Oud samples as unisex

We list 67 samples as unisex whose notes include oud. Below are 8 of them, described with the facts we hold and nothing else. We do not rank them, because the same perfume wears differently on every skin.

The selection

Gissah Imperial Valley

Gissah Imperial Valley, an Eau de Parfum from Gissah, has Sicilian Bergamot, Pink Pepper, Davana, Oud, White Amber, Rosemary and others on record. Its family tags read oriental and woody. The listing names autumn and winter as its season. Try it on a normal day, not only on a special one, to see whether it fits your routine.

Nishane Nefs

From Nishane comes Nishane Nefs, an Extrait de Parfum. On paper it lists Honey, Violet, Sage, Saffron, Fig, Rose and others. By family it is filed as oriental, spicy, leather and amber. Season on record: autumn and winter. Clothes hold a scent differently from skin, which makes a scarf or sleeve a useful second test.

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Oud Satin Mood

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Oud Satin Mood by Maison Francis Kurkdjian is an Eau de Parfum with these recorded notes: Violet, Oud, Damascena Rose, Vanilla Amber Accord and Benzoin. It is tagged woody, amber, floral and oriental. It is listed for autumn and winter. Write down what you notice after a few minutes and again after lunch, and you will see how it moves.

Jo Malone London Oud & Bergamot

Jo Malone London Oud & Bergamot is filed as a perfume from Jo Malone London; the note list on record reads Bergamot, Cedarwood and Oud. The scent families on record: woody, oriental and citrus. For season the tags say autumn and winter. One wearing shows a mood, several wearings show the perfume.

Rayhaan Terra

Rayhaan Terra is filed as an Eau de Parfum from Rayhaan; the note list on record reads Bergamot, Lemon, Cardamom, Elemi, Sichuan Pepper, Patchouli and others. It is tagged floral, oriental and woody. It is listed for winter. What reads as sweet on one person can read as dry on another.

Maison Crivelli Oud Maracujá

With Maison Crivelli Oud Maracujá, Maison Crivelli has an Extrait de Parfum for which passion fruit accord, saffron, rose absolute from Turkey, oud accord, benzoin from Laos, cistus absolute from Spain and others are on record. It is tagged woody, fruity and oriental. For season the tags say autumn and winter. Give it time to settle before you judge it.

Roja Parfums Sweetie Aoud

Roja Parfums Sweetie Aoud is filed as a Parfum from Roja Parfums; the note list on record reads Bergamot, Artemisia, Rose de Mai, Cistus, Patisserie Accord, Cardamom and others. By family it is filed as gourmand, oriental, woody and spicy. It is listed for autumn and winter. Notes on a list are a map, and what you notice on your own skin is the territory.

Stéphane Humbert Lucas God of Fire

With Stéphane Humbert Lucas God of Fire, Stéphane Humbert Lucas has an Eau de Parfum for which Mango, Lemon, Pink Berries, Ginger, Blue Coumarin, Jasmine and others are on record. It is tagged oriental, fruity and woody. Season on record: autumn and winter. Pay attention to what is still there by the evening, since that is the part you live with longest.

Also in this selection: Sarah Baker Gold Spot, Fragrance Du Bois Oud Orange Intense, Zoologist Camel, Tiziana Terenzi Gold Rose Oudh, Fragrance Du Bois Sahraa, Jo Malone London Velvet Rose & Oud, Mind Games Mentor, Bujairami Safari Squeeze, Ibraheem Al Qurashi Brazilian Tobacco, Fragrance World Barakkat Satin Oud.

How to test them

Try it once at home and once outdoors, since air and temperature change the impression. Leave other perfumes off that day, so nothing interferes. Use it the way you would use a full bottle, on a normal day. Check it after a few minutes, around midday and in the evening.

A decant of 2, 5 or 10 ml lets you wear it on several days before you decide about a full bottle. Two or three samples at a time is plenty; more than that and the impressions blur. With 2, 5 or 10 ml in a glass spray vial you can find out how it behaves on your skin, at your own pace.

Where to go next

• Oud samples
• Unisex
• all samples
• how we fill your sample
• sample sets
• find your scent
• how to store perfume samples
• how to build a sample set
• Eau de Toilette, Eau de Parfum and Extrait

Questions

Are these samples made by the brands?

No. They are decants: FragranceGems fills each one from the original bottle into a glass spray vial and labels it. They are not official brand samples.

Which sizes do the samples come in?

Every sample comes as 2, 5 or 10 ml in a glass spray vial. The smallest is enough for a first impression, the larger ones for many wearings.

Why do some perfumes show no notes?

Because we only print notes we can trace to a source. Where no note list is on record, the page says so and leaves the judging to your own skin.