Trending Oud Fragrances to Try in 2025
Words by Anna Gosling
Few fragrance ingredients are as synonymous with luxury as oud. Revered for centuries for its cultural and spiritual significance, it is equally prized in modern perfumery for its rarity and complexity. Formed when Aquilaria trees develop a dark, aromatic resin known as “liquid gold,” oud is one of the rarest – and most expensive – raw materials in the world.
Oud’s enduring appeal also lies in its remarkable versatility. It can be brightened with florals, sweetened with gourmand accords, and deepened with amber, to name but a few. Today’s perfumers are pairing it with both complementary and contrasting notes, crafting an oud for every mood, season, and style. Here, we present the most captivating oud creations worthy of a place in your fragrance wardrobe.
Featured In This Story
Best Amber Oud Fragrance
Creed Oud Zarian
Creed’s Oud Zarian is a masterclass in harmony, where the radiance of amber meets the depth of a rare 80-year-aged oud, produced from the exquisite agarwood of the lush Sylhet forests of South Asia. By stripping back the heavier, animalic facets often associated with traditional oud perfumes, Oud Zarian allows the ingredient’s natural complexity to take centre stage, enriched by an accord of myrrh, patchouli, sandalwood and tonka bean. Luminous florals, ginger and subtle spice provide lift and vibrancy, resulting in an opulent yet airy amber oud which can be worn day and night.
Best Floral Oud Fragrance
Tom Ford Oud Voyager
Imagine oud bathed in light – for Tom Ford’s Oud Voyager, perfumer Dominique Ropion describes approaching the note “through a new lens… not just as something rich and opulent, but luminous and vibrant.” In this fresh take, oud’s typical resinous warmth and leather are lifted by an unexpected pairing of bright geranium and velvety peony. A flicker of spice meets an earthy, musky base, settling on the skin in quietly assured elegance. This is a floral oud fragrance that strikes the perfect balance between richness and radiance, resulting in an easy-wearing scent reminiscent of petals warmed by the sun.
Best Summer Oud Fragrance
Nishane Oudous Lux Solis
While “summery” may not typically spring to mind when talking of oud, Nishane’s Oudous Lux Solis shows just how breezy the note can be. Perfumer Jordi Fernández “sought to capture the radiant dance of sunlight and water,” pairing sparkling citrus and airy marine notes with ginger’s gentle heat. Honeyed florals bring a soft, golden glow, grounded by oud and earthy Akigalwood. A true tribute to an island paradise, this is an oud perfect for long days that drift into glowing evenings.
Best Fruity Oud Fragrance
BDK Nectar Oud
BDK is a house known for balancing refinement with a twist of boldness, and Nectar Oud is no exception. “I wanted to revisit oud in its most luxurious and sensual form,” explains founder David Benedek. “The combination with a refined raspberry accord and a touch of saffron brought a magnetic tension to the composition.” This tension is what makes the fragrance so captivating: oud’s smoky depth set against raspberry’s syrupy brightness. As it wears on the skin, the fruit ripens from juicy and tart to rich and nectar-like, leaving a gentle warmth that smooths and softens the oud.
Best Classic Oud Fragrance
Initio Oud for Greatness
A truly authentic tribute to oud, Oud for Greatness from Initio Parfums Privés showcases the note in its most majestic form. Rather than competing with it, the surrounding notes are there to refine and elevate: saffron and nutmeg lend warmth, lavender adds a subtle freshness, while patchouli and musk wrap the composition in depth. At the centre, oud is left to reign, commanding yet elegant, a reminder of why the note has been revered for centuries.
Best Gourmand Oud Fragrance
Maison Crivelli Oud Cadenza
Oud Cadenza explores oud through indulgence, wrapping its dark intensity with decadent, edible notes. “Oud Cadenza is one of the most surprising oud-based perfumes you will ever smell,” says Thibaud Crivelli, founder and creative director of Maison Crivelli “It is based on a beautiful contrast between a spicy cane sugar accord, date, oud and a combination of leather, vanilla and caramel, which gives it its intoxicating touch.” The delectable gourmand blend, elevated by the sophistication of oud, provides an irresistible intensity which lingers like a luxurious second skin.
More Oud Fragrances for Your Collection
Related Stories
9 Amber Fragrances to Add to Your Collection
New Fragrances the Harrods Beauty Team is Loving in 2025
