Versace Oud Noir Eau de Parfum

Product Information

The oud is rather subdued, but is still perceptible and characterizes the fragrance especially with the - in my case 3-4 hours lasting - heart note of strong, sweet incense and rather weaker, spicy saffron.

This Oriental should be worn preferably in autumn and winter because of its warmth, heaviness and sweetness and is suitable for every occasion, but especially for going out and cold evenings and nights.

#Product Details#

Specifically, I’ve discovered it projects mildly from skin for the first 2 hours, before simmering closer for another 3. Therefore, expect about 5 hours of total longevity. However, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Quiet performance works in favour of oud newcomers who want to test the waters first. Versatile for an oud scent

The oud itself I do not feel as animalistic or faecal, it rather goes into the medical direction and appears "noir" and woody and smoky, although it is also not, as mentioned, THE main theme of the fragrance.

Versace pour Homme Oud Noir (2013) is really close to the discontinued Versace Man (2003) to my nose, so much that I believe that one may have been discontinued to give this one some space on the market, and to basically re-market an idea that didn't do so well a decade beforehand with an upscale twist. That upscale twist of course, is the claimed oud note, which in the mostly-Versace-Man-on-steroids build of Versace pour Homme Oud Noir reads like peppery woods a la Creed Royal Oud (2011), after which this may also be chasing. As a downmarket alternative to Royal Oud, I can wholeheartedly recommend Versace pour Homme Oud Noir as well, as the scent really does feel like a mix between it and the erstwhile original Versace Man. It's really just that simple. People compare this to Tom Ford Oud Wood (2007) and I don't see it. After last year's release of Oud Noir, Versace complements the Oud Collection with a female fragrance, Oud Oriental, in a stunning gold statement. Versace came very late to the oud craze, you may think. Well, for these kind of oud fragrances they are launching, I think It's the perfect timing, since they are not really just oud fragrances, although they decided to name these editions to make you think you will smelll lots of oud. You wont! These are perfumes with oud in them but very far from the bold oud craziness of the last years. These are perfect examples of the future of oud in Western perfume culture, as I see it. It's like this sleek, modern Persian neighbor you see every day at the art gallery wearing minimalist designer clothes. You can see the exotic facial features but all in all she is a refined woman who could be from anywhere between New York to Paris or Milan. And this mix is what makes her interesting and attractive. For this reason, I give the fragrance 9 points, half a point because of the choppy / disharmonious transition between the head and heart notes, and another half point because of the oud, which could have been a little bit, but not much, stronger.

I received compliments from both sexes, but more from the women - and plenty of them, as long as I did not overdo it with the dosage; 3 shots are quite sufficient. Here's a selection of the very best oud fragrances for men available right now. And if you want to broaden your scented horizons? Take a look at our guide to the best men's fragrances. Oud Noir won't fill a room unless you take a bath in it but it's not exactly a skin-scent. It's a polite sexy and cosmopolitan oriental blend, mixed by European taste. A perfect example of how oud can be used to make a balanced fragrance without shouting or oozing in amber and cumin. It's suitable for all ocasions, day and night, the only downside being its brief longevity—four hours tops, remaining just a woody-peppery memory after that. Although this is not quite niche-quality, it is better than almost every mainstream release in recent times. Versace did it right, releasing a fragrance that really is a bridge between Occidental and Oriental perfumery, combining European attitude with Eastern materials. Over the years, as I gradually developed into a true perfume enthusiast, I inevitably came across the ingredient "Oud", which can be found at least once in almost every perfume portfolio of every perfume-producing brand today More and more I was concerned with that ingredient that is loved by some and hated by others; to me it seemed worthy of a glance or a snoop. As a result, I didn't have the "courage" to buy a (designer) fragrance with "Oud" in its name, and certainly not an expensive one from any niche perfumer.In summary, Versace Oud Noir smells like a gentle oud scent, traversing several nuances through its development. They start with spices and tangy orange, before floating through sweetness and warmth. Finally, the oud rests upon a base pairing of resins and earthiness. The opening is all peppery woods and smoke, a really nice kind of somehow clean and fresh smoky oud, in spite of how contradictory that might sound. Eventually these darker notes give way to sweeter neroli and some bigarade for counter-balance, all of which replaces the grape leaf opening of Versace Man. The familiar saffron and cardamom from Versace Man floats into view, with the tobacco note of Versace Man died down to a nondescript tonka to support a greater presence of patchouli and woody-amber materials judiciously applied (no sandpaper scratch here). Beyond that, traces of Amouage-like incense (the highest-quality note in Versace pour Homme Oud Noir) really hit home the purpose of this being a "premium" upgrade from the usual masculine Versace fare. Performance is perfectly fine, although this gets quieter after hour two. The oud endures as the blend fully dries down. Frankincense and patchouli emerge soon after, deepening its presence. This new duo also ingrains resinous, earthy hues. They become more distinct over time as earlier ingredients slowly withdraw.

The scent itself varies considerably depending on the wood used, where the tree was grown and whether the tree itself was cultivated or naturally infected. The fragrance is – unsurprisingly – described as warm and woody with a slight hint of damp rot, while some varieties are smoky and sweet. It can be very potent so not one for the faint-hearted.The designer scent "Versace pour Homme Oud Noir", which I sprayed directly onto a test strip and which I liked more than the first time I sniffed it and also later on - but for the UVP of 120€. I was not willing to pay this price, so I went home disappointed about the "not buying", but then I bought it with all the more joy and enthusiasm for less than half (under 60€ as a rule) from the biggest online perfume dealer in Europe. The heart is first of all shaped by saffron and then especially by a sweet incense - I love it (!) - I do not perceive cardamom personally. In my experience, incense is more likely to be perceived at a distance, and saffron is more likely to be perceived at close proximity to the skin. Through the present male sweetness (of the incense) this Versace fragrance slowly but steadily becomes warmer and more oriental, the incense, which I perceive until the end, makes him by its mysterious, smoky resinous, but also slightly sweet, effect to a "noir". For this reason, I recommend "Versace Pour Homme Oud Noir" at this point especially to those who are looking for a mass produced and not too extravagant oud fragrance and to those who want to enter the "world of oud" and are looking for a very good and more than affordable oud entry fragrance.