Year: 2012
Notes: mandarin, saffron, cistus, lily, ylang-ylang, labdanum, patchouli, nagarmotha, oud
Comment: Belle au Parfum de Oud is part of the Empreinte Collection
With an end to the oud craze still far from sight, Estéban has decided to try its luck...
For an oud fragrance, Belle au Parfum de Oud is pretty disappointing for what it actually delivers. Opening with a fruity oud aroma, the oud note fades very quickly – leaving the usual dusty Estéban woody-resinous drydown, amidst a plum-like underpinning. Also, one discerns more saffron and patchouli than oud, which belies its given name (although one isn't completely surprised).
It's warm and contemporary, with a predictably sweet and creamy drydown of woods, amber and spices, but its evolution is too rapid. Staying close to the skin and lingering for at least six hours, one would have appreciated more development after the first few minutes, a greater oud presence (synthetic or not) and more sillage.
Overall, it's just another bland and unimaginative rendition of oud that won't win many admirers.
For an oud fragrance, Belle au Parfum de Oud is pretty disappointing for what it actually delivers. Opening with a fruity oud aroma, the oud note fades very quickly – leaving the usual dusty Estéban woody-resinous drydown, amidst a plum-like underpinning. Also, one discerns more saffron and patchouli than oud, which belies its given name (although one isn't completely surprised).
It's warm and contemporary, with a predictably sweet and creamy drydown of woods, amber and spices, but its evolution is too rapid. Staying close to the skin and lingering for at least six hours, one would have appreciated more development after the first few minutes, a greater oud presence (synthetic or not) and more sillage.
Overall, it's just another bland and unimaginative rendition of oud that won't win many admirers.
