Wearing This Fragrance Always Makes Me Feel Rich—29 Perfumes I Recommend

Mica Ricketts
Testing and trying the best perfumes for a living means that it becomes easy to jump to conclusions based off of a fragrance's name, notes, and even its packaging. Spot vetiver and you know the scent is going to be woody, whereas if vanilla features then it's likely to be sweet. Likewise, it's possible to tell if a fragrance will veer fresh or floral based on its balance of citrus and flower notes. So what I really love is when a perfume unexpectedly and pleasantly surprises me. There are certain notes in fragrance that I tend to avoid—and so until recently, I had written oud perfumes totally off.
What is Oud?
Oud is a fragrance oil typically featured as a base note because it's rich and woody, and it tends to be used in perfumes that are quite loud and decadent—the type that are best worn at night time. Since I gravitate towards fresh, lightweight fragrances, oud isn't a note that features in a lot of my favourite scents, and my prior experience with the note led me to believe that it overpowered perfumes and would leave me with a pounding headache.
The thing about the fragrance industry, however is that it's full of innovation, and perfumers love a challenge. Attempting to modernise a classic or reinvent an underrated fragrance note is a big trend in perfume right now, which means that oud is seeing a bit of a renaissance. I recently had a fragrance consultation with the perfume experts at Guerlain, and was passed a tester of Guerlain Oud Nude to try. Of course, I wasn't expecting to like it, which made it all the more interesting when I found that for the first time, I wasn't put off at first sniff. With notes of almond, raspberry, vanilla, and sandalwood—and just a touch of smoky, leathery oud, it's sweet, soft, and surprisingly subtle. On skin, it smells even better, and the oud really does take a backseat while still giving the fragrance the rich warmth for which the note is so famous. It's undoubtedly one of the best oud perfumes I've ever smelled, and it immediately inspired me to find more.
If, like me, you'd previously written off oud, here are the 29 best oud perfumes that aren't at all overpowering or headache-inducing—I promise.
The Best Oud Perfumes, Listed:
- The best spring oud perfume: Maison Crivelli Oud Maracuja
- The best soft oud perfume: Guerlain Oud Nude
- The best evening oud perfume: Killian Paris Musk Oud
- The best daytime oud perfume: Juliette Has A Gun Another Oud
Shop The Best Oud Perfumes:
1. Maison Crivelli Oud Maracuja
2. Maison Francis Kurkdjian Oud Silk Mood
3. Byredo Mumbai Noise
4. Diptyque Oud Palao
5. Penhaligon's Halfeti
6. Guerlain Oud Nude
7. Juliette Has A Gun Another Oud
8. Jo Malone Oud Bergamot
9. Killian Paris Musk Oud
10. Cra-Yon Sand Service
11. Lancôme Ôud Bouquet
12. Guerlain Cherry Oud
13. Atkinsons The Other Side of Oud
14. Edeniste Oud Ghazal
Key notes: Black cherry accord, Madagascan peppercorn, cardamom, oud, labdanum resin, musk, vetiver and cedar atlas oil
Oud isnt typically associated with gourmand perfumes, but this new launch from Edeniste is mouthwateringly decadent—a celebration of sweet, glossy black cherries with toasted spices and a hint of musk.
15. Dior Oud Ispahan
Key notes: Oud wood, Damascus rose
This is an undeniably sexy date night perfume that perfectly couples that woody opulence of oud with a more sensual rose bouquet.
16. Kayalid Oudgasm Vanilla Oud 36
Key notes: Pear, praline, saffron, Bulgarian rose, cashmere wood, vanilla sugar, white musk, oakmoss, oud
Vanilla perfumes have a reputation as being overly sweet, but this is a warm and spicy take on the gourmand note that dries down into a rich, musky, cologne-like fragrance.
17. Louis Vuitton Ombre Nomade
18. Molton Brown Mesmerising Oudh Accord Gold
19. Gucci Intense Oud
20. Tom Ford Oud Wood
21. Acqua di Parma Oud
Key notes: Bergamot, orange, Haitian amyris oil, Russian coriander, agarwood oil (oud), cedarwood, leather accord, patchouli oil, sandalwood and musk
Despite its intensity, this oud perfume never verges into headache-inducing territory thanks to its combination of bright citrus notes and herby undertones. Utterly captivating.
22. 27 87 Rule of 72
Key notes: Cypress, saffron, cardamom, geranium, oud, ylang-ylang, cedarwood, guaiac wood, vetiver, patchouli
If you're looking for a confidence-boosting perfume then this elegant offering from 27 87 is perfect. It has natural Thai oud at its heart, but there's soft leather and powdery patchouli which create a sophisticated and wearable blend.
23. Rituals Oudh Pour Femme
Key notes: Pink pepper, oud, Bulgarian rose
This smells so luxurious you'd expect it to be four times the price. In essence, it captures the vibrancy of the Middle East in one golden bottle—there's spiciness, sweet rose and pink pepper for a spirited and lively oud scent.
24. Initio Parfums Oud for Greatness
Key notes: Lavender, saffron, nutmeg, natural oud wood, agarwood oil, patchouli muscs
A bold and striking oud scent, this is a real power perfume from the bottle to the juice inside. However, the unexpected addition of lavender and nutmeg adds a fresh spiciness that prevents it from feeling too heavy.
25. Hermès Hermessence Oud Alezan
26. Sunnamusk Forever
27. L’Artisan Parfumeur Ode à L'oudh
28. Akro Night
29. Miller Harris Oud Eclat
Key notes: Agarwood, marigold, cashmere wood, amber, fir balsam, nutmeg, moss, musk, leather and sugar
This perfume is so enchanting that it feels like a festive fragrance to me. There's breathtaking fir basalm, white woods and musk, and a sprinkling of spice from nutmeg and amber. It's crisp, warming and utterly delightful.
This story was published at an earlier time and has since been updated.
Grace Day is a beauty editor and content creator. She has over 10 years of beauty-industry experience, spanning editorial, retail, and e-commerce, which gives her a unique understanding into how people shop for their beauty routines.While studying for a history degree (specialising in the history of beauty) and working as a beauty adviser in department stores, Grace started writing her own beauty blog in order to share the products she discovered while dealing with acne. After graduating, she moved to Beauty Bay as beauty editor and content manager. Grace is currently a beauty contributor toBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing . She has also written for Hypebae and PopSugar and works as a brand consultant and copywriter.
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