Oud Wood (2007)
by Tom Ford

I approached Oud Wood with some skepticism. Tom Ford's M7 by YSL I disliked instantly, when I smelled it (regardless of the tons of compliments I received wearing it).

OW reminds me of the top notes of Film Noir by Ava Luxe but instead of transitioning and sweetening or smoking (like FN does), this just stayed smelling like rubber. Latex gloves. Inflatable river raft industrial strength rubber.

Upon a more closer sniff to my arm...raspberry. Weird combo. I thought it'd evolve more, so I waited. It stayed as rubber-raspberry all through the dry down. A linear rubber raspberry scent - who, but Tom Ford, could create this combo for a luxury mens fragrance?

Perhaps my nose perceives the oud as raspberry/rubber - but IMO this scent suffers from a lack of skillful blending and comes off as TF's version of Bulgari Black at 4 times the price.

He’s obviously trying to lay claim to being the first Western perfumer to introduce oud to the West...

Oud Wood is really nothing special. What’s really interesting, though, is how both the concept and name are quite cunning - after all, oud is essentially... well, wood. Therefore, while the name gives the impression of a possible oud-fest, the reality is simply a woody fragrance with traces of oud present. Hmmm...

If you're after a decent oud fragrance (as opposed to a genuine oud oil) investigate the Montale aoud line instead - it's much better value for money too.

I am a guy who has recently started to spice up my fragrance wardrobe with feminine/androgynous scents. In fact, my first purchase was Black Orchid (even though Saks says that it's unisex, I mean, come on!!! It is so not). I also enjoy using fragrances like Must de Cartier Pour Homme, Narciso Rodgriuez for him, and Prada Amber Pour Homme, which are mens fragrances described by many as quite girlie. Yet I like them and I think some men can pull it off. I also enjoy women experimenting with mens scents as well. It is not like you are gonna grow a penis, right?

Well, in terms of Oud Wood, you actually might.

A friend of mine(a guy) is obsessed with it, and I must say, it suits him. Not to mention that the scent announces his arrival like 3 minutes before he enters the room, but it is a very heavy, woodsy, dark, and even maybe sexy (he is a guy, and a friend, I don't think I'll ever find him sexy even if he wears Gucci Eau de Parfum:)). It doesn't transform at all though, it is quite one note. But a good note at that.

So what is my complaint?

Tom Ford tries hard to be the new olfactory god of this generation of perfumers and he has released this 'scent library' for everyone who is rich enough to buy. No gender specific. But from the first spray of this 'perfume', there is absolutely no doubt that THIS IS A MENS FRAGRANCE. There is nothing soft, feminine, or even slightly so, sparkling about it. It is quite mascuiline in every sense. I don't wanna offend any woman who is using this, but let's be realistic: If Samsara, or Shalimar are not men's fragrances, then this cannot be a woman's scent. PERIOD. I know girls who use m7, or even Chanel Pour Monsieur, even those are less gender specific than this.

I am just very annoyed by the marketing technique that Tom Ford follows. This is a men's scent. At the same time, I cannot imagine any guy wearing Purple Patchouli thinking that it is unisex. If you are ballsy enough, be my quest, like I said I love my Black Orchid, yet don't be fooled to think that Oud Wood or Purple Patchouli can be classified as unisex scents. That being said, Oud Wood is one of the more successful scents that the TOM FORD PRIVATE BLEND collection has to offer. By a mile.

This is a fairly weak take on oud but pleasant enough. I certainly wouldn't pay the price they're asking for this. I would visit Arabian Oud on Oxford Street, London and buy the real thing instead.

Rubbery, leathery, medicine water. I get it, but I am rather "bleh" about it, as with all Tom Ford frags.

I do like the Oudh aspect, but the Swiss Arabian Perfumes "Mukhalat al Maliki" ("The Blend of the King") does is so much better, and in 30mL of purfume absolute that goes for $49.99 on the net.

I think this Tom Ford smells to me more like something rubbery, synthetic leathery and medicinal, with a hint of Oudh added.

If it think of it as an Oudh based fragrance, it tarnishes my otherwise smitten relationship with Oudh - finest and costliest of all natural frgarances.

I'd classify this as a smoky/tarry/rubbery fragrance - I guess the oud does that. I can pick out most of the notes listed - cardamom, pepper, vetiver, wood, vanilla... - but it all adds upp to a warm, spicy, boozy, almost medicinal rubber/leather aroma. A bit like Bulgari Black on steroids, perhaps? Black is far too soft and wimpy for me, but Oud Wood isn't. It does seem a bit fleeting for a scent with so much character though... And I sure hope it's not the cause of my headache!