Oud Perfumes

Oud is the resinous wood of the aquilaria, a Southeast Asian tree that fills with dark resin when it is attacked by a fungus. In perfumery, it gives woody, smoky and animalic trails, among the most intense there are.

41 perfumes

Oud is the resinous wood of the aquilaria, a Southeast Asian tree that fills with dark resin when it is attacked by a fungus. In perfumery, it gives woody, smoky and animalic trails, among the most intense there are.

Our selection brings together oud perfumes from independent niche houses, from the gourmand extrait to smoky, leathery woods. Most are highly concentrated extraits, to be applied with restraint.

What is oud in perfumery?

Natural oud oil is among the most expensive materials in perfumery, because only a small share of trees develop the resin. Houses use it pure, in small proportions, or complement it with accords that reproduce its character. Aaron Terence Hughes, for example, adds 5% or more of Thai oud to several of his extraits. To learn more: what is oud and Thai oud.

Vanilla oud, oud and rose, smoky oud

Gourmand and amber oud

Oud Noir by Aaron Terence Hughes pairs cinnamon, saffron, plum and amaretto with 5% Thai oud, over benzoin and vanilla. Tabac Extreme opens on tobacco leaf, cherry and plum before a 5% oud base. Zeus / Daddy sets apple and tonka over a soft oud, sandalwood and vanilla.

Oud and rose

Onyx Extreme brings together 4% rose absolute, plum, chocolate and raspberry around 7.6% Thai oud. It is one of the house's best-rated perfumes on Parfumo.

Dry, smoky and leathery oud

Morpheus is drier: cardamom, pink pepper and frankincense, then Thai oud, sandalwood and vetiver. Leaves in the Wind by Adi ale Van blends birch, smoke, frankincense and leather over a base of oud, civet and labdanum. Gun Shadows, from the same house, pushes the register towards metallic, ink and old newspaper notes.

The selection also includes the ouds of Pernoire, Widian, Voice From The Sky and MysNyx.

Oud perfume for men or for women?

Oud has no gender. In the Middle East, where its use in perfumery comes from, both men and women wear it. The darkest compositions, smoky or leathery, are often chosen by men, and oud-rose or oud-vanilla accords by women, but most of the perfumes on this page are unisex.

Try before you buy

Oud divides opinion: some smell a precious wood in it, others an animalic or medicinal note. It is best to try it on skin before choosing a bottle. Most of the perfumes in this selection are available as a 2 ml sample. One or two sprays are enough: these extraits last a long time and project far.

Frequently asked questions

Is oud perfume strong?

Yes. Oud is one of the most powerful notes in perfumery, and a few percent in an extrait is enough to mark the whole trail. Start with a single spray.

What is the difference between oud and sandalwood?

Sandalwood is a creamy, soft wood. Oud is a dark resin, smokier, more animalic and more bitter. The two are often paired in the same perfume.