Amber Oud Tobacco

Olfactory Experience

Al Haramain's Amber Oud Tobacco arrives with a forceful opening. The promised tobacco leaf presents as a cloying mix of maraschino cherry and pipe tobacco – not the rich, earthy kind, but more akin to synthetic room spray. There's a prickly spice blend beneath, vaguely cinnamon-like, fighting for dominance. The heart attempts a smoother transition, with tonka adding a powdery sweetness. However, the vanilla smells artificial, closer to a burnt sugar candle than natural vanilla bean. The drydown is where this scent falters most severely. The "dried fruits" are a nebulous, plasticky sweetness, mingling with a disconcerting woody accord that smells like damp cardboard. It attempts the luxurious feel of its inspiration but ultimately falls short.

Longevity & Projection

Longevity is moderate, clocking in around 5-6 hours. Projection is initially strong, filling a room for the first hour before settling closer to the skin. I tested it during a cool autumn evening; it performed better in the cold, but the cheap nuances became more apparent indoors.

Final Thoughts

If this scent were a character in a movie, it would be a used car salesman trying too hard to appear sophisticated, wearing an ill-fitting suit and a forced smile.