Reviews of Oud Wood by Tom Ford
Got this as a sample with my Sephora order and have been holding on to this tiny sample for as long as possible. I was scared of oud for a long time because I had heard that to some people it can smell harsh or medicinal. But this is beautiful. It’s smooth and polite. My only real issue is the cost. And a question to the people who have the bottle - does it also vanish from your skin after a few hours? Trying to understand if it's just my sample.
I would say that this is a little more challenging than Tobacco Vanille, Noir de Noir, Tuscan Leather...well most of the Private Blend line, but not the whole line. This has a breathtakingly beautiful dewy creamy accord made out of smooth woods, perhaps the best one i ever tried. When i first sprayed this from a sample in late may of 2021, it was by far the most odd one out of the Tom Ford samples i ordered to try. It has no sweetness or citruses, it was not familiar to my nose at all, it was beautiful but strange.
The oud here is very rubbery and musky, at the same time clean rather than animalic. It opens with spices like pepper and cardamom, and the rest goes into this woody musky mixture that is amazing. It is sensual, yet very effortlessly cool, that is what makes this fragrance so magical, and perhaps one of the most unique fragrances that i never smelled anything similar to. It has a sophisticated gentleman in black suit feeling, but he doesn't try at all, he just radiates this cool relaxed and at the same time classy aura. Aside from that, this always reminded me of those moody rainy spring days, where you are just inside your warm house while outside there is cold rain non-stop for hours and hours.
PS: Beware, this requires skin to melt onto and give this amazing smell, on paper it can smell like cold mushroom soup. It is on the line between effortless beauty and cold vegetal woody strangeness at all times. And also people who say this is weak, are crazy. This is not supposed to be a brainless beast mode scent, it lasts on my skin for hours while giving just the right push. Like i said, effortless.
The oud here is very rubbery and musky, at the same time clean rather than animalic. It opens with spices like pepper and cardamom, and the rest goes into this woody musky mixture that is amazing. It is sensual, yet very effortlessly cool, that is what makes this fragrance so magical, and perhaps one of the most unique fragrances that i never smelled anything similar to. It has a sophisticated gentleman in black suit feeling, but he doesn't try at all, he just radiates this cool relaxed and at the same time classy aura. Aside from that, this always reminded me of those moody rainy spring days, where you are just inside your warm house while outside there is cold rain non-stop for hours and hours.
PS: Beware, this requires skin to melt onto and give this amazing smell, on paper it can smell like cold mushroom soup. It is on the line between effortless beauty and cold vegetal woody strangeness at all times. And also people who say this is weak, are crazy. This is not supposed to be a brainless beast mode scent, it lasts on my skin for hours while giving just the right push. Like i said, effortless.
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In 2007 this perfume was an easy introduction to the oud accord that still hadn’t quite found its hold over Western noses just yet - at least not to the extent it would a bit later. Tom Ford, the man, already gave us an introduction in the form of M7 during his time at YSL, though significantly softening oud’s presentation with a cast of other notes in the form of a men’s woody amber. Oud Wood is a reimagining of M7 that puts oud more towards the forefront and a bit lest modified.
The opening is a big hit of waxy and fruity peppers. The cardamom also comes through with a cold, slightly sweet woody quality. The heart focuses on the oud, with a bit of smoky vetiver to round things out. The oud is dark aromatic woody and preserves some of oud’s fruity-medicinal facet, but it has been stripped of all animalic/leather, fecal, or barnyard type notes. It’s very well behaved, slightly sweet and a bit dusty. The final skin scent is a very earthy tonka and sandalwood amber that maintains the dusty quality but also loses the touch of sweetness that was in the heart layer.
As an entry level oud the perfume is just fine. It’s not amazing, not terrible, not great, but not bad either. It’s a bit middling, deadpan, and lifeless but at all points it does what it says it’s going to do, and it smells pretty good while doing it. It’s certainly overhyped and overrated, but it stands out amongst the Private Blend line.
The opening is a big hit of waxy and fruity peppers. The cardamom also comes through with a cold, slightly sweet woody quality. The heart focuses on the oud, with a bit of smoky vetiver to round things out. The oud is dark aromatic woody and preserves some of oud’s fruity-medicinal facet, but it has been stripped of all animalic/leather, fecal, or barnyard type notes. It’s very well behaved, slightly sweet and a bit dusty. The final skin scent is a very earthy tonka and sandalwood amber that maintains the dusty quality but also loses the touch of sweetness that was in the heart layer.
As an entry level oud the perfume is just fine. It’s not amazing, not terrible, not great, but not bad either. It’s a bit middling, deadpan, and lifeless but at all points it does what it says it’s going to do, and it smells pretty good while doing it. It’s certainly overhyped and overrated, but it stands out amongst the Private Blend line.
It’s a shame that the woody opening disappears so quickly because it’s beautifully done. One of the most accessible and enjoyable Private Blend release.
Dear Tom Ford Oud Wood
I was wrong when suspecting
That you were all hype
Your hype is deserved
A quite forgivable sin
In a world of hype
Your subtle beauties
Are not lost on this poor boy
Who can't afford you
In more ways than one
I married your rich cousin
Her High Maintenance
Her Extrémité
Her Discontinuité
Her Obscénité
Though we married young
In Tomfordabilité
Best mistake ever
You cannot compete!
Her Golden Beef Jerkiness
Enslaves this poor boy
But I respect you
Like the ladies at the club
Some of whom wear you
Your rose(under)wood
Entrances this rose lover
Your sterile clean oud
Sinful to oud-heads
Told barnyard to go to hell
And stay out of Saks
Brava, Oud Goddess!
Defend your pagan temple
Against us heathens
To whom "less is more"
Is ghastly barbarity
"Frag bros at the gates!"
"iS mUh oUd wOOd FakE?"
We argue over the smoke
As the temple burns
Spare your fine beauty
Wood drying o'er centuries
Oud, the printed word
Fading to our smiles
Even with my COVID nose
That taught me patience
I will wait you out
In Your Homéopathie
Carry on, Oud Wood!
I was wrong when suspecting
That you were all hype
Your hype is deserved
A quite forgivable sin
In a world of hype
Your subtle beauties
Are not lost on this poor boy
Who can't afford you
In more ways than one
I married your rich cousin
Her High Maintenance
Her Extrémité
Her Discontinuité
Her Obscénité
Though we married young
In Tomfordabilité
Best mistake ever
You cannot compete!
Her Golden Beef Jerkiness
Enslaves this poor boy
But I respect you
Like the ladies at the club
Some of whom wear you
Your rose(under)wood
Entrances this rose lover
Your sterile clean oud
Sinful to oud-heads
Told barnyard to go to hell
And stay out of Saks
Brava, Oud Goddess!
Defend your pagan temple
Against us heathens
To whom "less is more"
Is ghastly barbarity
"Frag bros at the gates!"
"iS mUh oUd wOOd FakE?"
We argue over the smoke
As the temple burns
Spare your fine beauty
Wood drying o'er centuries
Oud, the printed word
Fading to our smiles
Even with my COVID nose
That taught me patience
I will wait you out
In Your Homéopathie
Carry on, Oud Wood!
you read the basenotes.
You think you understand what it will smell like.
There is wood.
Faint amber, vanilla, and other ingredients that blend to smell rather lavender-esque. To simplify the scent, I would say lavender /rose meets woody meets a powdery musk.
This is winter, fall, evenings type of scent.
Yes unisex.
If you're into scent layering for something wholly unique, this pairs well with lavender oil for all you naturalists, and even better bleu de Chanel which makes the scent more "blue"
Overall this scent is not for me. I don't particularly care for Rose because no matter what you pair it with, I detect my grandmother's presence.
I would love to smell this on someone in person.
Quality ingredients as always!
You think you understand what it will smell like.
There is wood.
Faint amber, vanilla, and other ingredients that blend to smell rather lavender-esque. To simplify the scent, I would say lavender /rose meets woody meets a powdery musk.
This is winter, fall, evenings type of scent.
Yes unisex.
If you're into scent layering for something wholly unique, this pairs well with lavender oil for all you naturalists, and even better bleu de Chanel which makes the scent more "blue"
Overall this scent is not for me. I don't particularly care for Rose because no matter what you pair it with, I detect my grandmother's presence.
I would love to smell this on someone in person.
Quality ingredients as always!
The classic Oud Wood. I used to own it, but it was never really a favorite of mine. Some nice cardamom and dark woods in the opening, but it then transitioned to a sweet, woody, somewhat powdery dry-down on me. I eventually resigned myself to the fact that I didn't enjoy wearing it that much, and there were plenty of other woody scents that I would reach for instead. Some of which actually contain real oud, to boot...
A little oudy. A little woody. Some spice. Pleasant and inoffensive. Oud Wood is a nice scent and something I would own and wear if it were reasonably priced. It’s not particularly idiosyncratic, but far from ordinary and carries a bit of distinction. It sits in the same general category as something like Lalique’s Hommage a’Lhomme.
Speaking of, considering that brands like Lalique churn out oud fragrances of equal or greater quality for less than half of what Oud Wood will set you back, I struggle to give Tom Ford more than tepid praise for this one. Whether or not Tom Ford fragrances deserve their asking price is, I suppose, circumstantial. For me, there are a few I would splurge for, but Oud Wood simply isn’t one of them (and not because I don’t like it). If Oud Wood were sold at Lalique prices, it could easily fit into my wardrobe as a no-brainer, easy-to-wear, office fragrance, but at over $300 for 100 ml? Yikes. That’s a no from me, dawg.
Another reason to look elsewhere for your oud fix is performance. Projection is on the intimate side for me, but it does last a good 6-8 hours. I actually enjoy its understated elegance, but it may leave some wanting.
Overall, if you are reading this review and have more disposable income or fewer inhibitions than myself, consider this review a “thumbs up” endorsement. For anyone else, use your discretion; there are cheaper options out there that scratch the same itch. For more of an Oud-centric fragrance, consider Bogart’s One Man Show Oud Edition. For a classy violet-tinged variation, the aforementioned Lalique will do nicely. A quick internet search reveals that Versace Oud Noir also gets compared to Oud Wood. I haven’t tried that one, but you get the idea.
For me, this is a neutral.
Speaking of, considering that brands like Lalique churn out oud fragrances of equal or greater quality for less than half of what Oud Wood will set you back, I struggle to give Tom Ford more than tepid praise for this one. Whether or not Tom Ford fragrances deserve their asking price is, I suppose, circumstantial. For me, there are a few I would splurge for, but Oud Wood simply isn’t one of them (and not because I don’t like it). If Oud Wood were sold at Lalique prices, it could easily fit into my wardrobe as a no-brainer, easy-to-wear, office fragrance, but at over $300 for 100 ml? Yikes. That’s a no from me, dawg.
Another reason to look elsewhere for your oud fix is performance. Projection is on the intimate side for me, but it does last a good 6-8 hours. I actually enjoy its understated elegance, but it may leave some wanting.
Overall, if you are reading this review and have more disposable income or fewer inhibitions than myself, consider this review a “thumbs up” endorsement. For anyone else, use your discretion; there are cheaper options out there that scratch the same itch. For more of an Oud-centric fragrance, consider Bogart’s One Man Show Oud Edition. For a classy violet-tinged variation, the aforementioned Lalique will do nicely. A quick internet search reveals that Versace Oud Noir also gets compared to Oud Wood. I haven’t tried that one, but you get the idea.
For me, this is a neutral.
I really loved this fragrance when I was first discovering the Tom Ford line. I even got a compliment while wearing it in a lecture, which was really rare for me. However, after smelling more and more fragrances, I distanced myself from this fragrance and started to forget about it. It doesn't appeal to me anymore and I find it boring.
In short, it's a clean oud fragrance. It's not really animalic, fecal, or dirty, which makes it feel a bit empty to me. Perhaps it's a bit too linear for my taste. Considering that Versace's Oud Noir costs a fraction of the price, I now find Oud Wood a bit overpriced and overrated.
The cleanliness of this fragrance makes it mass appealing, but the question remains: Would I pay Tom Ford prices for a clean oud? That's debatable.
In short, it's a clean oud fragrance. It's not really animalic, fecal, or dirty, which makes it feel a bit empty to me. Perhaps it's a bit too linear for my taste. Considering that Versace's Oud Noir costs a fraction of the price, I now find Oud Wood a bit overpriced and overrated.
The cleanliness of this fragrance makes it mass appealing, but the question remains: Would I pay Tom Ford prices for a clean oud? That's debatable.
Oud Wood smells like Dr. Strange, I imagine. Actually, no, scratch that. Imagine Benedict Cumberbatch's cape wrapping itself around you. It has a personality all its own, which is surprising, and it's silky smooth as well. Obviously very expensive, which is weird because it's really only a simple piece of fabric. But something about it fails to cross the uncanny valley. Magic isn't real and it's a silly conceit in the movies used for throwaway jokes and deus ex machina. But that cape is just a computer generated concept; it's the idea of a cape.
Same goes for Tom Ford's creation here: it's the idea of oud, but not the real thing. To be frank, I love it. Real oud is just too much for me. I would much rather smell like a three story Victorian house—the Sanctum Sanctorum according to the Marvel wiki—than I would like to smell like an actual barnyard. That said, I just can't get into the whole Dr. Strange story line.
Same goes for Tom Ford's creation here: it's the idea of oud, but not the real thing. To be frank, I love it. Real oud is just too much for me. I would much rather smell like a three story Victorian house—the Sanctum Sanctorum according to the Marvel wiki—than I would like to smell like an actual barnyard. That said, I just can't get into the whole Dr. Strange story line.
Subtle and gentle spicy and woody. Rosewood and cardamom on an amber base, don't get any vanilla. Very classy, it shares a lot with the original M7 minus the cherry syrup note. Very good longevity, projestion is moderate
I had to register to Basenotes after 4 years of reading reviews... just to give my very first review, which will indeed be for Oud Wood by Tom Ford.
First of all, if you are looking for a fragrance with a real Oud smell, this one is definitely not for you. YSL M7 or Montale Black Aoud will definitely do the job. This one is very different from Oud fragrances.
Oud Wood has something difficult to explain. It requires a very small bottle that you can keep with you during the day (or night), as longevity is definitely an issue, as mentioned many times in the comments.
The ideal way of wearing Oud Wood is to spray at least 2 (if not 3 times) the fragrance in the exact same area of your body. Yes, you'll use it 3 times faster but that's the deal.
Then, you will find the better sillage you're looking for (especially at that price tag) and a projection of more than 1 meter. But even more, it will give its full oud and woody vibe that you expect from this fragrance. and get rid of the "cleaner" smell some may find in it.
I've smelled thousands of fragrances, bought at least 50 different ones. This one has something that can't be described. It leaves a mark on you, on people you meet, people you know, your friends, family, girlfriend or boyfriend. Having this fragrance as your signature scent is an exquisite feeling.
It's the number one question I get from colleagues, friends, dates, or one night stand "what's your fragrance?". Oud Wood has that super non-original vibe that allows you to wear it anywhere, even at the office, yet it has a signature that makes people ask what is that fragrance that filled the place in a few minutes.
I think the most important part is that you might get addicted to it, and your friends or people you meet too. Act like a rich kid and try to do 3 sprays for each area you put that fragrance to. I just bought my 4th bottle of 100ml (the lower versions are a scam, to avoid). I can't get enough of it.
It's reassuring, warm, enigmatic, deep, intriguing, spicy, yet fresh and flowery, but still very masculine.
The Oud note is extremely hidden. I kinda laughed when I got advised in a shop that all notes are around the base note that is Oud. Which is 200% false. The oud is really hidden, yet still there.
Add these 3 sprays in the exact same area, and it will unveil. Still hidden, but more here for people around you to smell it. After 3 hours it's an absolute pleasure. When dancing in a club it becomes your natural sexy and enigmatic smell. On the next morning, it becomes your trophy. Something that wipes out all good fragrance, even Bois d'Argent by Dior, even Serge Lutens ones. Oud Wood gives a real memory to the night you spent, the people you met, the places you've been.
One of my best friends bought it for her boyfriend - just because this fragrance leaves a mark, and has this incredible ability to become your body smell. Not just another fragrance that you smell on someone. something particular.
This is my very favorite fragrance of all times, and I think for life. Tom Ford definitely had to show his natural taste for elegance, and this blend shows it more than any other private blend.
Even Vanilla Tobacco, Noir de Noir, or Tuscan Leather can't compete with this addictive Oud Wood. They didn't launch the body spray, deodorant, even the soap just for the sake of it. The more you add that fragrance to you, the more it reveals its charms.
Get yourself a small bottle that can follow you in your adventures (I actually use a Hermes refillable one), and definitely give this fragrance the try it deserves.
I work in the travel industry and this smell follows me everywhere. From Asia to Europe, North America, Africa, the Middle East, I always face the same question: What is your fragrance?
Addictive and unique.
Definitely worth the try.
Oud Wood is incomparable, which is why it gained such a hype.
Only one thing to remember especially for the skeptics, put 3 prays on the same area please (which might lead to 9 sprays, yes!)
This fragrance is for people who don't count. Who live their day as if it was the last. This fragrance is different, unique.
Everyone should give it a try.
First of all, if you are looking for a fragrance with a real Oud smell, this one is definitely not for you. YSL M7 or Montale Black Aoud will definitely do the job. This one is very different from Oud fragrances.
Oud Wood has something difficult to explain. It requires a very small bottle that you can keep with you during the day (or night), as longevity is definitely an issue, as mentioned many times in the comments.
The ideal way of wearing Oud Wood is to spray at least 2 (if not 3 times) the fragrance in the exact same area of your body. Yes, you'll use it 3 times faster but that's the deal.
Then, you will find the better sillage you're looking for (especially at that price tag) and a projection of more than 1 meter. But even more, it will give its full oud and woody vibe that you expect from this fragrance. and get rid of the "cleaner" smell some may find in it.
I've smelled thousands of fragrances, bought at least 50 different ones. This one has something that can't be described. It leaves a mark on you, on people you meet, people you know, your friends, family, girlfriend or boyfriend. Having this fragrance as your signature scent is an exquisite feeling.
It's the number one question I get from colleagues, friends, dates, or one night stand "what's your fragrance?". Oud Wood has that super non-original vibe that allows you to wear it anywhere, even at the office, yet it has a signature that makes people ask what is that fragrance that filled the place in a few minutes.
I think the most important part is that you might get addicted to it, and your friends or people you meet too. Act like a rich kid and try to do 3 sprays for each area you put that fragrance to. I just bought my 4th bottle of 100ml (the lower versions are a scam, to avoid). I can't get enough of it.
It's reassuring, warm, enigmatic, deep, intriguing, spicy, yet fresh and flowery, but still very masculine.
The Oud note is extremely hidden. I kinda laughed when I got advised in a shop that all notes are around the base note that is Oud. Which is 200% false. The oud is really hidden, yet still there.
Add these 3 sprays in the exact same area, and it will unveil. Still hidden, but more here for people around you to smell it. After 3 hours it's an absolute pleasure. When dancing in a club it becomes your natural sexy and enigmatic smell. On the next morning, it becomes your trophy. Something that wipes out all good fragrance, even Bois d'Argent by Dior, even Serge Lutens ones. Oud Wood gives a real memory to the night you spent, the people you met, the places you've been.
One of my best friends bought it for her boyfriend - just because this fragrance leaves a mark, and has this incredible ability to become your body smell. Not just another fragrance that you smell on someone. something particular.
This is my very favorite fragrance of all times, and I think for life. Tom Ford definitely had to show his natural taste for elegance, and this blend shows it more than any other private blend.
Even Vanilla Tobacco, Noir de Noir, or Tuscan Leather can't compete with this addictive Oud Wood. They didn't launch the body spray, deodorant, even the soap just for the sake of it. The more you add that fragrance to you, the more it reveals its charms.
Get yourself a small bottle that can follow you in your adventures (I actually use a Hermes refillable one), and definitely give this fragrance the try it deserves.
I work in the travel industry and this smell follows me everywhere. From Asia to Europe, North America, Africa, the Middle East, I always face the same question: What is your fragrance?
Addictive and unique.
Definitely worth the try.
Oud Wood is incomparable, which is why it gained such a hype.
Only one thing to remember especially for the skeptics, put 3 prays on the same area please (which might lead to 9 sprays, yes!)
This fragrance is for people who don't count. Who live their day as if it was the last. This fragrance is different, unique.
Everyone should give it a try.
Absolutely love this cologne more than any other.
Been wearing it for a couple years as my signature scent, and even after trying dozens of other fragrances, I can't find anything that I enjoy more.
It just blends so well with my skin chemistry. And yes, at this steep price point, I can understand the performance complaints. Longevity isn't the issue (at least not on me), but it's true, it doesn't have the strongest projection. You think at this price, folks should be able to smell you coming around the corner, right? I get it. Aventus is one of the greatest smelling fragrance of all-time, and has excellent projection. But herein lies the true beauty of this magical, mysterious frag: In my case, in my last couple of relationships, my girlfriends seemed to think that this was actually my body's scent or smell, and they could NOT get enough of it. "My scent" drove them crazy, to the point that they would snuggle-up with the shirt I'd been wearing when I wasn't there. That's part of the subtle beauty of this sexy fragrance - it just blends seamlessly into my body chemistry and scent, and becomes part of me. And boy does it cast a spell on the lucky ladies that get close enough to enjoy me...
Thumbs way, way up!
Been wearing it for a couple years as my signature scent, and even after trying dozens of other fragrances, I can't find anything that I enjoy more.
It just blends so well with my skin chemistry. And yes, at this steep price point, I can understand the performance complaints. Longevity isn't the issue (at least not on me), but it's true, it doesn't have the strongest projection. You think at this price, folks should be able to smell you coming around the corner, right? I get it. Aventus is one of the greatest smelling fragrance of all-time, and has excellent projection. But herein lies the true beauty of this magical, mysterious frag: In my case, in my last couple of relationships, my girlfriends seemed to think that this was actually my body's scent or smell, and they could NOT get enough of it. "My scent" drove them crazy, to the point that they would snuggle-up with the shirt I'd been wearing when I wasn't there. That's part of the subtle beauty of this sexy fragrance - it just blends seamlessly into my body chemistry and scent, and becomes part of me. And boy does it cast a spell on the lucky ladies that get close enough to enjoy me...
Thumbs way, way up!
On first spraying, I thought Mm, this is good, really good, and it reminded me of something. It took a while to realise it was like walking in a local arboretum in spring. The woody fragrance was very evident.
However, the disappointment came quite soon. All the reviews I'd read wrote about poor longevity and, in my case, they were correct. The smell on my wrist and elbow had disappeared in less than two hours.
Now, bizarrely, on the second time of using, the fragrance is lasting much longer and I'm a loss to explain why.
However, the disappointment came quite soon. All the reviews I'd read wrote about poor longevity and, in my case, they were correct. The smell on my wrist and elbow had disappeared in less than two hours.
Now, bizarrely, on the second time of using, the fragrance is lasting much longer and I'm a loss to explain why.
Smells incredible and because of that I am giving it a thumbs up.
One of the best Oud scents out there BUT and this is a big but, performance is not nearly what it should be for this price and as such I would hesitate to purchase more than 1 bottle.
One of the best Oud scents out there BUT and this is a big but, performance is not nearly what it should be for this price and as such I would hesitate to purchase more than 1 bottle.
Kind of a bright sandalwood cardamom with a slight touch of sanitized oud. It doesn't smell bad. I don't understand why anybody loves this though. It doesn't seem to be something that would engender superlative remarks of any nature. It could smell like cleaner if you are looking for it. Boring. I can only assume this was more groundbreaking and interesting when it came out. Now it is generic and played out. Soft, weak, and unisex.
This smells just like I imagine Oud Wood would smell like after a small amount of research. But thats it. What a cop out. No imagination. Where is the creative interpretation? Who are you Tom Ford? You are joking on us with your price and brand? Just watch the gay suited sales assistant with attitude try and talk this one up on Youtube...eeeet is sooo subtle, classy. One of my faaaaavourites... all desperate euphemisms for ..well
I have to find some way of keeping a straight face when people ask me the price. I have several TF products because usually you can see where the actual value has been added and the branding is discrete. I only every buy at sale time so they are less ridiculously overpriced. With Oud Wood I cannot see any added value and as far as I know the colognes don't usually go on sale- not that I am fan anyway so I usually don't check. Plus this is not unisex as marketed.
I have to find some way of keeping a straight face when people ask me the price. I have several TF products because usually you can see where the actual value has been added and the branding is discrete. I only every buy at sale time so they are less ridiculously overpriced. With Oud Wood I cannot see any added value and as far as I know the colognes don't usually go on sale- not that I am fan anyway so I usually don't check. Plus this is not unisex as marketed.
I simultaneously love and am disappointed by Oud Wood. It's beautiful. Spicy, woody, and sweet. It's not harsh by any means and is just as much a gourmand as it is an oriental. It's not in the notes, but I almost get a bit of cinnamon, like someone's baking snickerdoodles in a dense sappy forest. Has me periodically taking sniffs of my wrist throughout the day.
All that said, like others, for me the performance is not great. Two hours of projection, followed by another four as a mild (albeit still nice) skin scent. Must have been weakened as many with older bottles claim it to be beast. For what it costs, I deserve the beast I'm not getting. Wouldn't pay retail for it as it stands, but keeping my eye out for cheap decants.
All that said, like others, for me the performance is not great. Two hours of projection, followed by another four as a mild (albeit still nice) skin scent. Must have been weakened as many with older bottles claim it to be beast. For what it costs, I deserve the beast I'm not getting. Wouldn't pay retail for it as it stands, but keeping my eye out for cheap decants.
Opens with an wet woody accord widely used in designer oud fragrances to give an impression of oud. This accord quickly vanishes to leave the stage to a creamy sandalwood, supported by a hint of cardamon, spices and vanilla. Very linear, but lacks the complexity expected at that price point.
I like it, and I am not surprised this fragrance is so successful, since Oud Wood is a crowdpleasing sandalwood fragrance, and has little to do with oud, aside of its name.
That said, that doesn't impact the fact that it is a nicely blended fragrance, that may fit the bill for a pleasant unoffensive office fragrance.
While it may have been unique at the time it was released (2007, a few years after YSL M7), it does not anymore. Indeed, I have to echo other reviewers in underlining that this one is very similar to Versace Oud Noir (with the orange note being substituted by sandalwood, which gives a slightly more elegant feel to Oud Wood).
That said, I cannot justify spending 6 to 8 times more than Oud Noir for just a extra hint of elegance. Unfortunately, I also have to confirm observation made in many other reviews in regard to Oud Wood's poor performance.
I loved it when I first tested it on paper at the beginning of my frag journey, now after having smelt 500+ frags, it's just a I like for me, but really, nothing groundbreaking. Factoring-in price, average quality (absence of oud, unlike Amouage frags that are currently sold for half the price of OW), low performance and strong similarities with a fragrance that costs 6 times less, I cannot see any valid reason to get a full bottle, and will stick with Versace Oud Noir. Just my 2 cents.
When it will be priced under $75 for a 100ml bottle, I may rethink my choice. In the meanwhile, there are way more interesting frags around for the $300 it currently retails for.
Fall/Winter days, 20-40yo.
Note: while I like it, it gets a thumbs down rating because of the lack of complexity and poor performance, both unacceptable at that price point.
I like it, and I am not surprised this fragrance is so successful, since Oud Wood is a crowdpleasing sandalwood fragrance, and has little to do with oud, aside of its name.
That said, that doesn't impact the fact that it is a nicely blended fragrance, that may fit the bill for a pleasant unoffensive office fragrance.
While it may have been unique at the time it was released (2007, a few years after YSL M7), it does not anymore. Indeed, I have to echo other reviewers in underlining that this one is very similar to Versace Oud Noir (with the orange note being substituted by sandalwood, which gives a slightly more elegant feel to Oud Wood).
That said, I cannot justify spending 6 to 8 times more than Oud Noir for just a extra hint of elegance. Unfortunately, I also have to confirm observation made in many other reviews in regard to Oud Wood's poor performance.
I loved it when I first tested it on paper at the beginning of my frag journey, now after having smelt 500+ frags, it's just a I like for me, but really, nothing groundbreaking. Factoring-in price, average quality (absence of oud, unlike Amouage frags that are currently sold for half the price of OW), low performance and strong similarities with a fragrance that costs 6 times less, I cannot see any valid reason to get a full bottle, and will stick with Versace Oud Noir. Just my 2 cents.
When it will be priced under $75 for a 100ml bottle, I may rethink my choice. In the meanwhile, there are way more interesting frags around for the $300 it currently retails for.
Fall/Winter days, 20-40yo.
Note: while I like it, it gets a thumbs down rating because of the lack of complexity and poor performance, both unacceptable at that price point.
I love this scent however it does suffer from performance issues.
Will i buy another bottle. . . Yes.
I really do love how it smells and has to be probably my favorite take on Oud. It is just blended so well!
I just wish it performed better for the price.
7/10
Will i buy another bottle. . . Yes.
I really do love how it smells and has to be probably my favorite take on Oud. It is just blended so well!
I just wish it performed better for the price.
7/10
The first time I smelled this fragrance it hated it. You have to give it a try on your skin at least for one day to appreciate how nice is the smell.
* Longevity is very poor on me 2-3 hrs.
* Sillage is average, works better if is windy.
* Projection less than 1 meter.
* Scent is awesome. It stays close to my skin for about 8 hrs.
Will try to layer with Molecule 01 to see if longevity and projection improve.
I like it anyway, bought the 100ml because I have to apply 3 times a day.
* Longevity is very poor on me 2-3 hrs.
* Sillage is average, works better if is windy.
* Projection less than 1 meter.
* Scent is awesome. It stays close to my skin for about 8 hrs.
Will try to layer with Molecule 01 to see if longevity and projection improve.
I like it anyway, bought the 100ml because I have to apply 3 times a day.
Yet another owner disappointed with the performance - 2 hours... maybe. BTW, the body-spray version is a scam.
Gotta admit though, I LOVE it.
Gotta admit though, I LOVE it.
More spices and wood than oud, which is a good thing. Too much oud isn't all that great. This one's a nice one. Feels smokey and warm. Well blended.
Well worth the spend.
p.s. unlike most, I don't get into the notes, etc. It's all there for everyone to see on this site as well as other places on the net. I'm not a pro, just a novice collector.
Well worth the spend.
p.s. unlike most, I don't get into the notes, etc. It's all there for everyone to see on this site as well as other places on the net. I'm not a pro, just a novice collector.
Tom Ford Oud Wood (2007) is part of the initial Private Blends lineup launched in 2007 as a competitor in the "prestige" market, that gray area between designer and true niche. Chanel, Dior, Armani, and many others have also launched similar collections under different headings, all with the same point in mind: to create perfumes that don't need to follow taste demographics and economies of scale to be successful, much like niche perfumes, but are still given a glossy later of "quality control" and house uniformity. In other words, Oud Wood is a member of a niche-interest class of fragrances sold at a higher markup by designers to justify the narrow footprint, rather than niche perfumes themselves made purely for artistic satisfaction of the perfumer at hand. Most of the time, stuff like this gets lumped in with niche anyway because "it's all technically niche at that point" since it's price makes it exclusionary to many folks who won't spend that kind of cash, and I totally understand. I don't see this, or anything in it's class as higher or lower than any other perfume to be honest, and the price for entry is just another factor to weigh for or against the stuff. In Oud Wood's case, the price is decidedly a drawback, because unlike other Private Blends I've tried, this one has performance closer to, and to my nose below, that of Tom Ford's usual signature line. Maybe at the time, the word "oud" on a Western fragrance was a money grab, because I actually don't recall any fragrances from 2007 having Oud proclaimed in the title that weren't a part of some higher-than-standard line. Tobacco Oud (2013) would turn out to be the scent that this fragrance wishes it was, and has none of the performance or irritant issues that I'll get to a little later on.
The purpose of Oud Wood is to present Oud in a rather unfettered form, but to also button it up nice and structured, so it appeals to Western tastes. Oud Wood has the medicinal facets of agarwood, but not the dirty animalic barnyard facets that it often takes when paired with rose or leather. This dry, semi-sweet, muted oud is paired with a few other woods in the note pyramid, and graced with a top of Sichuan pepper. The opening of Oud Wood is that pepper, saddled with rosewood and cardamom, two 70's throwback stalwarts that make Oud Wood feel older in style than it is with their aromatic spicy dustiness. The starring oud note shows soon after, paired with creamy sandalwood and slightly smoky vetiver, which carries on the dusty/chalky nature of Oud Wood. I really hate being the bearer of bad news here, but the final phase of Oud Wood is very much reminiscent of an old abrasive powdered cleanser called Comet, and although it doesn't ruin the scent for me, the association is forever ingrained, and it has to do with the way the powdery amber in the base interacts with the cardamom, vetiver, and oud above. There's also tonka and vanilla to round out and sweeten the skin finish, but it's not enough to purge the mind of a can of Comet. Wearing this has been something of a chore once you've made your way down to the itchy base, although the journey there is rather quite nice. There's an "Oud Wood Intense" (2017) version that has surfaced with the Comet note gone, but replaced with nothing but citrus and cypress around Tom Ford's oud compound; this stuff has none of the performance issues or irritation of this standard iteration, but is a monster all unto itself that I won't go near.
Ultimately, Oud Wood is intended to be a pleasant amber-based scent with a strong plonk of oud, surrounded by filler woods and spice to keep it in the semi-formal/semi-romantic zone. The Comet association with the dustiness of the stuff is unfortunate, but not a total deal breaker. However, the fairly weak projection and below-average longevity for an eau de parfum are, so I can't really recommend this. As an early American take on the wood once exclusive to the Middle East, it's decent enough, but really shouldn't be more than $50 for a 1.7oz/50ml bottle, and not somewhere near $200. Other Private Blend scents, some from this initial launch line up, and some from later series, do in fact feel worth their asking price, at least to me, and I'd gladly fork over the cash for Noir de Noir (2007), Santal Blush (2011), or Patchouli Absolu (2014), but not this. What compounds this worse is the hype behind this particular Private Blend, along with Tobacco Vanille (2007), as the two must-haves for men from the house. I hate to break it to ya, but the European-only Avon Premiere Luxe Oud (2017) actually does as good a job of presenting oud with pepper and woods as this, and doesn't get dusty or smell like cleanser in the process, so I'll have to give a hard pass on this one. If you dig this thing, I'd say it's the rare scent that hangs tight at both the office and a dinner date (just like Fougère d'Argent from 2018), but for as much as I tolerate aromachem bases in modern scents, there is just something overtly "chemical" here that doesn't jive, and I'd much rather wear the $30 "Luxe Line" Avon even if the amount of oud in it might also be nearly as, if not more questionable, than the amount found here.
The purpose of Oud Wood is to present Oud in a rather unfettered form, but to also button it up nice and structured, so it appeals to Western tastes. Oud Wood has the medicinal facets of agarwood, but not the dirty animalic barnyard facets that it often takes when paired with rose or leather. This dry, semi-sweet, muted oud is paired with a few other woods in the note pyramid, and graced with a top of Sichuan pepper. The opening of Oud Wood is that pepper, saddled with rosewood and cardamom, two 70's throwback stalwarts that make Oud Wood feel older in style than it is with their aromatic spicy dustiness. The starring oud note shows soon after, paired with creamy sandalwood and slightly smoky vetiver, which carries on the dusty/chalky nature of Oud Wood. I really hate being the bearer of bad news here, but the final phase of Oud Wood is very much reminiscent of an old abrasive powdered cleanser called Comet, and although it doesn't ruin the scent for me, the association is forever ingrained, and it has to do with the way the powdery amber in the base interacts with the cardamom, vetiver, and oud above. There's also tonka and vanilla to round out and sweeten the skin finish, but it's not enough to purge the mind of a can of Comet. Wearing this has been something of a chore once you've made your way down to the itchy base, although the journey there is rather quite nice. There's an "Oud Wood Intense" (2017) version that has surfaced with the Comet note gone, but replaced with nothing but citrus and cypress around Tom Ford's oud compound; this stuff has none of the performance issues or irritation of this standard iteration, but is a monster all unto itself that I won't go near.
Ultimately, Oud Wood is intended to be a pleasant amber-based scent with a strong plonk of oud, surrounded by filler woods and spice to keep it in the semi-formal/semi-romantic zone. The Comet association with the dustiness of the stuff is unfortunate, but not a total deal breaker. However, the fairly weak projection and below-average longevity for an eau de parfum are, so I can't really recommend this. As an early American take on the wood once exclusive to the Middle East, it's decent enough, but really shouldn't be more than $50 for a 1.7oz/50ml bottle, and not somewhere near $200. Other Private Blend scents, some from this initial launch line up, and some from later series, do in fact feel worth their asking price, at least to me, and I'd gladly fork over the cash for Noir de Noir (2007), Santal Blush (2011), or Patchouli Absolu (2014), but not this. What compounds this worse is the hype behind this particular Private Blend, along with Tobacco Vanille (2007), as the two must-haves for men from the house. I hate to break it to ya, but the European-only Avon Premiere Luxe Oud (2017) actually does as good a job of presenting oud with pepper and woods as this, and doesn't get dusty or smell like cleanser in the process, so I'll have to give a hard pass on this one. If you dig this thing, I'd say it's the rare scent that hangs tight at both the office and a dinner date (just like Fougère d'Argent from 2018), but for as much as I tolerate aromachem bases in modern scents, there is just something overtly "chemical" here that doesn't jive, and I'd much rather wear the $30 "Luxe Line" Avon even if the amount of oud in it might also be nearly as, if not more questionable, than the amount found here.