Beautiful, Refined… But Do I Need It?

So... I'm a big fan of Swiss Arabian Shaghaf Oud CPO and eventually picked up the EDP version as well. The scent itself may be a little polarizing, but hey... why not go the distance and try the OG, Lancome Oud Bouquet (older version of course)?

The opening is ever so slightly medicinal. Nothing particularly challenging, but there's something about those first very brief few moments that makes me pause had me questioning myself. Thankfully, it doesn't last long. Within minutes, a distant creamy, sweet rose begins to emerge from behind a more pronounced oud. As someone who is still relatively new to oud and historically hasn't considered myself much of an oud fan, I find the oud here surprisingly approachable. This is another fragrance I could see being a good introduction to the note without immediately throwing someone into the deep end.

There's also an interesting duality to Oud Bouquet. It somehow feels youthful yet mature at the same time. I find it easily unisex, although on a man I imagine it particularly suiting someone confident with a bit of presence. The drydown is where it really comes together for me. It evolves into a beautiful, sweet Middle Eastern/Oriental blend of vanilla and praline, while the oud remains in the background. It reminds me of a scent you might catch in the air while wandering through a Turkish bazaar, somewhere close to an oud vendor. A mixture of sweetness, warmth and something slightly mysterious. Do I like it? Absolutely. Would I buy a full bottle? I'm not entirely convinced.

I remain completely enthralled by my inexpensive little bottle of Swiss Arabian Shaghaf Oud CPO, and frankly, it scratches much of the same itch for me. Oud Bouquet is undoubtedly the more refined experience, but I'm not sure I need to own it.

That said, Lancôme Oud Bouquet is absolutely worth experiencing, particularly if you're curious about oud but aren't quite ready to dive headfirst into the deep end.