What is oud? - Maison Alhambra Website

Oud is one of the most famous — and most expensive — materials in perfume. If you have seen “oud” on a bottle and wondered what it means, this guide explains it in plain words.

AgarwoodOud’s other name. It comes from Aquilaria trees.

ResinThe scent comes from dark resin the tree makes when it is infected.

CITESWild Aquilaria is protected under CITES Appendix II.

Resin-rich agarwood — the source of oud oil.

Where does oud come from?

Oud comes from Aquilaria trees, which grow in South and Southeast Asia. A healthy tree does not smell of much. But when the tree is wounded and infected by a mould, it defends itself by making a dark, fragrant resin inside the wood. That resin-soaked wood is agarwood. Distil it, and you get oud oil.

In nature, only a small share of trees get infected, and it can take years. That is why real oud is so rare and costly. Today many farms inoculate cultivated trees on purpose to make resin faster and to protect wild trees.

What does oud smell like?

It depends on where it is from and how it was made. Common words people use are woody, smoky, leathery, animalic, sweet and medicinal. Some oud oils smell like old wood and honey. Others smell like barnyard and smoke. It is a very strong scent, and many people need a few tries to enjoy it.

Real oud vs. “oud accord”

Most perfumes that say “oud” — including most designer and clone perfumes — use an oud accord. This is a blend of other materials built to smell like oud. It is cleaner, more stable and much cheaper. It is also more consistent from bottle to bottle. There is nothing wrong with an accord. It is simply a different product from pure oud oil.

Oud oil and burning wood chips — two traditional ways to wear oud.

How oud is worn in the Middle East

Oud oil (dehn al oud): dabbed on skin in tiny amounts.
Oud chips (bakhoor-style burning): wood chips heated on charcoal to scent the home and clothes.
Layering: an oud oil worn under a rose or amber perfume is a classic Gulf style.

Oud-style Maison Alhambra scents to try

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