10 Best Oud Perfumes And Fragrances For Women To Try In 2023
Surround yourself with the intoxicating aroma with a few sprays of these Oud perfumes.
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Srijita De is a makeup and fashion enthusiast with a passion for empowering readers through practical tips and tricks to present their best selves with confidence. Armed with a postgraduate degree in ... more
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Intense, animalistic, and intoxicating, oud is one of the most invigorating scents out there. The best oud perfume can arouse in your senses something that is difficult to capture in words— you have to smell this dark resin oil to understand it. Oud perfumes have emerged in the Western world from the Middle East and you no longer need to be deprived of this exquisite experience. If you want something luxurious or something to keep you warm in colder months, check out our list of the best oud perfumes you can find online.
In This Article
What Is An Oud perfume?
Oud perfumes contain natural oud essential oil extracted from an agar tree commonly grown in the Middle East or Southeast Asia. Believe it or not, oud is a type of mold, a fungus-infected resinous wood. And since this mold may not grow on all agar trees, oud is rare and popularly labeled as liquid gold by perfume connoisseurs.
Now, are you ready to experience the enchanting spell of oud and some woody notes to your perfume collection? Here’s our list of the 10 best oud perfumes for women in 2023.
10 Best Oud Perfumes That’ll Open A Million Doors To Exotic Scents!
Best Long-Lasting Effect:Swiss Arabian Shaghaf Oud Eau De Parfum
If ever there was an opulent gold galore, this one is the ultimate one! This oud fragrance is a must-try if you desire a hint of passion, beauty, and glamor in your aura. Packed in a striking yet elegant bottle, the gourmand scent will engulf your heart and senses with its oriental notes and intense sillage instantly. The luxury oud perfume opens with the rare and captivating saffron (well-known as red gold) that merges with agarwood to meet the exquisite heart notes of rose and praline. A rich fragrance dancing in the fiery mix of sweetness and woody notes, it then settles into the warm embrace of vanilla and oud. A whiff of royalty, anyone? You may check this video for a better understanding of this product.
Pros - Intense
- Long-lasting
- Ideal for women and men
- Best-suited for winters
Cons
- Scent may be overpowering for some
Did You Know?Mr. Hussein Adam Ali founded Swiss Arabian in 1947, making this the first perfume house in the UAE.
Best Travel-Friendly Bottle:Arabiyat Khashab & Oud Gold Edition Eau De Parfum
The majestic redolence of this Arabian oud perfume will uplift your senses in a whiff. An eclectic blend of citrusy, woody, and oriental notes, the fragrance imparts a dramatic experience as the sweetness of top notes seamlessly descend into spicy, oriental, and luxurious middle and base notes. The golden oud perfume opens with top notes of bergamot and saffron, a sweet and citrusy wake that streams into the plush middle notes of oud, vetiver, and cedar, only to welcome warmth and comforting base notes of amber, sandalwood, and oud wood.
Pros
- Sweet and spicy
- Occasional wear
- Ideal for men and women
- Travel-friendly
Cons
- May not last all day
- Woody scent may be heavy for some
Pro TipYou must use it on warm skin, especially on your pulse points and behind the ears. Instead of rubbing the area, let the skin absorb the perfume for a long-lasting effect.
Best For Daily Wear:Versace Oud Pour Femme Oriental Eau de Parfum
With the heat of the Middle East to entice and empower, this concoction by Versace will make heads turn with its spellbinding redolence. A luxurious blend of oriental, spicy, leathery, and powdery notes, the rich fragrance is for those who like to stand out in any crowd. With oriental top notes of rose, saffron, and freesia to appeal and impress with the intoxicating mixture of sweet and spiciness, the heart notes are intimate and feminine yet deep with violet, heliotrope, and patchouli. The blend then settles into the leathery base of oud, sandalwood, and creamy vanilla to leave a trail of soft and warm sweetness. So, if you are looking for a feminine oud perfume with light to moderate sillage, this one from Versace will not disappoint. This video review will help you learn more about the product.
Pros
- Soft oud perfume for her
- Sweet
- Mild sillage
- Suitable for daily wear
Cons
- Slightly expensive
Best Floral-Fruity Notes:Al Haramain Amber Oud Rouge Eau De Parfum
How about something fresh and zesty to keep the tiredness at bay? This amber-based long-lasting oud perfume leaves behind a powdery, oriental, and spicy trail that’ll keep you smelling good and fresh all day. The scent has top notes of rosemary, bergamot, cedar, and lemon for a fresh stir that intensifies with the middle notes of spices, guaiac wood, and cedar. An uplifting sillage if you are looking for a perfume-slash-ice breaker scent, it also contains base notes of amber, resins, and musk for a warm, powdery, and sweet trail. This video will help you make an informed decision about your purchase.
Pros
- Intense
- Comfortable wear
- Ideal for men and women
- Elegant packaging
Cons
- Some may find it overwhelming
Best Light-Scented Fragrance:Hamidi N
From the lush forests of Assam (a northeastern state in India), this water-based oud perfume contains natural extracts of the rare agarwood. If you are looking for lightly-scented oud perfumes to explore so that your BFFs can’t stop raving about the fragrance, Hamidi’s Natural Oud Water Perfume is the one for you. Gentle on the skin and refreshing to the senses, it’ll keep your vibes uplifted with its natural essence. It contains top notes of pepper, middle notes of rose, and base notes of amber, musk, and agarwood for a spicy, sweet, and powdery-warm experience.
Pros - Lightly-scented
- Gentle on skin
- Alcohol-free
- Lightweight packaging
Cons
- Spicy notes may be sharp for daywear
Best For Spring Wear:Rasasi Sotoor Raa Eau De Parfum
Rasasi’s Sotoor Raa will remind you of summer skies as you find yourself lost in its intriguing color. The unique floral oud perfume brings together the mystique and minimalist charms of the east and west in its contemporary blend. A luxe and potent fragrance, it packs a spunk of joy and energy for the young and those who are young at heart. It opens with top notes of lemon and bergamot for a zesty wake, which leads the way to the heart notes of nutmeg balanced by the elegance of jasmine and lily of the valley. The scent then dries down to the earthy, woody yet luxurious warmth of musk and patchouli.
Pros - Intense sillage
- Ideal for men and women
- Best-suited for spring and summer
- Floral fragrance
Cons
- May not be the best choice for winter
Best For Nighttime Parties:Arabian Oud Kalemat Spray
Here’s one for the dreamers! The Arabian Oud Kalemat Spray unfolds like poetry with its sweet and warm notes to make all your moments memorable. Ideal for parties or occasional wear, it has fruity and spicy notes of blueberry and star anise that stream into the heart notes of cashmere wood and rosemary. Intense and irresistibly delectable with hints of honey in the base notes, the scent settles into earthy and powdery-sweet notes of musk and amber.
Pros
- Long-lasting
- Intense sillage
- Ideal for all seasons
- Suitable for men and women
- Sweet oud perfume
Cons
- Expensive
Best For Winter Wear:Gucci OUD Eau de Parfum
If you want to make a long-lasting impression, the Gucci Oud Eau De Parfum is a fantastic choice. From lifting your spirits to making heads turn, it leaves a trail so captivating, you’re going to be bombarded with a shower of compliments. Irresistibly charming yet mysterious at the same time, the scent opens on fruity notes with pear and raspberry balanced by some cheeky saffron. The heart notes are floral and sweet with orange blossom and Bulgarian rose that dry down to the oriental base notes of amber, musk, patchouli, and agarwood. So, if you’re a true romantic at heart and are looking for a rose oud perfume, you need not look further than this one.
Pros
- Long-lasting
- Suitable for all skin types
- Ideal for men and women
- Suitable for evening and winter wear
Cons
- Expensive
Best Warm Undertones:Banana Republic 17 Oud Mosaic Eau De Parfum
This west-meets-east fragrance by the Banana Republic has a mystical charm that’ll make people stop in the wafts of your sillage. Infused with fruity notes of the west, the smoky warmth of the Middle East spices, and the floral notes of Asia, the eclectic blend is unique, refreshing, and comforting at the same time. More like a contemporary fragrance peppered with traditional and warm scents, the infused oud only makes the blend more uplifting. The perfume has top notes of cardamom, pepper, and plum, middle notes of Turkish rose, labdanum, and saffron that settle down to base notes of amber, musk, and agarwood.
Pros
- Intense
- Long-lasting
- Ideal for men and women
- Suitable for all seasons
Cons
- Spicy notes may be sharp for daywear
Best Earthy Notes:Oud Elite Sugar Oud Eau De Parfum
This sugar comes with a hint of spice! Oud Elite’s Sugar Oud is a harmonious blend of western fruity aromas with the spiciness of the oriental flavors. If you are concerned whether it is intensely floral or fruity, don’t be, as the infused spice balances the sweetness in the blend. And if that wasn’t enough, the base notes add a touch of warmth and earthiness to the perfume. It has top notes of orange blossom and peach for a zesty start that merges with the spiciness of cardamom and elegance of jasmine, only to dry down in the base notes of musk and vanilla.
Pros
- Intense sillage
- Long-lasting
- Ideal for men and women
- Strong vanilla scent
Cons
- Expensive
Plunge into the richness of oud this season! There you go, those were the 10 best oud perfumes for women that are must-try. If you need assistance while shopping for an oud perfume or wondering how to use one, we have some tips and tricks for you in our buying guide below.
How To Choose An Oud Perfume?
Choosing a perfume online can be tricky, but here are some tips that may help:
- Oud concentration
Understanding the notes in the perfume will help you understand how long you can enjoy the oud fragrance. The top notes are the ones that hit you instantly after spraying, and they last for 5-15 minutes. The heart or middle notes last for 2-4 hours, followed by base notes that last for up to 4-6 hours. Oud or agarwood extracts are primarily or most of the time infused with the base notes because of their luxe and long-lasting formula.
- Staying power
Check the perfume oil to alcohol ratio in the blend to determine how long the fragrance will last. Since oud extracts or oil are naturally potent, they tend to last longer and make a strong impression, especially when combined with floral and fruity scents.
- Sillage
Oud perfumes can come across as heady once sprayed, which is why you must let it settle to experience its true sillage. Although most of the oud perfumes have a heavy or intense sillage, there are water-based oud perfumes such as Hamidi Natural Oud Water Perfume Spray, which is light compared to alcohol-based oud perfumes.
How To Use An Oud Perfume?
One of the best ways to use an intense fragrance is to apply it to your pulse points, such as inner wrists and neck. You can also apply it behind the ear lobes, inner elbows, or behind knees for the best experience.
Exotic oud perfumes come in elegant bottles that attract attention with their natural tones. These perfumes are intense, long-lasting and best suited for people who adore woody notes. While some of the perfumes listed are extremely high on demand in summer and spring, others are mostly purchased during the winter season. Purchasing these perfumes depends on your fragrance preferences. If you are willing to take a look at oud perfumes for the first time, you should check out the ones that come with fruity scents, as they don’t tend to overwhelm first time users. Oud perfumes come in light packaging and sit gently on your skin. However, you shouldn’t try on these perfumes if the scent is overpowering, or too sharp for your taste.
Why Trust StyleCraze?
“The author Chaitra Krishnan is a perfume aficionado. She chooses luxurious perfumes that linger long and have intoxicating multi-layered notes to entice your olfactory senses. This list of Oud perfumes is the ultimate guide to a user who wants to experience this exotic and luxurious Middle Eastern scent and smell good all day with the sophistication of a Queen.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does oud scent smell like?
Oud perfumes have a potent scent with a long-lasting and captivating sillage. The fragrance ranges between sweet, spicy, earthy to leathery sometimes and is ideal for winters, evening, or occasional wear.
Does oud perfume contain alcohol?
Yes, most of the oud perfumes contain alcohol. However, if you are looking for an alcohol-free oud perfume, try Hamidi Natural Oud Water Perfume Spray, as it is water-based.
How long does oud perfume last?
Oud perfumes’ longevity is unmatched because of their powerhouse scent, which can easily last through the day and for up to 24 hours.
Is oud perfume a feminine smell?
No oud perfume is a seductive, lavish, and enigmatic unisex scent.
Does oud smell expensive?
Oud oil is extracted from agarwood, and 1 of every 10 trees in the forest becomes infected with Phialophora parasitica. That equates to around 2% of all trees, making Oud a costly fragrance.
Is oud a good scent?
The aroma is strong but pleasant, evoking warm, smokey tones with hints of wet wood, combined with floral and fruit notes, making OUD an excellent fragrance.
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