Oud Abramad by BDK Parfums

Oud: the Oriental Beast; capable of making a perfume smell like a stable, sweaty horse, or strong cheese. Probably the note that’s been talked about the most in recent years. Hearing a perfume contains this ingredient can turn some people off. But this is a tamed oud, one you shouldn’t be afraid of. Upon spraying, it starts with a petrolic saffron with a slight leather scent, though this lasts only a few seconds. It quickly transforms into a dry wood, accompanied by a cold incense, like an unlit incense stick. The rose and cumin are very subtle—at least on my skin—and only add a slightly powdery texture. In the dry down, I also detect undeclared nuts, like dates. The perfume itself is quite linear; from this point on, it doesn’t change much. The oud we have here is likely an accord. I don’t know if it contains natural oud, but if it does, it’s worked up very cleanly: it’s not animalic, medicinal, or milky like pure oud often is. This one remains elegant throughout. Every time I smell it, I imagine an antique wooden piece of furniture, and it conveys the same sensations: maturity, cleanliness, and a touch of opulence. Performance on my skin is good. It starts strong for the first two hours and decays slowly until it’s skin-scent after about eight hours. Being an oud perfume, we could expect more, but it seems reasonable; you can always reapply. As for occasions, I feel it’s extremely elegant and for occasional use. It works well for a gala, an elegant dinner, or anywhere you want to project maturity and authority. It’s not versatile in that regard. If you’re young, I wouldn’t wear it without a suit; it requires the right bearing to pull it off. This perfume has no sweet notes nor is it too warm; it’s practically pure wood. As for climates, I see it as versatile, just be careful in the heat since it does have some weight. I simply love it: a tamed, clean, elegant, aristocratic oud. It’s not something everyone will like at first sniff, but if you’re into this type of perfume, you’ll really love it. For me, a 10/10.

The Oud Abramad by BDK is a rose-oud blend with saffron that dries down to a smoky wood and incense, almost like scented wax, until the very end. Performance and quality are decent, but with that profile, there are better options, like Emir by Micallef. I’d wear it cold for elegant events and find it more masculine. In the end, I wouldn’t keep it, and it’s not the best from BDK in my opinion. Rating: 6/10.