In short: oud smells dark, woody and smoky, with leathery, medicinal and slightly animal-like depths and a sweet edge. It is intense, and people tend to love it or find it strange at first.
What oud smells like
Oud is the most dramatic of the wood notes. Real oud oil can smell like old leather, a smoky barn, dried fruit and incense all at once. Most oud in Western perfume and candles is a softer, smoother version: rich dark wood with a little smoke and leather, without the barnyard side.
Where it comes from
Oud, also called agarwood, comes from Aquilaria trees in India and Southeast Asia. A healthy tree has pale, nearly odorless wood. When the tree is wounded and infected by a particular mold, it fights back by producing a dark, fragrant resin in its heartwood. That resin-soaked wood is oud. Only a small share of wild trees ever develop it, which made it one of the most expensive natural materials in the world.
Overharvesting led to international trade controls on wild agarwood, and many producers now grow and deliberately inoculate trees on plantations. Most oud notes in fragrance, including in our candles, are fragrance oils that recreate its character.
How it is used
Oud is a base note. It has been prized for centuries in the Middle East, where oud oil is worn on its own and oud chips are burned to scent homes and clothing. Over the last twenty years it has also become a staple of Western luxury perfume.
What it pairs with
- Rose, the classic Middle Eastern pairing
- Saffron, for warmth and spice
- Frankincense and amber, for incense
- Sandalwood, to soften and smooth it
Our candles with oud
- Chapel Sanctuary: oud with frankincense, myrrh, sandalwood and amber.
- Oathbreaker Paladin: oud with saffron, frankincense and smoke.
Common questions
Is oud too strong for a candle? Raw oud would be, but blended oud notes are rich rather than overpowering. In our candles it sits under resins and woods.
Why is it called "liquid gold"? Natural oud oil can cost more per ounce than gold, because so little of it forms and it is so hard to harvest.
Explore more notes in our Fragrance Notes A to Z, or browse our Woody & Earthy candles.