Oud Abramad

Oud Abramad, from the Parisian house BDK Parfums, is a spicy woody oud composed by Mathilde Bijaoui and released in 2016. Everyone who describes it calls it spicy and woody; two thirds also find it floral and ambery, and a third resinous or leathery.

Saffron, ginger and cumin open it with a warm, slightly sweaty, leathery spice that sets the tone. Turkish rose sits in the heart, dark and jammy, in the classic pairing with oud. The oud itself reads smoky and woody rather than barnyard, and incense adds a dry, resinous haze. The base is heavy: labdanum brings a sticky amber, castoreum a leathery, animalic warmth, guaiac wood a smoky creaminess, and patchouli and ambroxan give the drydown earthy depth and a long, mineral tail.

It is a shared fragrance, worn by anyone. Its density points to cold weather and evenings, and it suits people who already enjoy rose-and-oud scents and want one with more animalic warmth than the polished mainstream versions.

Oud Abramad — unisex fragrance by BDK Parfums (released 2016). Notes: Agarwood (Oud), Ambroxan, Castoreum, Cumin, Ginger, Guaiac Wood, Incense, Labdanum, Patchouli, Rose, Saffron, Turkish Rose. — Parfica open fragrance database