What is Oud and Why Is It Unique?
Warm and earthy, oud perfumes are known for their signature woody profile. These scents are home to rich, leathery notes coupled with a subtle smokey accent – and, much like musk or amber fragrances, they are treasured for their aromatic intensity.
Often referred to as ‘liquid gold’, oud is one of the most expensive raw substances in the natural world. Take a tour of this opulent ingredient – and explore a selection of exquisite oud fragrances from The House of Creed.
What Is Oud?
Taking its name from the Arabic word for ‘wood’, oud is an intensely fragrant oil harvested from the heartwood of the Aquilaria tree, native to the rainforests of
Bangladesh, Indonesia and Thailand. Part of its unmatched allure lies in its unique history, having long been used in herbal medicine, perfumery and spiritual
rituals, especially in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
Dating back to 1400 BC, it appears in the Sanskrit Vedas as a substance connoting wealth and luxury. Oud oil also features in many other religious texts and
traditions. Agarwood, from which oud oil is extracted, is mentioned several times in the Bible’s Old Testament, while Muslim prophets were said to cleanse their
clothes with its smoke. Today, agarwood chips are often burnt as incense at religious ceremonies, and oud oil is widely used as a token of hospitality inside
mosques, temples and family homes alike.
As well as its profound religious uses, oud is believed to possess healing powers in some corners of the world. Celebrated in particular for its anti-inflammatory
and soothing properties, it is frequently used in herbal teas and meditation rituals.
Referred to as ‘liquid gold’ due to its rarity and high value, oud often serves as a base note in perfumery with its earthy, animalic and smoky accords providing an
unparalleled dry-down. Oud perfumes pay tribute to the deep-rooted history and global cultural significance of this precious substance, conjuring ancient tradition
while offering an unequalled olfactory experience synonymous with richness and sensuality.
How Is Oud Made?
Oud’s etymology is a nod to the way the substance is made. In its purest form, oud is a natural resin extracted from the heartwood of the Aquilaria tree. This tree
has as many as fifteen different species, but the resin used in perfumery is typically extracted from the wood of Aquilaria malaccensis.
So, how is oud made? Only a rare few trees develop the precious resin that becomes oud. When the Aquilaria tree is infected, as a natural defence mechanism, it
produces a dark, fragrant resin, which, with time – often spanning decades – gradually saturates the heartwood, transforming it into treasured agarwood. Artisan
perfumers then use unique methods to extract the resin from the heartwood, including distillation with steam and melting the substance. Once extracted, this oil is
then used to craft decadent oud fragrances of exceptional depth and allure.
What Does Oud Smell Like?
The scent of oud is enticing and mysterious while its distinctive fragrance profile is typically described as warm, intense, earthy and sensual with a slightly
animalic nuance. Given its origins in the natural world, many perfume connoisseurs liken its aroma to fresh, slightly damp soil, a barnyard, or hay drying in the
sunshine.
Its scent can also vary depending on the species of Aquilaria tree from which it is extracted; some resins have a slightly sweeter aroma, while others are smokier
and more balsamic, with their character developing as they dry down. Synthetic ouds have a different profile again, tending to be less animalic, sweeter and nuttier
than their natural counterparts.
The scent of oud will also vary depending on its head and heart note pairings. Royal Oud, for instance, is home to the ingredient’s signature woody spiciness
crafted with a fresh twist of bergamot. Elsewhere, its characteristic warmth is intensified by its coupling with buttery iris and vanilla in the beloved oud perfume for
women Royal Princess Oud.
Why Is Oud Expensive?
Oud is one of the most expensive ingredients in modern perfumery, and agarwood one of the costliest timbers in the world at $100,000 per kilogram, largely due to
its rarity. Indeed, it is estimated that only one out of ten trees in the forests of Southeast Asia will naturally produce the resin, so it is an extremely precious gift
from nature, and a highly coveted substance in fragrance formulation. Another reason for oud’s value is its extraction method. Before distillation, the resin-infused
wood chips are carved out by hand in a process that often takes several hours.
Due to the rarity of oud, The House of Creed is committed to partnering only with cultivators that seek to preserve its magic for generations to come.
How Long Does Oud Perfume Last?
Oud perfume has remarkable longevity, often lasting from several hours to a full day. As it is used as a fixative in fragrance, it is the ingredient that tends to linger
the longest on the skin. Once the head and heart notes have dissipated, you are likely to notice traces of an earthy and animalic aroma.
As a perfume, oud fragrances typically have a longer shelf life than their lighter counterparts as scents with heavier and richer base notes like oud are less
sensitive to oxidation. In most cases, oud fragrances remain at peak quality for three to five years. However, this may differ depending on several factors,
including formulation and how your perfume is kept.
Oud Perfumes From The House of Creed
The artisans at The House of Creed use rare, refined and distinctive ingredients like oud to hand-craft the most exceptional creations. Read on to uncover two of the house’s signature oud perfumes.
Royal Oud
The majestic profile of oud is balanced by fresh, green top notes in Royal Oud. Designed for both men and women, this Eau de Parfum is home to The House of Creed’s signature smoky blend of oud, musk, ambergris notes, frankincense and guaiac wood – layered with a fresh burst of pink pepper, zesty lime and bergamot.
Royal Princess Oud
Imagine oud with a floral twist, Royal Princess Oud pairs the ingredient’s characteristic woody notes with a bouquet of jasmine, rose, iris and violet. These heart notes are then topped with a revitalising layer of grapefruit, blackcurrant and pineapple – while the warm profile of oud is intensified by the sweet amber note of vanilla.
With its rich history and alluring scent, oud is one of luxury perfumery’s most treasured ingredients – conjuring warm evenings and time-honoured tradition. For those seeking a signature scent with depth and an irresistible mystique, oud perfumes from The House of Creed offer exquisite olfactory experiences.
With its rich history and alluring profile, oud is one of the most treasured ingredients in perfumery, conjuring warm evenings and time-honoured tradition. For those seeking a fragrance with depth and an irresistible mystique, oud perfumes can offer the most exquisite olfactory experiences. Discover all oud fragrances from The House of Creed at the Sydney boutique or on the online boutique today.
