Oud Touch by Franck Olivier

From the packaging, it smells like roses. It’s the budget option to LV’s Ombre Nomade or Dior’s Oud Ispahan. Starts with incense, then orange, followed by the floral combo of violet, jasmine, and roses. Sometimes it smells like leather, similar to Tom Ford’s Ombre Leather. After 15 minutes, raspberry and caramel appear. By two hours, vanilla and amber join the roses, lasting about 7-8 hours. It’s a gem.

A cheap fragrance with a fake oud from this French house. Made by Western snob fashion out of obligation. I don’t know what’s wrong with it. I used it twice and threw it away. It seems poorly made. This isn’t haterism; I own several Ouds by Olivier and I’m not against cheapies, but this makes me nauseous and sick. To each their own. Don’t buy blindly or just because influencers say so if you don’t want to waste money.

Surprising, affordable, and long-lasting without being overly sweet. I love Franck Olivier for being honest and well-crafted. This Oud Touch is one of their best fragrances. It shares similarities with Dior’s Oud Ispahan and a touch of Diptyque’s Oud Palao, but without trying to copy or deceive. It’s more approachable, featuring a Westernized oud substitute, perfect for those seeking something different rather than niche. Great for cool climates, elegant, and offers excellent value for money.

This is what I expect from an Oud. In a sea of similar scents, Oud Touch stands out. Although it has a slightly synthetic note, it’s balanced by its harmonious composition. Its dry-down is devastating!

A discovery, a bomb, a hidden gem in the affordable category. Blind buy sold as a clone of Dior’s Oud Ispahan (those €300+ ones). My surprise was huge: at first, it reminded me of Coco EDP by Chanel, but it evolves into sweet, smoky wood, like sugar burning on fire, with a delicate rose. There’s no real oud among its notes, hence the name. Eternal longevity, projects all day. Be careful with application. Try it, you’ll regret not having sooner. Incredible quality for the price.

A blend that brushes against perfection: synthetic but well-executed. Long-lasting, linear, and likable. It features a very wearable oud (though undeclared) paired with raspberry and caramel, making it approachable despite being a bit harsh and sharp at first. Don’t be intimidated; it tames easily. Best worn in winter with a coat.

Very hard to define. At home, my wife and daughters have banned me from wearing it. Personally, I love it: it has beastly potency, lasts 14 hours on skin, and is extremely invasive—you won’t leave anyone indifferent. It’s original; the opening is strong, but if you give it half an hour and a few chances, it can be a great option if you like to invade the space with your fragrance. Exclusive for cold weather, and the price is excellent. Not suitable for blind buys unless you don’t mind paying cheap and risking leaving it unused because you can’t stand it. But watch out, I absolutely love it 😅

I was about to buy it blind. One day, after trying Dior Oud Ispahan and encouraged by reviews saying it’s very similar, I was one click away from doing it. Luckily, I pulled myself together and ordered a sample. I was right. I’ve given it many chances. I don’t like it. Even at the two-hour mark, it starts to bother me. To me, it’s a muddled mess of sweet and woody notes that don’t define themselves. Heavy and synthetic. It irritates my nose. Nothing like Oud Ispahan. There are inspirations that come closer. It’s clear that at 20 euros you can’t expect miracles, but if you’re obsessed with Oud Ispahan, save up and share a bottle. Don’t fool yourself with Oud Touch.

I’ve been wearing it for a few months. To me, it smells like an overly strong pink candle; my girlfriend says it smells like the devil. I wouldn’t recommend it even to my enemy. 2/10.

Smells amazing. I read it was hard to wear, but it’s not. Very masculine, serious, and elegant, so it’s not super versatile. It stands up to any niche perfume; for the price, it’s a beast.

At first, it smells like a Chinese bazaar; after half an hour, it changes and smells just like the dry-down of Dior Sauvage. The trail is moderate, skin-level; only you notice it. Longevity is correct, about 5-6 hours. For the price, it’s great, although the first half hour is unbearable.

What a perfume, so delicious… It’s the best oud/rose combo you can buy at this price. I bought it yesterday and I don’t want to take it off today. Moderate trail, projects about half a meter. Ingredient quality is very good, better than some niche perfumes I own. Ridiculous price, 30 dollars. Totally recommended, but as is custom in perfumery, it won’t last long; don’t delay discontinuing or reformulating it. If you like this combo, buy as many bottles as you can. 10/10. Edit: Now that I use it more, I feel it has undeclared ambroxan; comparing it to Dior Sauvage Parfum, the dry-down is quite similar after hours.

Franck Olivier Oud Touch. I’m a fan of the brand because it offers sincere fragrances that deliver what they cost. Although all I’ve tried exceeded expectations, this is the one that has gone completely crazy on me. It’s strong, very strong, dense, knife-and-fork intense. It starts sweet with a present acidic note. The incense provides that acidic counterpoint, giving an interesting twist to the sweet composition and avoiding it being cloying. Along with the incense, the rose and a sweet amber accord stand out. It’s the typical rose-oud combo, except there’s no real oud. The fragrance is totally linear; once you apply it, it stays that way until the end. It’s not bad; it has nuances to keep it from being boring. Not for daily use, better sporadic. Beastly longevity, at the level of Mancera Red Tobacco; you wear it all day. Projection of 8 hours and a monstrous trail; be careful in enclosed spaces as it can be annoying. Cold climate, winter, and night are most suitable. Not very versatile, but use it whenever you want; be careful with the sprays. Totally unisex; my girlfriend uses it and loves it. Very well received by the female public, quite sexy. For more info, check out my YouTube channel: Perfúmate Con JL.

Something doesn’t add up; I tested Oud Touch on one wrist and Oud Vanille on the other, which the store offers as feminine. After half an hour, Oud Touch felt sweet and woody; the raspberry, caramel, and rose faded… I smelled the Vanille wrist and there was caramel, raspberry, some incense, a hint of rose/oud, but with caramel highlighting more than the incense. Comparing them, Oud Vanille crushed Oud Touch in trail, potency, projection, and longevity of at least 15 hours. It smelled perfectly masculine. What amazed me most is that Fragrantica lists the same notes on the pyramid, yet they smell so different in reality.