Testing and trying 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, green 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 immediately inspired me to find more.
If, like me, you'd previously written off oud, here are the 30 best oud perfumes that aren't at all overpowering or headache-inducing—I promise.
The Best Oud Perfumes, Listed:
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 Musk Oud
10. Cra-Yon Sand Service
11. Lancôme Ôud Bouquet
12. Guerlain Cherry Oud
13. Atkinsons The Other Side of Oud
Shop The Best Oud Perfumes:
1. Maison Crivelli Oud Maracuja
Key notes: Passion fruit accord, vanilla, saffron and oud
The juicy top note of passionfruit takes centre stage in this perfume, balanced by an oud base note that keeps it the right side of fruity.
2. Maison Francis Kurkdjian Oud Silk Mood
Key notes: Papyrus, chamomile, rose and oud
Smooth and radiant, this perfume has a perfect balance of rose and oud.
3. Byredo Mumbai Noise
Key notes: Davana, coffee, tonka beans and sandalwood
Woody and spicy, this fragrance features notes that are just as loud as oud—coffee, sandalwood, and tonka bean, which prevents the oud from overpowering.
4. Diptyque Oud Palao
Key notes: Wood, vanilla and rose
At first sniff, the rose and oud may seem overwhelming, but this scent quickly settles into a sweeter, creamier texture—thanks to notes of tobacco and vanilla.
5. Penhaligon's Halfeti
Key notes: Leather, oud, amber, resins, tonka bean, vanilla and sandalwood
Spicy and aromatic, this iconic perfume is packed with spicy and woody notes like cypress, bergamot, and grapefruit. Oud features, but without being too powerful.
6. Guerlain Oud Nude
Key notes: White almond, oud, raspberry accord and atlas cedar
A soft, sensual oud which subtly enhances skin's natural scent.
7. Juliette Has A Gun Another Oud
Key notes: Raspberry, bergamot, norlimbanol, oud and musk
A fresh and modern interpretation of oud, with notes of musk, bergamot, and raspberry.
8. Jo Malone Oud Bergamot
Key notes: Bergamot, cedarwood and oud
This scent really surprises—it's sparkling and woody, perfect if you're after a delicate, feminine interpretation of oud.
9. Killian Paris Musk Oud
Key notes: Davana, geranium and oud
This is a really elegant, sensual scent, with notes of lemon, cardamom, coriander, and geranium. The oud gives it longevity and a richness which makes it ideal for evening wear.
10. Cra-Yon Sand Service
Key notes: Violet, papyrus and leather
A woody, powdery scent with cardamom, papyrus, and violet. The oud is subtle but intensifies a little more as it dries down.
11. Lancôme Ôud Bouquet
Key notes: Oud, guaïac wood, copahu wood, praline and rose
A fun interpretation of oud which pairs the note with the floral sweetness of praline and rose.
12. Guerlain Cherry Oud
Key notes: Cherry, rose and oud
Those who like sweet and fruity fragrances will love this cherry-based take on oud.
13. Atkinsons The Other Side of Oud
Key notes: Ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, vanilla and oud
Warm, spicy, and a little sweet, this is another pleasantly surprising oud-based perfume which totally reinterprets the note.
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. Zara Perpetual Oud
Key notes: Pepper, pear, red roses, saffron, amber woods, patchouli musk
Don't be fooled by the affordable price tag—this homage to oud smells incredibly expensive thanks to its complex cocktail of notes. It's fruity, floral and deeply woody, but delivers that rich depth of fragrance that we all expect from an oud perfume.
16. 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.
17. 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.
18. Louis Vuitton Ombre Nomade
Key notes: Oud wood, incense, benzoin tears, raspberry
A homage to the desert, this is an enchanting blend of smoky incense and sharp raspberry which mingle to create a lively and intoxicating oud scent.
19. Molton Brown Mesmerising Oudh Accord Gold
Key notes: Bergamot, cinnamon leaf, oudh, resin, elemi, black tea
Brimming with honeyed resin, deep woody oudh and a sparkling citrus splash of bergamot, this beautiful perfume is like taking a stroll through a mystical forest.
20. Gucci Intense Oud
Key notes: Pear, raspberry, saffron, Bulgarian rose, orange flower, patchouli
This homage to oud is a a sophisticated woody scent with a cocktail of fruit, florals and spicy. Plus, it lasts for hours and hours.
21. Tom Ford Oud Wood
Key notes: Rare oud wood, sandalwood and Chinese pepper
This rather exotic and spicy fragrance reminds me of exploring the souks of Marrakech where cardamom and amber fill the air—a peppery, smoky, woody delight.
22. 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.
23. 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.
24. 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.
25. 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.
26. Hermès Hermessence Oud Alezan
Key notes: Oud, rose hydrolat, rose oxide
Fans of rose perfumes will adore this scent which contrasts two fragrant rose blooms with an intoxicating oud for a mysterious floral.
27. Sunnamusk Forever
Key notes: Saffron, raspberry, geranium rose, oud, birch, olibanum
I adore this sweet and sultry interpretation of an oud perfume which combines tangy raspberry and powdery rose with the more earth and resinous notes of oud, birch and saffron.
28. L’Artisan Parfumeur Ode à L'oudh
Key notes: Oud, coriander, saffron, nutmeg, vanilla, sandalwood, musk
This is like an oud version of a skin scent thanks to the soft musk and sweet vanilla paired with the more woody hints of sandalwood and warming nutmeg. It's comforting yet luxurious.
29. Akro Night
Key notes: Bulgarian rose, cumin, saffron, agaroud
Bottling the spirit of an evening spent dancing in a smoky London nightclub, this unassuming bottle is musky, spicy and mysterious.
30. 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.
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