If you’ve been scrolling through luxury fragrances online, chances are you’ve come across an ingredient called “oud’. Also known with dramatic names like “wood of the gods” or “liquid gold”, oud is one of the most expensive and sought-after ingredients in the luxury perfume world. But like…what exactly is oud? And most importantly, what about this ingredient makes it so special? Let’s get into it!
More than your average scent, oud is a symbol of history combined with luxury. Derived from a rare resin found in the heart of the Aquilaria tree, oud has been loved for centuries, particularly in the Middle East and Asia. Its deep, smoky and musky scent stands out in the crowd, making it a staple in many iconic perfumes.
Let’s dive into the origins of oud, its role in modern perfumery, and why it's considered the ultimate luxury scent ingredient.
What Is Oud?
Also referred to as agarwood, oud is derived from the resinous heartwood of the agar tree. The tree is mainly found in the dense forests of Southeast Asia, India, and Bangladesh.
When infected with a specific type of mold, the agar tree starts to produce the resin as a defense mechanism. This resin slowly turns the heartwood dark and aromatic, and after years of growth, it creates what we know as oud. That’s quite interesting.
Oud has a very rich and complex essence. If we have to define how it smells like, we’d say it smells woody, smoky and earthy, with a hint of spice, leather and even sweetness. An interesting thing about oud is that unlike many other scents, it lingers on you for longer, evolving with time and deepening as the time passes by. No wonder it’s such a popular ingredient in Middle Eastern fragrances!
Some may say oud is more than a fragrance – it’s a whole experience, rich with a long history and an interesting way of being harvested.
Brief History of the Famous Oud
You might think oud has originated from the middle east, since a lot of arab-branded perfumes contain oud but that’s where you’re wrong…oud actually has its origins in Asia. Apparently, oud was part of incense extracted from trees in Vietnam. Later on, traders began exporting it to countries like Japan, China, and the Middle East region.
Especially the Arab countries treated oud as a symbol of luxury and opulence, burning it in palaces and using it as perfume oils. As trade routes expanded, oud made its way to Europe and well, that’s how oud became a key ingredient in luxury perfumes.
We won’t dive into too much detail as that can be a bit boring. Let’s move on!
How Oud Is Used In Perfumes
Oud is commonly found in fine perfumes that usually come with a hefty price tag. Its rich, complex aroma makes it an important ingredient for creating deep, sophisticated scents that linger long after you’ve applied it.
Oud as a Base Note
Due to its deep and rich nature, oud is primarily used as a base note in a fragrance, so you can say it’s basically the foundation of a perfume. Base notes are the last to develop after the top and middle notes have faded, and they’re often the ones that last the longest on the skin.
Oud’s dense, woody, and sometimes leathery qualities make it the perfect choice to create a solid base that anchors the other scents.
Blending Oud with Other Ingredients
Oud is a great fragrance in itself, but perfumers often combine it with other scent profiles to create a more balanced, well-rounded fragrance experience. Some of the common combinations are mixing oud with florals like rose or jasmine to soften its intensity. Or, to make the scent even richer, combining it with warm scents like saffron or cardamom.
To cut the deep aroma and make the fragrance more fresh, some perfumers add a touch of citrus too. Bergamot is a great example.
Oud is quite versatile in nature – it complements a wide range of other ingredients, from sweet vanilla to warm amber.
Oud in Niche and Luxury Perfumes
Oud has a very unique scent that feels luxurious, that’s probably why a lot of big perfume houses like Tom Ford, Creed and Amouge incorporate oud as their signature scent ingredient. Brands truly appreciate oud for its one-of-a-kind fragrance and add it to their perfumes to create a rich, timeless scent that not only lingers on you but turns heads wherever you go.
The demand for oud has grown, even in the Western markets. Perfumers all around the world are mixing and matching oud with different ingredients to create a new, unforgettable scent experience.
For example, Tom Ford’s Oud Wood offers a combination of oud with known and loved scents like vanilla, wood, amber, etc. It’s a good introduction to oud fragrances, without being too overpowering.
Another great example is Armaf Club de Nuit Oud EDP, which combines fruity notes of peach, pineapple, bergamot and more with base notes of vanilla, amber and oud.
Natural vs. Synthetic Oud
The world of oud is pretty diverse, with differences mainly arising from factors such as the species of the Aquilaria tree, the region it’s sourced from and the method of extraction. Let’s start by the biggest difference of all – natural vs. synthetic oud.
Natural Oud
It’s the real deal, harvested from infected Aquilaria trees. It takes years, even decades, for the resin to develop, making it a rare commodity which explains its high price point.
One thing to note is that natural oud can be very strong, which is why perfumers often mix it with other ingredients to make its scent more balanced.
Synthetic Oud
Since natural oud is so rare and pricey, there’s also a synthetic version that mimics the smell of natural oud. While it does do a great job, it’s still not the real deal as it lacks the authenticity and depth natural oud has. Well, that’s to be expected. And the best part is that synthetic oud is easy on the pocket AND sustainable! Many brands are experimenting with perfecting synthetic oud to offer a cruelty-free, affordable and easily accessible version of the luxurious scent.
How to Identify Authentic Oud
Yes, there are alternatives to natural oud but it’s important to know how to identify genuine oud from cheap imitations or low-quality synthetic oud. Here’s what you need to look out for:
Scent Profile
You can always tell which oud is natural by its scent alone. Natural oud is more deep, woody and smoky with earthy undertones. Synthetic or diluted oud, on the other hand, tends to have a more one-dimensional scent. It may smell overly sweet, harsh, or overly floral without the deep complexity found in real oud. Trust your nose – it knows!
Appearance
The appearance of the oud can also give you an idea whether it’s real or not. For example, oud oil has a darker color and raw oud chips have dark streaks of resin on them. Stay away from light colored chips – they may be of lower quality or well, fake. Save your money.
Price Point
Good quality, natural oud doesn’t come cheap, so price can be a really big indicator. If you’re in the market for an oud scent and find one that’s incredibly low in price, it’s likely a diluted or synthetic version.
If you can’t tell by the price and you’re unsure about an oud perfume, maybe try requesting for a sample before committing to a whole bottle. That way, you can test out the scent for its depth, complexity and staying power and make a decision accordingly.
Final Thoughts
By now, you’ll have a pretty good idea of what is oud and why it is suddenly everywhere. One of the most sought after ingredients in the perfume world, oud is deep, rich and very aromatic. It has a luxurious feel to it, which is why it’s been popular among the royalty in the ancient times and is now a famous fragrance element, with big houses like Tom Ford and Creed having their own oud scents.
You definitely want to explore oud fragrances now, don’t you? Well, what’s a better place to start than Fragrant Villa? We offer a huge selection of oud perfumes and we’re sure you can find your next favorite scent in our collection. Visit our website https://fragrantvilla.com/ and start shopping!
