Now this is a traditional combination: oud and rose. But don't expect the same result as all other combinations based on these notes. Oud Oriental is more complex and subtle than that, and it's a gender-bender that will please all floriental lovers. Rose is the star of this creation, but it is masterfully distorted with freesia and violet to make it more spicy and sweet. This peppery, spicy-sweet rose makes the perfect pair for a very balmy and medicinal oud note that goes away with time, developing slowly on the skin and becoming slightly animalic (leather) towards the end. The sweetness of vanilla and heliotrope brings out the powdery aspect of Oud Oriental. This Oriental should be worn preferably in autumn and winter because of its warmth, heaviness and sweetness and is suitable for every occasion, but especially for going out and cold evenings and nights. However, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Quiet performance works in favour of oud newcomers who want to test the waters first. Versatile for an oud scent Over the years, as I gradually developed into a true perfume enthusiast, I inevitably came across the ingredient "Oud", which can be found at least once in almost every perfume portfolio of every perfume-producing brand today More and more I was concerned with that ingredient that is loved by some and hated by others; to me it seemed worthy of a glance or a snoop. As a result, I didn't have the "courage" to buy a (designer) fragrance with "Oud" in its name, and certainly not an expensive one from any niche perfumer.

I have to say that these are not the most complex fragrances, but they are rich and alluring. They are, above all, very elegant and refined perfumes, based on oud, spices, woods and leather. The feminine version takes on a strong floral (rose and peony) theme as well, but both can be unissex fragrances. Having said this, I recommend these two scents for any lover of the oriental/woody genre. The oud endures as the blend fully dries down. Frankincense and patchouli emerge soon after, deepening its presence. This new duo also ingrains resinous, earthy hues. They become more distinct over time as earlier ingredients slowly withdraw. I perceive the opening as one marked by a spicy and peppery bitter orange. The neroli also contributes to this and gives the opening some freshness, whereby I especially smell the pepper and the bitter orange. Within about 5 minutes the top note disappears and merges - in my opinion a bit too choppy - into the heart note; the moment of transition is very short. In summary, a masculine, mysterious, seductive and all around harmonious oud scent, which can and will satisfy both the beginner and the experienced!

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And the oud? This is present from the beginning, but only slightly at first, and becomes stronger in the heart in combination with the incense. But it only really unfolds in the drydown. It gives the "Oud Noir" something mysterious, and together with patchouli and the Tasmanian false elm, also known as "Leatherwood", it forms a base that gives the perfume depth all around and a pleasant warmth and mystique to the skin even after hours. In my opinion a very successful, woody and smoky oriental, in which the sweet incense interacts very well with the oud - here suitable for the masses - and thanks to the saffron also gets a certain spice. Oud Noir won't fill a room unless you take a bath in it but it's not exactly a skin-scent. It's a polite sexy and cosmopolitan oriental blend, mixed by European taste. A perfect example of how oud can be used to make a balanced fragrance without shouting or oozing in amber and cumin. It's suitable for all ocasions, day and night, the only downside being its brief longevity—four hours tops, remaining just a woody-peppery memory after that. Although this is not quite niche-quality, it is better than almost every mainstream release in recent times. Versace did it right, releasing a fragrance that really is a bridge between Occidental and Oriental perfumery, combining European attitude with Eastern materials. Here's a selection of the very best oud fragrances for men available right now. And if you want to broaden your scented horizons? Take a look at our guide to the best men's fragrances.

The opening is all peppery woods and smoke, a really nice kind of somehow clean and fresh smoky oud, in spite of how contradictory that might sound. Eventually these darker notes give way to sweeter neroli and some bigarade for counter-balance, all of which replaces the grape leaf opening of Versace Man. The familiar saffron and cardamom from Versace Man floats into view, with the tobacco note of Versace Man died down to a nondescript tonka to support a greater presence of patchouli and woody-amber materials judiciously applied (no sandpaper scratch here). Beyond that, traces of Amouage-like incense (the highest-quality note in Versace pour Homme Oud Noir) really hit home the purpose of this being a "premium" upgrade from the usual masculine Versace fare. Performance is perfectly fine, although this gets quieter after hour two. While taken very seriously in the Middle East, oud has only caught on in a big way in the UK in last few years. It is derived from the tropical agar tree, which is thought to originate in Assam in India. When the tree is infected by a mould known as Phialophora parasitica it reacts by producing a dense, dark and fragrant resin to protect itself. It is the resin-embedded heartwood of the tree that is the source of oud. The designer scent "Versace pour Homme Oud Noir", which I sprayed directly onto a test strip and which I liked more than the first time I sniffed it and also later on - but for the UVP of 120€. I was not willing to pay this price, so I went home disappointed about the "not buying", but then I bought it with all the more joy and enthusiasm for less than half (under 60€ as a rule) from the biggest online perfume dealer in Europe. The durability and the silage get 7 points each from me, because the scent projects on my skin 1 and on the clothing 2 hours over one meter and lasts / is perceptible on my skin 7 and on the clothing 10 hours. This could be a bit stronger in my eyes, because I usually spray three times and it is still an eau de parfum and not an eau de toilette. The performance could be stronger, while still being (more than) good.Versace colognes are renowned for high versatility. Although Oud Noir doesn’t hit those lofty heights, it’s still one of the most appealing ouds in circulation. I don’t know why others keep sayings it’s discontinued. I have 2022 bottles, one of them a tester. That’s means somewhere in the world Oud Noir is available on shelves with tester bottles. Specifically, I’ve discovered it projects mildly from skin for the first 2 hours, before simmering closer for another 3. Therefore, expect about 5 hours of total longevity. The heart is first of all shaped by saffron and then especially by a sweet incense - I love it (!) - I do not perceive cardamom personally. In my experience, incense is more likely to be perceived at a distance, and saffron is more likely to be perceived at close proximity to the skin. Through the present male sweetness (of the incense) this Versace fragrance slowly but steadily becomes warmer and more oriental, the incense, which I perceive until the end, makes him by its mysterious, smoky resinous, but also slightly sweet, effect to a "noir".

I received compliments from both sexes, but more from the women - and plenty of them, as long as I did not overdo it with the dosage; 3 shots are quite sufficient. I absolutely love this one. Very masculine, spicy, orangy / oudy fragrance that smells very classy with high quality ingredients. This scent is often compared to Tom Ford Oud Wood but honestly I think this one is much better than the Tom Ford. This one is much more masculine and smells confidence. You spray this in the morning and you feel like a boss ready to achieve big goals. 10/10 for this fragrance. Fragrantica.comFor this reason, I give the fragrance 9 points, half a point because of the choppy / disharmonious transition between the head and heart notes, and another half point because of the oud, which could have been a little bit, but not much, stronger. The oud is rather subdued, but is still perceptible and characterizes the fragrance especially with the - in my case 3-4 hours lasting - heart note of strong, sweet incense and rather weaker, spicy saffron. Versace pour Homme Oud Noir (2013) is really close to the discontinued Versace Man (2003) to my nose, so much that I believe that one may have been discontinued to give this one some space on the market, and to basically re-market an idea that didn't do so well a decade beforehand with an upscale twist. That upscale twist of course, is the claimed oud note, which in the mostly-Versace-Man-on-steroids build of Versace pour Homme Oud Noir reads like peppery woods a la Creed Royal Oud (2011), after which this may also be chasing. As a downmarket alternative to Royal Oud, I can wholeheartedly recommend Versace pour Homme Oud Noir as well, as the scent really does feel like a mix between it and the erstwhile original Versace Man. It's really just that simple. People compare this to Tom Ford Oud Wood (2007) and I don't see it. The scent itself varies considerably depending on the wood used, where the tree was grown and whether the tree itself was cultivated or naturally infected. The fragrance is – unsurprisingly – described as warm and woody with a slight hint of damp rot, while some varieties are smoky and sweet. It can be very potent so not one for the faint-hearted.