, understated authority of the real Royal Oud.