03/05/2024
Carpintero
47 Reviews
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Carpintero
Very helpful Review
32
I'm worth it... right?
Oud Wood and I - it's a kind of love story: the reason why I ended up here on EssenceVitae, my ticket into the world of niche fragrances, my first real big love, so to speak.
Then as now, the topic of longevity was and is a big point of discussion, although I noticed one constant: when I consciously tested the fragrance for the first time in 2018 and then bought a 100ml bottle with "shelf life problems" (some batch from 2017), I came across all the discussions about batches, reformulations and weaknesses for the first time.
I still have the bottle from 2018 and another one (250 ml) from 2020 - both last their 8 hours wonderfully, radiate moderately and are the two go-to fragrances for me in the office.
In the souk, the batches from 2018 are sometimes traded at horrendous prices and I am convinced that a big point is the post-maturing rather than the reformulations.
So - and now a jump to the year 2024.
When I heard about the latest release, I was thrilled: an Oud Wood as a perfume, supposedly stronger, longer-lasting, rumored to be of the same quality as the very first Oud Wood fragrances from 2007.
I was able to test the fragrance in Harrod's in London - and bought it. For a whopping 330 pounds.
Admittedly: I had to restrain my facial derailment enormously and keep my facial expressions extremely under control when the lady told me the price. I didn't want to back down - and somehow: I'm worth it... right?
About the fragrance itself: Straightforward, clean, intense and strong.
For me, definitely the fragrance I will wear on a date.
It has far fewer rough edges than the original (EDP), is less deep, but is denser, creamier and thicker.
Oud Wood Parfum follows the classic program, appears smooth due to the cardamom, which gives a cooling distance, but captivates the other person with its warm woods and spices.
The pungent Szechuan pepper (don't worry, I honestly don't smell any difference to "normal" pepper) and the warming amber balance each other out harmoniously.
The spices give me the impression that they contain some kind of gingerbread spices, in very gentle, homeopathic doses: this makes the fragrance seem sweeter than its role model. Clearly not something I would wear to the office [he says, knowing full well that he also regularly "delights" his colleagues with Alexandria II, Tobacco Vanilla and other bombs in the office].
Now to the question of all questions: How does it hold up? For me, it's definitely stronger and better than the EDP. But this is probably also due to the fact that the sweetness of the spices and the denser woods add a certain "thickness" and "fullness" that are not present in the original.
The sillage is moderate, it certainly doesn't take up any space, but is nevertheless more noticeable than its model for the first few hours as it passes by.
For me, the magic still happens on the skin, when the fragrance is still strong enough to fascinate the other person and at the same time pulls back a little, becomes a little quieter and the other person has to come a little closer to smell more of it.
Is the fragrance worth the price?
I think the price-performance ratio of different fragrances is as individual as tastes are.
You could also ask the question of whether a person is worth flying business or first class, whether it absolutely has to be a 5-star hotel, whether the Porsche in the garage is really necessary...
The fragrance, like the business or first class flight, the 5-star hotel and the Porsche, is a luxury good that has long since left the premium segment behind.
It is a composition with a price tag. You are either prepared to pay this price for luxury - or not.
Personally, I am happy and delighted to be able to call a 50ml bottle my own and will wear this fragrance in honor on our weekly date night or on other very special occasions.
In the end, I believe the fragrance will find its target audience.
Whether it is worth it is up to the individual.
Then as now, the topic of longevity was and is a big point of discussion, although I noticed one constant: when I consciously tested the fragrance for the first time in 2018 and then bought a 100ml bottle with "shelf life problems" (some batch from 2017), I came across all the discussions about batches, reformulations and weaknesses for the first time.
I still have the bottle from 2018 and another one (250 ml) from 2020 - both last their 8 hours wonderfully, radiate moderately and are the two go-to fragrances for me in the office.
In the souk, the batches from 2018 are sometimes traded at horrendous prices and I am convinced that a big point is the post-maturing rather than the reformulations.
So - and now a jump to the year 2024.
When I heard about the latest release, I was thrilled: an Oud Wood as a perfume, supposedly stronger, longer-lasting, rumored to be of the same quality as the very first Oud Wood fragrances from 2007.
I was able to test the fragrance in Harrod's in London - and bought it. For a whopping 330 pounds.
Admittedly: I had to restrain my facial derailment enormously and keep my facial expressions extremely under control when the lady told me the price. I didn't want to back down - and somehow: I'm worth it... right?
About the fragrance itself: Straightforward, clean, intense and strong.
For me, definitely the fragrance I will wear on a date.
It has far fewer rough edges than the original (EDP), is less deep, but is denser, creamier and thicker.
Oud Wood Parfum follows the classic program, appears smooth due to the cardamom, which gives a cooling distance, but captivates the other person with its warm woods and spices.
The pungent Szechuan pepper (don't worry, I honestly don't smell any difference to "normal" pepper) and the warming amber balance each other out harmoniously.
The spices give me the impression that they contain some kind of gingerbread spices, in very gentle, homeopathic doses: this makes the fragrance seem sweeter than its role model. Clearly not something I would wear to the office [he says, knowing full well that he also regularly "delights" his colleagues with Alexandria II, Tobacco Vanilla and other bombs in the office].
Now to the question of all questions: How does it hold up? For me, it's definitely stronger and better than the EDP. But this is probably also due to the fact that the sweetness of the spices and the denser woods add a certain "thickness" and "fullness" that are not present in the original.
The sillage is moderate, it certainly doesn't take up any space, but is nevertheless more noticeable than its model for the first few hours as it passes by.
For me, the magic still happens on the skin, when the fragrance is still strong enough to fascinate the other person and at the same time pulls back a little, becomes a little quieter and the other person has to come a little closer to smell more of it.
Is the fragrance worth the price?
I think the price-performance ratio of different fragrances is as individual as tastes are.
You could also ask the question of whether a person is worth flying business or first class, whether it absolutely has to be a 5-star hotel, whether the Porsche in the garage is really necessary...
The fragrance, like the business or first class flight, the 5-star hotel and the Porsche, is a luxury good that has long since left the premium segment behind.
It is a composition with a price tag. You are either prepared to pay this price for luxury - or not.
Personally, I am happy and delighted to be able to call a 50ml bottle my own and will wear this fragrance in honor on our weekly date night or on other very special occasions.
In the end, I believe the fragrance will find its target audience.
Whether it is worth it is up to the individual.
5 Comments
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PetarMolnar
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