Al Oudh Eau de Parfum

Oud may be the new black, as far as perfume notes are concerned. But Bertrand Duchaufour's take on the über-fashionable Middle-Eastern material lives up to the expectations raised by one of the most distinctive talents in the business. Hot on the heels of Havana Vanille, this new installment of L'Artisan Parfumeur's groundbreaking Voyages series manages to combine Duchaufour's signature smooth, transparent woods with an animalic twist that should enthrall fans of oud, leather and spices alike. Cumin and roses sweetened with a bite of candied dates conjure Oriental delicacies between wisps of incense before the medicinal notes of saffron and oud rise to the fore. From then on, a soft but unmistakably natural oud takes center stage, veering towards leather before sinking in the inkiness of castoreum; civet adds a whiff of the beast to the brew. As Al Oudh slides into its drydown, the comforting sensuousness of a balsamic vanilla and tonka bean base turns its desert lion growl into a purr. Strictly for animal lovers. But then, we do love animals, don't we?