Royal Oud Clones

"### Bottom Line This fragrance is best suited for cooler weather, specifically early autumn or late spring. The citrus and pepper make it a good choice for daytime wear, but the somewhat cloying drydown prevents it from being a top choice for formal settings. It works best in casual situations like running errands or grabbing coffee with friends. ### Notes & Nuances Zara's Black Pepper & Cedarwood kicks off with a vibrant, almost fizzy citrus – less like bergamot orchards, and more akin to lemon-lime soda. The pink pepper is assertive, not subtle, creating a slightly sharp, nose-tickling effect. The heart introduces a woody dryness, certainly cedar-prominent, but with an undercurrent of something green and slightly bitter, like crushed stems. The dry down attempts a smooth sandalwood, but ends up with a more synthetic agarwood impression, reminiscent of a dusty, old bookshelf, leaving a lingering medicinal quality from the initial pepper. It deviates with a plasticky edge to the sandalwood in the base. ### Projection Power This is a moderate performer. I get around 5-6 hours of wear, with projection initially extending to about an arm's length, then quickly settling closer to the skin. I wore it during a day of meetings and found it faded significantly by lunchtime, needing a respray to maintain any noticeable presence."

"### Is it Worth It? This fragrance suits the individual who appreciates boldness over refinement. The person who isn't afraid to wear their ambition on their sleeve. Someone who views cologne as a statement piece, not a subtle accent. They're drawn to the *idea* of opulence, but ultimately prefer a more brazen, in-your-face presentation. They might enjoy the bustling energy of a night market, the neon glow of a city after dark, and the amplified pulse of electronic music. ### The Scent Profile Al Haramain's Rose Oud opens with a fizzy pink pepper jolt; less like the elegant bergamot sparkle of its inspiration, more like pink lemonade powder briefly dissolving. The heart attempts a grand cedar entrance but quickly surrenders to a medicinal angelica note, creating an unexpectedly bitter, almost camphorous impression. Where Royal Oud offers dry, spiced woods, this presents a damp cardboard accord. The drydown unveils the promised oud, however, it leans heavily synthetic, with a plasticky musk that overshadows any true sandalwood creaminess. There's a vague resemblance to the intended target, but it's akin to seeing a famous painting rendered in felt tip marker. ### Performance Reality Check Rose Oud lingers for about 6 hours on the skin, though the final two hours are a faint whisper. Projection is moderate for the first hour, reaching about an arm's length before quickly retreating into a skin scent. Tested in both office and outdoor environments; performed noticeably better in cooler temperatures, but the synthetic oud became more prominent."

"### First Impressions & Dry Down Oud Royal opens with a vibrant pink pepper jolt, quickly shadowed by a lemon note that leans towards cleaning product rather than sun-ripened fruit. The Sicilian bergamot is muted, adding a faint citrus zest struggling to break through. The heart introduces cedar, prominent but with a pencil shaving quality. The angelica and galbanum combine to give an earthy, green bitterness. As it dries, sandalwood emerges, creamy but noticeably synthetic. The oud is present, but lacks depth. It smells like processed wood rather than the genuine article, finishing with a slightly scratchy musk. It mimics the overall composition of its inspiration, but falls short on ingredient quality and nuance. ### Bottom Line This fragrance is for the individual who appreciates the concept of sophisticated woody scents, but isn't concerned with the intricacies of natural ingredients. Someone who needs a presentable, moderately performing fragrance for casual wear, like running errands or attending a quick meeting. Someone who prioritizes volume over depth in their collection. ### Projection Power Oud Royal lasts approximately 5-6 hours on my skin. Projection is moderate for the first hour, extending about an arm's length, before quickly settling closer to the skin. I tested it during office hours and found it didn’t fill the room, which could be a positive in close quarters, but was barely perceptible by lunchtime."

"### The Scent Profile Intense Black opens with a blast of pink peppercorn, almost medicinal. The lemon and bergamot are fleeting, less like fresh citrus and more like lemon-scented cleaner. The heart reveals some woodiness, but the cedar is overshadowed by a peculiar green bitterness from the angelica and galbanum combination, akin to crushed weeds. The drydown attempts to emulate the oud of Royal Oud but comes across as a scratchy sandalwood mixed with a musty, damp wood accord. It lacks the smooth, almost creamy quality of the original, settling instead into a synthetic, slightly plasticky base. ### The Verdict If Intense Black were a movie character, it would be the well-intentioned but slightly awkward understudy who tries hard but never quite captures the charisma of the lead. ### The Performance Stats The longevity is respectable, clocking in at around 6 hours on my skin. Projection is moderate for the first two hours, extending about an arm's length, before settling closer to the skin. I wore this to a business meeting and it felt slightly out of place, perhaps better suited for a casual evening out or running errands."

"### How it Smells Highness Green bursts from the sprayer with a fizzy lemon cleaner accord, underpinned by a pink pepper that's more "dusty sneeze" than vibrant spice. The opening attempts the bright citrus of its inspiration but veers into a distinctly artificial tang. The heart struggles to integrate the cedar, which presents as pencil shavings rather than refined wood. There's a vegetal bitterness from the galbanum, but the promised angelica is barely a whisper. The drydown arrives surprisingly quickly, showcasing a sandalwood that is creamy, albeit in a generic, almost lotion-like way. The oud is a timid ghost, a faint medicinal sweetness, lacking the depth and complexity I'd expect. Overall, it gestures in the direction of a grand palace but ends up in a municipal garden. ### The Performance Stats On my skin, Highness Green lasted around 4 hours, becoming a skin scent after the first hour. Projection is initially strong, filling a small room, but swiftly diminishes to within one arm's length. I wore it to the office and found it disappeared by lunchtime. It's fine for quick errands, but lacks the tenacity for a full day. ### Final Thoughts If Highness Green were a movie character, it would be the charming con artist who talks a big game but is ultimately exposed as a fraud before the credits roll."

"### Conclusion This fragrance would be the supporting character; the well-meaning but slightly awkward assistant to the refined lead. Competent, presentable, but ultimately lacking the gravitas and charisma to command the scene. ### Olfactory Experience Ministry of Oud's take opens with a fizzy pink pepper jolt, like sniffing a freshly opened can of ginger ale spiked with lemon zest. The bergamot is there, but it's a fleeting citrus, gone before you can truly appreciate its complexity. The heart attempts a cedarwood reverence, but ultimately delivers a pencil shavings dryness that is almost astringent. Angelica lends a green, herbaceous quality, while the galbanum attempts to bind the middle, falling short and revealing a potent, medicinal camphor note. As it dries, the agarwood emerges, though not the barnyard variety. This leans towards a smooth, almost polished wood, with a soapy, slightly synthetic sandalwood that clings to the skin. The musk is clean, devoid of animalic depth, but present nonetheless. It’s a paler imitation of the inspiration, lacking its opulent warmth, and falls flatter, more linear in its progression. ### Longevity & Projection This one has stamina; I get around 6 hours on skin, projecting moderately within arm's length for the initial 2. Wore it to a gallery opening; it felt formal enough but lost nuance in the crowded space. Also wore it to an outdoor picnic where the breezes carried the scent away too quickly."