The Top 10 Best Oud Colognes for Men

Mature & Masculine

In a nutshell, this is:

Dark, spicy, smoky woody-oud — softened with some sweet earthy patchouli and hints of fruity citruses.

Here’s what you need to know:

New Version

YSL M7 Oud Absolu is a newer version of the original YSL M7 (which is now discontinued).

YSL released the original ground-breaking M7 way back, when under the creative direction of Tom Ford.

Why was it considered ground-breaking? Well…

You see, M7 was the first westernized oud fragrance to be released by a well-known designer house. And this is what started off the oud craze in the western world.

Fun fact: M7 got its name because it was the 7^th Male fragrance released by the house of Yves Saint Laurent.

Now, to be crystal clear:

More Refined

This newer M7 Oud Absolu release does NOT smell exactly the same as the original M7. It’s very similar, but it’s softer and more refined.

Let’s take a closer look…

Hint of Fruity Orange

This starts off with a blast of uplifting fresh fruity orange citruses, mixed with some rich, dark woodiness.

Now, as it settles… the orange fades and the oud begins to shine through. And it’s softened with some resinous, earthy patchouli and whispers of smoky incense.

It’s warm, dark, earthy and smoky — with a nice hint of orange citrusy sweetness.

Mature & Classy

Now, this is a serious, mature scent, so is more suited for the classy 30-up crowd. And is tailor made for cool weather: fall/winter (and cool spring nights). And…

It’s perfect for formal/semi-formal, special occasions, work/office, etc.

Now, I should point something out:

If you’re looking for a room-filler, this is NOT it.

This is an EDT and doesn’t shout out for attention. It projects about an arm’s length for the first few hours. And then it sits closer to the skin, and we clocked it to last about 4–7 plus hours.

That said, don’t overspray. 1–3 sprays MAX…

…And you’re good to go. 🙂

A Fresh Interpretation

Here’s what you need to know:

This is part of Jo Malone’s black bottled Cologne Intense collection and was created by award winning master perfumer Christine Nagel (who is now the in-house perfumer for Hermès).

By the way, this also made it onto our best Jo Malone scents post. For good reason! Anyway…

Please don’t be put off by the name “Intense” on the bottle, as that simply refers to the concentration of the juice. As this is a subtle scent that doesn’t shout out for attention.

How’s it smell?

Well, no surprises here, my friend, as you get exactly what the name on the bottle says. Let’s break it down…

Bright Sparkling Citrus

This opens up bright, with a blast of fresh, sparkling bergamot citruses… with a mellow dark, smoky, woody-oud sitting in the background.

Now, as it settles, the citruses start to fade. And then slowly, the smooth, smoky woody-oud creeps to the surface — joined with some cedar and a hint of orange sweetness.

Sophisticated

It’s crisp, fresh, happy… and light. And has a sophisticated feel to it, which attracts a LOT of compliments.

The beautiful part?

This scent is completely unisex — so you can share it with your significant other. Bonus. 🙂

Even better…

Super Versatile

It’s super versatile: all ages, all seasons (except hot summer days) and all occasions… From formal to casual: dates, special occasions, work, office — you name it!

Now, to be perfectly clear:

This is a subtle scent that sits close to the skin. So if you’re looking for a powerhouse, this is (definitely) NOT it, my friend.

Subtle

This is what Jo Malone call a Cologne Intense concentration. And the scent projects about 2 ft for the first hour — then sits very close to the skin.

Oh, and we found the lasting power to be ballpark: 4–6 hours.

What’s the bottom line?

If you’re looking for a safe, light, easy-to-wear, mass-pleasing woody-oud scent… then I urge you to try this.

Smoky Wood With a Hint of Rose

I’ll be straight with you…

This is a daring fragrance, as it has a slightly animalic woody note. It packs a punch, and is not for the faint hearted.

This is for those of you who have a more developed nose and looking for something challenging.

By the way:

This often gets compared to a fragrance called Oud Ispahan from Christian Dior’s high end luxury collection (which, incidentally, made it onto our best rose perfumes list).

And to be honest, they do smell quite similar and have the same vibe, but they also have their differences, too. Here’s what we found…

Oud Palao Vs Oud Ispahan

Oud Palao is:

• Denser and stronger
• Contains slightly less rose and leans more masculine
• More woody and smoky
• Oh, and more affordable!

To be honest:

BOTH are great. But if you want a more refined, upscale version (or you love rose), I urge you to try Oud Ispahan.

With all that said:

In case you didn’t know, Diptyque are a French niche perfume house that create luxury fragrances and scented candles.

Let me tell you how it smells:

Dark Smoky

This opens up unapologetic, with a strong blast of dark smoky-oud, softened with a hint of slightly sweet, deep-red rose.

And I’ll be straight with you, my friend:

The opening can be off-putting to some people, but please, don’t disregard the fragrance just yet. Because the longer it’s on your skin — the better it gets…

Because when it starts to dry down, both a pipe tobacco scent and a hint of boozy rum make an appearance to start to tame the scent.

And, as the fragrance slowly develops…

Rich, Dark, Woody & Mysterious

It eventually morphs with some smooth, creamy sandalwood, a pinch of vanilla sweetness, and a touch of earthy patchouli.

It’s rich, dark, woody… and mysterious!

Now, this is unisex (but leans masculine), and is more suited for the mature 25-up crowd.

When to wear?

Formal/Semi-Formal

This is a heavy scent, so it’s geared for the fall and winter. Definitely don’t wear it when it’s hot! Trust me on this.

Great for formal, semi-formal, special occasions, nights out. However, I wouldn’t recommend this for the office/work, as it’s simply too loud (maybe, 1 spray under the shirt).

And there’s no doubt about it…

Performance is Insane

This is an EDP, and it jumps off your skin for the first 2–3 hours (leaving a heavy scent trail).

Then, slowly, it starts to sit closer to the skin, and in tests, we found it to last an impressive 7–10 plus hours.

Now, a quick word of warning:

Be careful not to overspray… or it will end up wearing you.🙂

Does What it Says

No surprises here, my friend…

As you get exactly what the name on the bottle says: A gorgeous sweet honey and woody-oud scent.

What’s that? You say, who are Floris?

British Luxury House

Floris are a British family owned luxury brand that have been creating fragrances since 1730.

Yes, you read that right, they’ve been doing this stuff for more than 290 years. They must be pretty good at it, right? 🙂

Anyway…

Private Collection

This is part the Floris family’s most prestigious range — their Private Collection. These are exclusively produced in small batches.

In fact, this was originally created exclusively for Harrods of London, and it contains genuine oud oil from a certified sustainable source of agarwood.

So it’s obviously not “cheap” and is definitely NOT for price shoppers.

Let me give you a quick breakdown…

Super Realistic

This opens up with a blast of realistic, sweet, thick golden honey… with smooth, dry woody-oud sitting in the background. (It’s not overly sweet, though.)

Nice! 🍯🪵

And, as it starts to settle, the oud begins to creep through and morphs beautifully with the honey, with a hint of soft fresh rose lurking in the background.

Both the honey and the oud are the dominant players, and they are eventually supported with a hint of vanilla, amber, and dark earthy patchouli.

Luxurious & Comforting

And all these notes are perfectly blended and balanced:

It’s rich, it’s sweet, it’s warm… and it’s woody. And it smells incredibly luxurious and comforting.

Oh, and you’ll be pleased to know, it’s also unisex, so you can share it with your significant other.

Formal/Semi-Formal Occasions

Now, this is more suited for the mature and sophisticated 25-up crowd for formal/semi-formal wear.

And:

As it’s quite bold, it’s more suited for the cooler weather. I would avoid wearing when it’s hot, as it will become sickly sweet.

The good news:

Long Lasting

This is long lasting, as it’s an EDP. We found it to radiate off skin about an arm’s length for the first few hours — creating a nice scent bubble around you.

It then slowly pulls back to sit closer to the skin… lasting around 7–10 plus hours.

Not too shabby. 🙂

Go easy on the trigger, by the way, as this is quite bold. 1–2 sprays and you’re good to go.

Oh, and finally, it’s worth mentioning:

Floris also take great pride with their presentation. As this comes beautifully presented in a premium looking box, which opens up to reveal the classy bottle sitting in a podium. So…

If you love honey, don’t sleep on this.

Luxurious Dark-Chocolatey Woodiness

Nasomatto are an indie niche perfume house that create daring, super unique, luxurious fragrances.

By the way:

Although Nasomatto may sound like a Japanese brand, it’s actually an Italian brand based in Amsterdam — created by Alessandro Gualtieri (who calls himself ‘The Nose’).

Fun fact:

Nasomatto is simply two Italian words combined (Naso & Matto) — which translates to Crazy Nose. 🙂

Anyway, let’s have a look at Pardon…

Bittersweet

Nasomatto’s Pardon opens up with a dry, bittersweet dark chocolate mixed with slightly smoky woody-oud. And these are joined with whispers of cinnamon and white florals.

To be honest:

The opening could be harsh for some people. But make no mistake, after about 15 minutes, it settles down into something special.

Because eventually, the oud amps up… and is smoothed out with some sandalwood, and a hint of tonka bean sweetness.

The end result?

Dark & Mysterious

A rich, dark-chocolatey woody vibe — with a nice hint of warm sweetness.

It’s dark, it’s sexy, it’s mysterious. This is a head turner; people will want to know what you’re wearing.

Now, I should point something out:

Nasomatto’s Pardon is NOT for the young crowd; this is grown man’s stuff. A modern, sophisticated scent for mature well-groomed 30-up guys.

And:

More appropriate to be worn ONLY in the cooler months: fall/winter (or very cool spring nights).

Special Occasions

Pardon is a special occasion scent: formal, black tie events, date nights, nights out, etc.

But here’s the thing:

Pardon is an Extrait de Parfum (strong concentration) that comes in 30 ml bottle sizes, and it is NOT cheap.

But the good news…

A Little Goes a Long Way

So you only need to use 1–2 sprays MAX…

…and you’re set — for about 8 plus hours!

Furthermore, Pardon projects about an arm’s length, for the first few hours, leaving a nice scent trail, and eventually sits closer to the skin.

Bonus: the bottle looks awesome and comes with a unique wooden cap. Plus, you also get a normal sized cap included (making it easier for travel). So…

If you love dark chocolate, don’t sleep on this!

A Fresh Take

This is a unique, easy-to-wear, fresh citrusy oud/leather combo.

If you’re unaware, Acqua Di Parma are an Italian lifestyle company that create high-quality fragrances.

And this is part of their premium Signature of the Sun collection (formerly called the Ingredient Collection).

In this collection the brand focus on one ingredient which they blend with their classic Colonia citrus DNA.

Speaking of… to discover more blockbusters from the brand, visit our best Acqua di Parma list. Anyway…

Let me quickly break this one down for you:

Fresh Citruses

This opens up with a blast of fresh bergamot and orange citruses, with a touch of dark, dry woody-oud sitting in the background.

As it settles, however, the citruses take a backseat, and then the oud starts to amplify. This is backed-up with a hint of slightly sweet leather and whispers of spices.

This leaves you with a dark, fresh, leathery woody vibe — that smells…

Bold, Masculine & Luxurious

And finally, it dries down to a rich, sweet woody musky base.

It’s perfectly suited for a mature 25-up gentleman to use for formal/semi-formal wear. Suit and tie affairs, special occasions, work, dates, and the office, of course.

And for all seasons (except on hot summer days).

And we are happy to report: This…

Performs Great

As it comes in an EDP (Eau de Parfum) concentration. However, it doesn’t scream out for attention — which is not very gentlemanly, right?

In fact, our testers reported it projected about an arm’s length (for up to the first 2–3 hours). It then sits close to the skin, lasting around 5–8 plus hours.

Bottom line:

If you’re looking for a safe, easy-to-wear, versatile oud fragrance… I urge you to try this.

Modern & Mass Appealing

This is Versace’s modern take. And they didn’t disappoint!

Let’s me break it down for you:

Dark Spicy Zesty Orange

This starts off slightly fresh, dark, and spicy… with a blast of bitter, zesty orange. The orange is also accompanied with a hint of black pepper — with a dark woody-oud sitting in the background.

Now, as it starts to settle, the saffron kicks in. This is joined with a hint of cardamom, and together, they smooth the oud out beautifully with some spicy sweetness.

Smooth & Sophisticated

And eventually, a touch of patchouli and leather shine through. They add a smooth, dark leathery, woody vibe — and a nice hint of sweetness.

It’s dark, warm, and sophisticated.

And, unsurprisingly, this also gets a well deserved place on our best Versace colognes post.

Now, to be clear:

This is not for the young crowd; this is a mature scent, more suited for the well-dressed 25-up.

And for use on cool spring days/nights, fall and winter.

Great for formal wear, special occasions, casual, dates, nights out. And is also office/work safe.

Now, I should point something out:

Subtle

If you’re looking for a projection monster, this is NOT it.

This is an EDP with subtle projection (making it easy to wear). It projects about an arm’s length for the first few hours, then sits very close to the skin. And lasts a decent 5–7 plus hours.

Two thumbs up for this one. 🙂

Smell Like Royalty

What it is:

A sophisticated, spicy/woody scent.

Now:

In case you’re not familiar with Creed, they are a luxury niche perfume house, that have been creating fragrances for more than 230 years.

Seriously.

Speaking of, you can discover our top 10 Creed fragrances here. Tried & tested! Anyway…

Easy-To-Wear

To be honest, despite the scents name, the most dominant notes in this fragrance are actually spicy cedar and sandalwood. In fact, the oud only plays a small supporting role.

So, to be perfectly clear:

If you’re looking for a punchy, dominant oud fragrance, this is NOT it.

However, if you’re looking for something that’s just “oud-ish”, then it doesn’t get much better than this, my friend.

Let’s take a sniff…

Spicy, Fresh & Woody

This starts off spicy, fresh, and woody… with a blast of bergamot/lemon citruses… mixed with some spicy pink pepper and strong cedar wood.

You get an opulent fresh-peppery green/woody vibe. However, it’s not until the dry-down that the oud makes its presence felt.

Now, as it starts to settle… the citruses quickly fade and the spicy cedar takes center stage.

Creamy Sandalwood

Eventually, though, some creamy, warm sandalwood and white musk join the party. These smooth the fragrance out. And finally, a subtle touch of smoky oud shines through.

The end result:

A luxurious creamy, spicy-woody scent — with a nice hint of sweetness.

Sharply Dressed

Now, this is not for the younger crowd; it’s a mature, masculine scent, for the sharply dressed 25-up (and more suited for formal wear).

Perfect for those special occasions and upscale events. Or dates, nights out, and is work/office approved. That said, it can be dressed down as well.

And in terms of seasons:

Spring nights (1 spray), fall and winter. Not one I would recommended for the high heat.

This is an EDP concentration and doesn’t scream out for attention. It projects nicely (about arm’s length) for the first 2–3 hours… then sits closer to the skin, giving off gentle wafts. Longevity was in the 6–8 plus hour range.

Oh, and I will not even try to “sugar coat” this for you.

It’s expensive. Very, very expensive.

Definitely NOT for people worried about “cheap.”

But it’s good stuff. Very, VERY good stuff! 🙂

Luxuriously Smooth & Sophisticated

This is part of Tom Ford’s Private Blend collection. This is the brand’s exclusive, luxury line of fragrances.

This collection have been created using higher quality ingredients, by some of the world’s most renowned perfumers. By the way…

This is currently our #1 pick on our best Tom Ford fragrances list. Yeah, it’s good. Real good. 🙂

Easy-To-Wear

Now, what Tom Ford did, was to take a soft woody-oud note and masterfully blended it with some other creamy woods and spices — to create one of the best smelling and most wearable ouds on the market.

Let’s take a sniff…

This opens with a deep, spicy-peppery rosewood with a transparent oud note sitting in the background.

And as it starts to dry down… the slightly smoky-oud tip-toes in, and is then smoothed out with some creamy sandalwood, cardamom, and a hint of vanilla/tonka bean sweetness.

The result?

Warm Sweet Undertone

A sophisticated, masculine, smooth spicy-woody scent — with a warm sweet undertone.

And it smells GREAT. 🙂

Classy

By the way, this is NOT for the young crowd. This is a classy, mature scent, more suitable for the well dressed 25-up.

The beautiful part?

This is super versatile: dressed up, dressed down, days/nights, all seasons (just avoid hot summer days) and all situations.

Perfect for formal, special occasions, weddings, office, dates, nights out etc.

Now, I should point something out:

Subtle

This is a reserved scent that sits close to the skin and draws people in. So if you’re looking for a fragrance that screams out for attention, you will be disappointed.

This is an EDP and projects softly for the first few hours (about arm’s length), then pulls back and sits very close to the skin. Lasts about 5–8 plus hours.

Ain’t complaining 🙂

Captivating Sweetness

Here’s the skinny…

Initio Parfums Prives are a fairly new French luxury niche perfume house. However, they have quickly made quite an impact in the fragrance community with their long lasting, regal smelling fragrances.

They pride themselves on their use of high quality natural ingredients and also use world renowned perfumers.

Speaking of… to discover the brands other top releases, check our newly updated best Initio fragrances list.

Natural

Now, this is part of the brand’s Black Gold Project collection and contains real natural oud oil from India.

To be clear:

Despite the name, this is NOT one of those aggressive, skanky-oud powerhouse type fragrances. Yes, it is powerful, but not overwhelming — as it’s well blended and fairly easy to wear.

In fact, in the online fragrance community, this is universally known as one of the best niche oud fragrances. Ain’t gonna argue. 🙂

Let me break it down for you…

Semi-Sweet

This opens up with a blast of dark, dry, smoky woody-oud… mixed with some semi-sweet saffron, lavender, and whispers of sweet nutmeg.

Now, as it starts to settle, the oud gradually begins to smooth out and become less prominent.

And eventually, some patchouli shows up and adds some green dark earthiness, along with some light musk.

The result?

Deep, Dark & Mysterious

You get a deep, dark, mysterious, smoky woody-oud vibe with a hint of spicy sweetness.

It’s sophisticated, regal smelling, and screams quality.

Watch heads turn. 🙂

Sophisticated

This is unisex, but leans masculine, and more suited for the mature 25-up crowd.

And best worn in the cooler weather: fall/winter (cool spring nights if you spray very lightly).

Great for special occasions, dinner dates, nights out, casual, office (use with caution).

Nice Scent Trail

OfG is an EDP and jumps off your skin for the first few hours (loud, but not a room filler), and also leaves a gorgeous scent trail.

It then sits closer to the skin, and creates a nice scent cloud around you, which lasts about 6–10 plus hours.

And the good news…

A little Goes a Long Way

Therefore, you only need 1–2 sprays MAX… and you’re golden.

Bonus: Initio also take great pride with their presentation and attention to detail. The black bottle is simply gorgeous! It has gold colored accents and comes in a premium looking box that lifts up to reveal the bottle sitting in a podium.

Works like a charm. 🙂

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