Editor’s tip: According to the brand, the mist should be spritzed all over the body, and it can be layered under a signature scent or worn on its own.
Notes: black rose, lily of the valley, oud, vetiver, santal, amber| Available sizes: 3.4 oz
Best Aquatic Oud: Tom Ford Oud Minérale Eau de Parfum
Why it’s worth it: Oud was once a relatively obscure ingredient in the West. Then, along came a designer with a penchant for decadence. “In 2004, Tom Ford Oud Wood helped put oud in the spotlight simply by using it in the name,” Clayton Ilohalia, evaluations and communications manager for Fragrances of the World, previously told Allure. In 2017, Ford included oud in this Best of Beauty award-winning fragrance that smells like a secluded beach. Weaving marine notes with oud, fir balsam, pink peppercorn, and ambergris, the scent is aquatic, earthy, spicy, and downright sexy.
Tester feedback: “One spritz and Oud Minérale lasts all day,” Allure contributor Brennan Kilbane said. “It ensconces you, not in a heady or pungent way, but in a private bubble of beachy, woody warmth. It is unforgettable.”
Notes: pink peppercorn, fir balsam, oud blend, ambergris accord, marine notes| Available sizes: 1.7 oz, 3.4 oz
Best Floral Oud: Maison Francis Kurkdjian Oud Satin Mood Eau de Parfum
Why it’s worth it: Feeling French? Opening with powdery notes of violet accord, Maison Francis Kurkdjian Oud Satin Mood Eau de Parfum settles into an oud that’s wrapped in the fragrance of rose. In a sapphire-blue bottle that hints at the preciousness of its contents, the fragrance is also infused with amber, benzoin, and vanilla. The mix of ambery, woody, and floral notes has a luxurious, warming feel—after a spritz or two, you’ll feel like you’re seated by a fireplace, draped in cashmere.
Editor’s tip: Derived from tree resin, benzoin has a honeyed, woody smell with notes that evoke caramel and vanilla. It’s often used to perfume Orthodox churches and Buddhist temples.
Notes: violet, rose, oud, amber, benzoin, vanilla| Available sizes: 2.4 oz, 6.8 oz
Best Gourmand Oud: Kayali Oudgasm Vanilla Oud Eau de Parfum Intense
Why it’s worth it: Kayali’s portfolio is akin to the poshest ice cream shop on earth—if everything were sprayable, rather than edible. The brand’s pistachio, marshmallow, and vanilla scents sate the craving of any perfume-lover with a sweet tooth, and even its oud is fit for the dessert menu. With notes of vanilla and praline, plus a dash of saffron, this oud is dolloped in sweetness and spice, while its packaging nods to tradition. Kayali’s diamond-shaped bottles, topped with jewel-like caps, pay homage to historical oud bottles from the Middle East.
