Best perfumes for men in 2019 - Review
To carry our attire in the best of manner, perfumes are an essential accessory for both men and women. It has more to do with your olfactory sense than visual. It does not mean one can overlook fragrances. Some individuals like a versatile approach. Others prefer to carry a signature scent. Whatever the case is, to scent oneself is an age-old tradition that seems to reinforce itself with time.
Oud is the most expensive scent of all times. The word itself gives a majestic and royal feeling. The scent is as oriental as its name. Oud has a strong musky smell. It delivers an animalistic sensuality expressing virility and masculine vibes. Though used in perfumes for her too, the scent of oud adds specificity to men perfumes. That is why we see some of the best perfumes for men to integrate the particular oriental scent.
Oud-the origin
There is a wide nomenclature for oud-the scent. The reason lies in its long-standing presence. According to the International Journal of Pharmaceutical and Life Science,
"The citation of agarwood in ancient Chinese scriptures dates back to the third century AD".
The perfumery industry knows it by the term 'liquid gold' and for good reasons too. The market for this resin is about $6 billion. It sells at more than one-and-a-half price of gold in the international market. Oud is the most expensive raw material used in the best perfumes for men.
The derivation of the scent comes from agarwood. It is also known as aloeswood and gharowood. Another majestic name for the agarwood is the ‘wood of the gods'. The naturally-fragrant wood forms in the heartwood of a tree, the Aquilaria. The use of agarwood is prevalent in Southeast Asia. Traditional religious ceremonies saw the use of the wood chips from the tree. The trend spread to Middle Eastern countries. Its use thrived in the Arab culture because of their lavish lifestyles. Oud is most common in the Middle East and Arab countries. It is a cultural hallmark and a status symbol. So many of the best perfumes in men use the ingredient.
Besides a high demand, the reason behind the luxuriousness and opulence of oud is twofold:
- When the wood of the Aquilaria becomes infected with mold, it releases a resin. With time, the wood becomes embedded with this dark-colored resin. The resultant agarwood has distinctive aromatic properties which we know as oud. It forms the basis of perfumes, oud oil, and incense. Because oud is a Mother Nature's gift, an expensive label tags the smell.
- Parallel to climate change, the Aquilaria tree is also becoming a rarity. In 1995, the tree species listed as threatened species by the authorities.
- With the current situation, only 2% of the agarwood species yield the resin. According to experts' claim, the older the tree the pure the resin. Timeworn agar trees are themselves a scarcity.
Despite that, the pricing of best perfumes for men integrating oud scent has a variant price range. This is because the derived scent is dependent on,
- the particular tree species
- its geographical location
- derivation from the branch, trunk and root origins
- the duration of the infection process and time-lapsed
- the method of harvesting and processing of the scent
- introduction of artificial infestation of the wood followed by the derivation of oud oil
By making smart choices, it is possible to yield a cost-effective amount of oud. That is why superior quality yet inexpensive oud-based perfumes triumph the market. One of them is Habibi range that offers some best perfumes for men.
Oud has a complex and sophisticated smell. It is often used as a base note in some best perfumes for men. The reason being base notes linger on your skin long after application. If one wears such an expensive smell, you would want to enjoy the smell for a longer duration. Oud is also used as oil or resin itself. It depends on the kind of product.
The scent extracted from oud resin and oil has a warm and sweet vibe. When mixed with odors like woody or balsamic, it results in delivering a bold character. Do not expect the oud scent to jump at you. It takes time to reveal itself and lingers on. That is why most of the oud-based perfumes have a dark intense character. It engulfs you in an exotic richness that is much more than a smell. Oud is a statement. The other notes let you select a signature preference for yourself.
Chandler Burr is the author of The Emperor of Scent. He has many perfume critiques to his credit published in the New York Times. He describes oud as,
"It has a very particular scent and there is nothing like it on the market. It's dark, rich and opaque."
The truth is, oud is a by-product of a disease process. It adds a mystic allure to the whole deal. The wood exudes the smell after recovering from expiry and exploitation. The wood becomes dark and the smell is dense. In other words, the scent symbolizes revival and a new form of life.
The fixative quality of the subject scent adds to its rich, deep and dark character. It not only assembles low in perfume but also syncs with other notes.
How come oud has survived through generations and civilizations? Its longevity and excellent fixative nature are some common traits shared by other scents. The smell is not comparable with any other. Burr was so right in observing,
"Oud is so ubiquitous in the Middle East, anyone there can recognize its scent immediately"
Craven finds no equal to oud in the perfumery palette, either in the West nor East. James Craven is a perfume archivist at specialist fragrance emporium Les Senteurs. He says,
"It's a unique smell, entirely on its own. To Western noses, it comes across as exotic."
The oud man is thus confident, poised and self-assured. The demonstrative and potent scent describes your individuality. In a world that craves uniqueness, what other way than to wear an oud perfume. One does not have to go penniless to achieve the status. Habibi oud perfumes offer you a chance to be the oud man. Be inimitable and exclusive.
Everyone is ready for a change at the beginning of the New Year. It is time for new resolutions, which charge you up for new ventures. Upping your outward attire motivates you like no other thing. What complements this change is an upgraded scent. So if you are planning on redoing your wardrobe, start with changing the perfume. The new smell might inspire you in innovative and novel ways.
Gone are the days for the ‘Old Spice' look. The millennial men are stylish yet intriguing. They have an enigmatic aura around them. Poised and confident. A charming character that touches your heart with true affection. Nothing pairs up this look better than an oud-based perfume. Why? Because these perfumes deliver such individuality.
Best perfumes for men may contain oud as an exclusive scent or have many notes. Perfumery is more of an art. Like the strokes of color on a canvas. Perfume designers attempt to merge different fragrances at three levels.
Because oud is expensive, perfume designers try to harmonize oud with other notes. It not only adds to the perfume's character but also helps to bring down the total production cost. Since perfumes use a very small amount of oud, it caters for a cost-effective purchase. That is why the perfume market can shelf oud based perfumes that are within the reach of worthy customers.
Besides, the resin extract helps make a loud and bold presence. So a spray or two deliver enough scent. If you think your perfume is expensive, give it a second thought. Desert Oud by Habibi will change your thinking.
Some of the best men perfumes with the most touted oud ingredient enlist the following:
- Tom Ford's Private Blend Oud Minérale,
Tom Ford is a celebrity and so is his Oud fragrance collection. His inspiration and ardent love for this resin are evident in his fragrance designs. Luring and addictive. The two words are an apt description.
Ford integrates the compulsive oud with Arabic tobacco. 'Dokha' is a blend of shredded tobacco leaves, spices, herbs, and flowers. While smoking dokha is injurious to health. The only side effects of using the tobacco essence as Tom Ford's Oud are compliments and a lot of them. One of the best perfumes for men who like it strong and heady.
- Acqua Di Parma Colonia Intensa Oud Concentree
A classic act of balance. The brand blends its signature notes of lemon and wood with rich oud essence to create a definitive scent. Smoky and rich with whiffs of fresh citrusy smell.
- Jo Malone's Oud & Bergamot
Warm with a spicy character. The fragrance exhibits top notes of Bergamot, while Cedarwood and Oud make the base notes. Hypnotic chemistry that leaves you rejuvenated and fresh. No wonder it makes to the list of best perfumes for men.
- Versace Oud Noir
Coming from the luxurious fashion house of Versace. The Oud Noir is as regal and oriental as its designer nose. Fresh and spicy top notes include bitter orange, Neroli, and black pepper. Middle notes of cardamom and saffron add a sophisticated and sublime touch. Base notes of agarwood, patchouli, and Leatherwood deliver the final punch. Irresistible is all we can say.
- Creed Royal oud
Creed Royal Oud has top notes of bergamot, lemon, and pink berry. The fresh scents harmonize with the middle notes of cedarwood, angelic root and galbanum. Regal Indian oud forms the base note pairing up with sandalwood and Tonka. A beautiful composition. It reminds you of the warm summer evenings with a fresh citrus smell in the air.
- Comme des Garcons Parfums Wonderoud
Another best perfumes for men include Wonderoud. Supported by the Italian olfactory sense of famed Antoine Maisondieu. Comme des Garcons Parfums celebrates mannishness via this warm fragrance. Consisting of notes like cedarwood, sandalwood, patchouli, and vetiver. Of course, oud resin nails the woody touch perfectly.
- Ermenegildo Zegna Indonesian Oud
If oud is the liquid gold, then its Indonesian version is the pearl of the forest. Derived from the tropical species of Aquilaria tree, the oud has rose as one of its notes. Launched in 2012, the new range has re-balanced the smells. It has given a warm leathery Smokey character to the fragrance. From the house of Ermenegildo Zegna, it is a masterpiece.
- Yves Saint Laurent M7 Oud Absolu
Yves Saint Laurent means luxury in its ultimate sense. The M7 Oud caters for nothing less either. A rich combination of cardamom essence and oud resin, the fragrance is out of heaven. Cedarwood and Cypriot essence add to the mystic woody character of the perfume. One of the best perfumes for men.
- Christian Dior Leather Oud
Another name for extravagance is Christian Dior. It's Leather Oud is a splendid example of its opulence. Carrying the musky notes of leather, the fragrance also exhibits the smell of burnt oud wood. Cardamom and clove essences add to the appeal. Some of the very best perfumes for men cannot compete with this combination. A must-have for evening attire.
Though only four years old, Habibi is making the headlines fast. The reason behind the swift accomplishment of the company remains sheer dedication. It reflects in the design of the dispensing bottle as well as in the fragrance it contains. The packaging comes embellished in gold color on black background. The deluxe inner packaging has a design by the same company that designs logos for Tom Ford. Then the combination of different notes makes it one of the best perfumes for men.
Made out of an exclusive resource of oud, the company caters for a superior quality fragrance. The blending frequency of different notes is so unique. One cannot refrain from lavishing in each of them. Desert Oud by Habibi is one such product. Delivering a promise of authentic scent. The Desert Oud reminds you of romantic nights of ancient times. The perfume smells nice and strong. Tamed by scents like peach and clove and accord of green leaves. Patchouli delivers an earthy punch. The fruity citrus smell has romantic vibes of peach and citrus. Pink peppers add a hint of spice. The middle notes of Jasmine, Rose, Lily of the Valley, and Tuberose complement the fruity smell. Refreshed already? Next comes the sexist part with Oud, Benzoin, Labdanum, Amber, Guaiac wood, and Musk.
Gorgeous packing, great smell, and even greater price tag. Habibi Desert Oud has sure some competition stored in for the hefty tags some best perfumes for men display.