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The combination of amber (a 19th century trope resting on labdanum & vanillin) with oud/aloeswood is not unknown to niche or Arabian-inspired perfumes; if only in name, both Diptyque and by Kilian have utilized this blend to good effect (there's also the Rasashi and Arabian Oud brands). The nutty and musty character of the modern oud/aoud/oudh bases with their Band-Aid vibe is very well tempered by a tried & true combination that somewhat sweetens the bitterness of oud and renders it more Westernized and silky to the touch. Tonka bean and lavender is also "a marriage of true minds". This 2 by 4 is played like a quartet that produces a single harmony.
In Patricia de Nicolai's Amber Oud the blast of lavender at the beginning is the dominant force which takes you by surprise and which might make women think this is more men's gear than girly girl stuff. But they need not fear. Gents and ladies alike will appreciate the seamless procession into a balsamic smelling nucleus. The inclusion of sage is beautifully erogenous, recalling human bodies in sweat, cleverly juxtaposed with the washed brightness of the lavender and the camphorous hint of patchouli. Seekers of oud (lured by the name) might feel cheated and there is no eye-catching innovativeness in the formula itself, but de Nicolai is continuing on a path of wearable, presentable, smooth perfumes that have earned her brand a steady following.
Notes for Patricia de Nicolai Amber Oud:
Top: lavender, thyme, sage, artemisia
Heart: cinnamon, saffron, agarwood (oud), Atlas cedar, patchouli, sandalwood
Base: vanilla, tonka bean, styrax, musk, castoreum, amber.
Ooo, Lavender.
ReplyDeleteOr is it Oud, Lavender?
I love the stuff, but on the herby/aromatic approach that seems to be deemed by the gods of marketing a male rather than female thing. If only I took them seriously...
Sounds rather interesting.
Ha!! :-D
ReplyDeleteI do not like too herbal lavenders with their camphorous elements highlighted, because I have bad associations with too camphorous stuff (Vicks rub namely). So an ambery vanillic lavender always gets my attention for just that fact.
(Incidentally, lavender is derided when its camphorous herbal aspects are highlighted by most consumers which is why few things in functional perfumery tagged lavender really smell of lavender)
Oh well then, if the oud is muted I'll give this one a try. The sage sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteDarn Patricia de Nicolai! Her fragrances are so good I can never make up my mind which I like the most, and I have by no means tried them all. I am going to get hold of a larger decant of Odalisque this year (will be my third) to again see if I like it enough to get a FB. (Unfortunately where I live, shipping costs on PdN are high, meaning the line is not quite the bargain it is for other people.)
AMC,
ReplyDeleteyou better grab that bottle sooner rather than later, I have a hunch the prices chez PdN will take a hike soon ;-)
I just reviewed both Amber Oud and Rose Oud by Patricia de Nicolai and I was surprised at how much I liked Amber Oud and that it didn't have much out, but a lot of beautiful herbal lavender.
ReplyDeleteA really well dome perfume
Lucas,
ReplyDeletethanks for stopping by! I need to check out your reviews. Out of the two, the Amber is my favorite too (and not because I didn't like the other); such a good rendition of lavender has got to become a staple in one's rotation, if too sharp medicinal lavenders annoy. I didn't find them too "oud-y" either. Which is a good thing! (in my books at least).