Most people will recognize the distinct scent of smoked spices, sweet tobacco, and heavy leather as oud — the dark resinous wood used in luxury incense and perfume. Although anionic ingredient in the Middle Eastern world, the powerful potent of oud can be an acquired taste; however, with perfume houses offering new interpretations of the scent — from floral-inspired to crushed mint and musk — the aroma has become a signature fragrance to wear to elegant dinners and exclusive parties.

Oud, ACQUA DI PARMA

This fragrance combines deep wood notes with a blend of fresh accords, combining spiced cedar, leather, and agarwood’s rare oud essence with an uplifting burst of orange and bergamot. The end result is an intense aroma fit for red carpet events.

Oud Essentiel, GUERLAIN

Guerlain Perfumer Thierry Wasser created an olfactory encounter between East and West inspired by the precious oud wood, which is explored in the Absolut d’Orient collection. The Oud Essentiel is a magnificent scent in the collection that combines notes of leather and Frankincense with the sweet aroma of Bulgarian rose.

The Alchemist’s Garden – A Nocturnal Whisper, GUCCI

Alessandro Michele drew inspiration from a vintage apothecary to create lacquered glass bottles with pipette applicators for Gucci’s first Haute Perfumery line, The Alchemist’s Garden. A Nocturnal Whisper is a rich perfumed oil encased in a sage green bottle designed for the vanity table, infused with notes of oud, leather, benzoin, and saffron.

Nuit des Rois, CHOPARD COLLECTION

Chopard’s Nuit des Rois, made from the rich Arabian aroma of oud assafi, has the charm and magic of a starry desert night with an opulent scent made for exclusive parties. Alberto Morillas created the luxury fragrance for the Garden King collection, which combines natural oud with orris, rose, sandalwood, olibanum, saffron, patchouli, and benzoin.

Oud Bouquet, LANCÔME

Oud Bouquet is an enchanting scent of deep oriental wood and warm spices that combines the house’s signature proline rose with twenty-year-old oud wood, smoky guaiac wood, and the softer, more soothing copahu wood to create a seductive scent perfect for date night.

Oud Fleur, TOM FORD

Despite the fact that Oud Fleur combines two traditional Arabian ingredients, rose and oud wood, the fragrance creates a fresh take on the iconic ingredients — in true Tom Ford fashion. The distinctive scent combines rich and noble wood notes with a symphony of floral rose and patchouli to create a luxury olfactory that will leave a lasting scent wherever you go.

Oud & Musc Les Heures Voyageuses, CARTIER

Cartier’s Les Heures de Parfum collection delves into oriental scents, infusing sweet-smelling oud resin with oriental ingredients like rose, sandalwood, jasmine, amber, and mint. Cartier perfumer Mathilde Laurent combined the oud base with musk for this fragrance in the collection.

Accord Oud, BYREDO

Byredo’s complex oud-based scent is based on a smooth accord of leather and blond woods, embracing the traditional incense of oud. The fragrance begins with notes of saffron, blackberry, and rum, and ends with patchouli and powdery musks, creating the ideal scent for an elegant soiree.

L’Atelier de Givenchy Oud Flamboyant, GIVENCHY

This scent is inspired by the shimmering glow of gold lamé fabric, which evokes the enchanting spirit of the orient and captures the art of Haute Couture, and adds a gorgeous finishing touch to any evening ensemble. The oud fragrance combines labdanum ciste and woody leather to create a sumptuous, smokey allure.

Oud Ispahan, DIOR

Oud Ispahan captures the smoky scent of firewood and contrasts it with a sweet, floral essence to create a velvety fragrance that evokes the splendour and opulence of an Oriental palace. This oud perfume, with lingering notes of rose, frankincense, and resin, is an ode to the Orient’s allure, which has long inspired Christian Dior.