The Aoud (2011)
by Mancera

The smell of a freshly lacquered hardwood floor, made complex and soft enough to serve as a beautiful personal scent. When the aoud mood comes, this is a great fix.

I would like to sum this up in one word.........Aoudalicious!!!!!

one of the best from Mancera. There is a vague menthol vibe that I get from the cloves, that really makes this scent, pop. You can tell, immediately, how well made it is. Longevity is off the charts. Sillage is impressive and alluring, Im told. And every note is of the best quality. One of my favorites.

Rich woody fragrance with arabian qualities and longevity.

Thumbs up!

Eastern and western at once.<p>Arabic in its basic soul for sure but with an hidden sort of old powerhouse vibe that is deeply European and western. I detect at the beginning the typical Mancera's cool/spicy and dusty (cloves, saffron, pepper) "muskiness" produced by the interaction of aromatic spices, citrus, probably cedar, pepper, may be ginger and cool musk, elements combined with the agarwood resin that is by soon averagely medicinal, green and resinous. This beginning is spacious, prickly by pepper and cloves (more than vaguely sweet and "tasty"), yet pharmaceutical and cool of musk and citrus. I perceive in a while the stiff floral sparks dancing over the woody waves. The interaction of rose and geranium a la Marte Battistoni is distinctive and classic in its nobiliary refinement. The more the development evolves the more the aroma becomes more astringent, strictly woody (oud/cedarwood/sandalwood), resinous and notably leathery. Leather and woods neutralize a bit the initial dusty and musky spiciness and imprint solidity to this really powerful and uncompromising stuff. Masculine. A touch of discreet floral patterns persists till the end. The strong woodiness and citrusy/leathery temperament remind me vaguely the venerable Macassar. A great stuff.<p>Pros: Exotic, evocative, "important".
Cons: Any, at least on my skin."</p>