L'Artisan Fragrances • Al Oudh • Fragrances

Where To Buy?

*TOP REVIEWER* WentworthRoth on 12/20/2010 1:23:00 PM more reviews by WentworthRoth

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

Notes: cumin, cardamom, pink pepper, neroli, rose, castoreum, civet, leather, musk, oud, sandalwood, Atlas cedar, patchouli, myrrh, incense, vanilla and tonka bean

Al Oudh opens with the typical medicinal notes of oud, which, however, have been tamed by the other notes to make the agarwood note more pleasing for the masses. Unfortunately this results in a weakened oud note, making up for a rather pale experience of this particular wood. Once the medicinal opening has vanished, all there remains is a spectral oud note floating above a nondescript oriental base. I weep for Al Oudh if I compare it to the glorious Steam Oud. As the fragrance progresses a very strong spice note, breaks through and overwhelms the eaglewood note, transforming the fragrance in a spicy oriental. The only saving grace is now the animalistic base which is also rather weak to not put off more sensitive noses. Lasts more than 7 hours.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

debrsl on 9/4/2010 12:51:00 PM more reviews by debrsl

Age: 44-55   Skin: Dry   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

The opening came off as very masculine. The drydown is pretty good, but after having sampled the Montale Aouds, this L'Artisan fragrance seems weak and thinned out for mass consumption. It's not bad; it's just not good or great.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

DorothyEm on 7/17/2010 12:37:00 AM more reviews by DorothyEm

Age: Unknown   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

Cumin trying to pass itself off as oudh.

I have no problem with cumin in a fragrance, but this was straight up cumin on me. I like that in my chile con carne, not in my perfume.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

Spooty on 7/16/2010 11:17:00 PM more reviews by Spooty

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

Love this scent and the drydown is to die for.
Started with a sample. Used it with due caution. Sniffed empty vial occasionally until I knew that I needed a full bottle.
To me it's a skin scent, musky and beautiful. I don't have any ill will towards cumin but I understand that other people do. Try not to judge the top notes too harshly. Warning, it lasts forever on clothing.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

masha814 on 6/20/2010 5:59:00 AM more reviews by masha814

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Red, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

I've spent the last 20 years lucky enough to sniff the real McCoy (oudhs, both in incense and perfume form, from the Middle East and Asia), and so I admit I am biased against "Western versions" of this traditional form of Asian perfumery. This is a somewhat cleaned up, thinned-out, Europeanized perfume for those who want a hint of the real deal, but find the real deal too much, too intimidating, or just to darn weird to wear on the Metro. There's a lot of cumin in this, so cumin lovers, do try it! Cumin-o-phobes, please avoid this one. Overall, a good compromise for Westerners.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* KelseyP on 6/2/2010 2:39:00 PM more reviews by KelseyP

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Blond, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

There is a devil at the table - a lusty, bedroom eyed thing with fire just under the skin and a grin that promises trouble. I both swooned and backed away from this scent - at it's final resolution, I felt certain that it was Bertrand Duchafour paying homage to Christopher Sheldrake by marrying the lovely Fem du Bois base to the dirty musk heart of MKK by way of a healthy dose of biblical incense that walks a precarious balance directly between the two. Is there cumin? Yes, but only in the savory way that FdB does it. The civety musk is the bigger issue here - I do not love MKK, but was seduced by the masculine lustiness of this - I can't describe it any other way. I put in my review that I would buy this again - but that's not entirely true. I can't imagine wearing this because it puts me in a mind for one thing only - and my husband said he likes it, but doesn't love it, so what's the point? But it's gorgeously crafted, and lasts and lasts and lasts. Perhaps I'll be able to procure a decant of this lusty little thing some day.

Edited 6/21 - Okay, I broke down and began to crave this scent and bought a decant and found that rolling it on as opposed to spraying seems to make this silkier and meld with my skin - maybe just by virtue of lighter application. Dh even commented last night on how good I smelled. This is marvelous applied at bedtime, and has that drowsy warmed skin smell to me - lusty, salty skin, but deliciously sexy.

6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No