I received compliments from both sexes, but more from the women - and plenty of them, as long as I did not overdo it with the dosage; 3 shots are quite sufficient. The oud itself I do not feel as animalistic or faecal, it rather goes into the medical direction and appears "noir" and woody and smoky, although it is also not, as mentioned, THE main theme of the fragrance. After last year's release of Oud Noir, Versace complements the Oud Collection with a female fragrance, Oud Oriental, in a stunning gold statement. Versace came very late to the oud craze, you may think. Well, for these kind of oud fragrances they are launching, I think It's the perfect timing, since they are not really just oud fragrances, although they decided to name these editions to make you think you will smelll lots of oud. You wont! These are perfumes with oud in them but very far from the bold oud craziness of the last years. These are perfect examples of the future of oud in Western perfume culture, as I see it. It's like this sleek, modern Persian neighbor you see every day at the art gallery wearing minimalist designer clothes. You can see the exotic facial features but all in all she is a refined woman who could be from anywhere between New York to Paris or Milan. And this mix is what makes her interesting and attractive. And the oud? This is present from the beginning, but only slightly at first, and becomes stronger in the heart in combination with the incense. But it only really unfolds in the drydown. It gives the "Oud Noir" something mysterious, and together with patchouli and the Tasmanian false elm, also known as "Leatherwood", it forms a base that gives the perfume depth all around and a pleasant warmth and mystique to the skin even after hours. In my opinion a very successful, woody and smoky oriental, in which the sweet incense interacts very well with the oud - here suitable for the masses - and thanks to the saffron also gets a certain spice.

Oud Noir won't fill a room unless you take a bath in it but it's not exactly a skin-scent. It's a polite sexy and cosmopolitan oriental blend, mixed by European taste. A perfect example of how oud can be used to make a balanced fragrance without shouting or oozing in amber and cumin. It's suitable for all ocasions, day and night, the only downside being its brief longevity—four hours tops, remaining just a woody-peppery memory after that. Although this is not quite niche-quality, it is better than almost every mainstream release in recent times. Versace did it right, releasing a fragrance that really is a bridge between Occidental and Oriental perfumery, combining European attitude with Eastern materials. The oud is rather subdued, but is still perceptible and characterizes the fragrance especially with the - in my case 3-4 hours lasting - heart note of strong, sweet incense and rather weaker, spicy saffron. I have to say that these are not the most complex fragrances, but they are rich and alluring. They are, above all, very elegant and refined perfumes, based on oud, spices, woods and leather. The feminine version takes on a strong floral (rose and peony) theme as well, but both can be unissex fragrances. Having said this, I recommend these two scents for any lover of the oriental/woody genre. I absolutely love this one. Very masculine, spicy, orangy / oudy fragrance that smells very classy with high quality ingredients. This scent is often compared to Tom Ford Oud Wood but honestly I think this one is much better than the Tom Ford. This one is much more masculine and smells confidence. You spray this in the morning and you feel like a boss ready to achieve big goals. 10/10 for this fragrance. Fragrantica.com The designer scent "Versace pour Homme Oud Noir", which I sprayed directly onto a test strip and which I liked more than the first time I sniffed it and also later on - but for the UVP of 120€. I was not willing to pay this price, so I went home disappointed about the "not buying", but then I bought it with all the more joy and enthusiasm for less than half (under 60€ as a rule) from the biggest online perfume dealer in Europe.I don’t know why others keep sayings it’s discontinued. I have 2022 bottles, one of them a tester. That’s means somewhere in the world Oud Noir is available on shelves with tester bottles. I perceive the opening as one marked by a spicy and peppery bitter orange. The neroli also contributes to this and gives the opening some freshness, whereby I especially smell the pepper and the bitter orange. Within about 5 minutes the top note disappears and merges - in my opinion a bit too choppy - into the heart note; the moment of transition is very short. The oud endures as the blend fully dries down. Frankincense and patchouli emerge soon after, deepening its presence. This new duo also ingrains resinous, earthy hues. They become more distinct over time as earlier ingredients slowly withdraw. Versace pour Homme Oud Noir (2013) is really close to the discontinued Versace Man (2003) to my nose, so much that I believe that one may have been discontinued to give this one some space on the market, and to basically re-market an idea that didn't do so well a decade beforehand with an upscale twist. That upscale twist of course, is the claimed oud note, which in the mostly-Versace-Man-on-steroids build of Versace pour Homme Oud Noir reads like peppery woods a la Creed Royal Oud (2011), after which this may also be chasing. As a downmarket alternative to Royal Oud, I can wholeheartedly recommend Versace pour Homme Oud Noir as well, as the scent really does feel like a mix between it and the erstwhile original Versace Man. It's really just that simple. People compare this to Tom Ford Oud Wood (2007) and I don't see it. For this reason, I recommend "Versace Pour Homme Oud Noir" at this point especially to those who are looking for a mass produced and not too extravagant oud fragrance and to those who want to enter the "world of oud" and are looking for a very good and more than affordable oud entry fragrance.

The heart is first of all shaped by saffron and then especially by a sweet incense - I love it (!) - I do not perceive cardamom personally. In my experience, incense is more likely to be perceived at a distance, and saffron is more likely to be perceived at close proximity to the skin. Through the present male sweetness (of the incense) this Versace fragrance slowly but steadily becomes warmer and more oriental, the incense, which I perceive until the end, makes him by its mysterious, smoky resinous, but also slightly sweet, effect to a "noir".Specifically, I’ve discovered it projects mildly from skin for the first 2 hours, before simmering closer for another 3. Therefore, expect about 5 hours of total longevity. It doesn’t last long on many people, but it does on me. The saffron and OUD mix quite well. Don’t expect strong projection, people will smell you for sure that you know. It’s a complement getter big time but not outdoors or in big crowds, Now this is a traditional combination: oud and rose. But don't expect the same result as all other combinations based on these notes. Oud Oriental is more complex and subtle than that, and it's a gender-bender that will please all floriental lovers. Rose is the star of this creation, but it is masterfully distorted with freesia and violet to make it more spicy and sweet. This peppery, spicy-sweet rose makes the perfect pair for a very balmy and medicinal oud note that goes away with time, developing slowly on the skin and becoming slightly animalic (leather) towards the end. The sweetness of vanilla and heliotrope brings out the powdery aspect of Oud Oriental. The scent itself varies considerably depending on the wood used, where the tree was grown and whether the tree itself was cultivated or naturally infected. The fragrance is – unsurprisingly – described as warm and woody with a slight hint of damp rot, while some varieties are smoky and sweet. It can be very potent so not one for the faint-hearted.