Picture: Resiny wood. Photo: Mr Parfumista (c)
In the topnotes Ambre Oud starts as a relatively clean amber, followed by some traces of a light powderness. As the scent drys down it becomes a little darker and also sweeter as ther is a obvious note of a fine vanilla (like vanilla pods) in the base. The vanilla reminds me of the vanilla note in Havana Vanille by L'Artisan Parfumeur. There are also woody notes in Ambre Oud but not much oud, to my nose anyway. Maybe Ambre Oud is build among the same idea as the earlier release Incense Oud, a parfume without oud that are intended to get the olfactory image of oud. But Ambre Oud doesen't even give me that oud image as Incense Oud does.
To me Ambre Oud is a good but not groundbreaking amberperfume, wearable for most occasions during the colder months. A good choice among others for customers who are searching for an elegant basic amberperfume without oddities. It's an alternative to the likes of Serge Lutens Ambre Sultan or Ormonde Jaynes Tolu. Ambre Oud never gets as dry, fluffy and (gun)powdery as Mona di Orios Les Nombres d'Or Ambre nor dark, dusky and slight dirty as L'Ombre Fauve by Pafumerie Générale, my two favorite ambers.
Rating: 4 +
First I rated this 3+ because I don't think it's original enough even if well balanced and of good quality. That rating made Mr Parfumista upset as he thinks Ambre Oud is a very good fragrance and deserves a rating at least as 4 or actually higher. As he is very picky about fragrances I had to reconsider my earlier rating and raise it a step. Mr Parfumistas own rating of Ambre Oud ís at least 4+.
Notes: Amber, benzoin, vanille, cedar, laurel.
I just got my sample in the mail today, I've been wearing it for a few hours now and I have to say that I go with Mr Parfumistas view on this one :)
SvaraRaderaOud is one of those notes I haven't learned to appreciate wholeheartedly yet (as I'm a newbie perfumista) but I think Amber Oud is a perfect beginners oud as the oud note is not that prominent and everything else that's in there is so very very yummy.
You're absolutely right in that, Ambre Oud is a perfect beginners Oud (and FBW as an amber fragrance). Another oud in this category is JHAG Midnight Oud, the oud in this is much more evident than in Ambre Oud but smooth enough not to frighten anybody away.
SvaraRadera