Oud Wonder

How it Smells

Oud Wonder opens with a disconcerting blast of something akin to spiced furniture polish – the rosewood presents as an overly sharp, synthetic cedar. The cardamom and Chinese pepper are muted, almost an afterthought. The heart attempts at oud, but it's a cardboard impression - musty, dry, and lacking the nuanced depth of the inspiration. The sandalwood leans heavily into a harsh, almost screechy sandalwood accord. As it dries down, a cloying sweetness emerges, a mix of tonka bean and vanilla that smells suspiciously like those cheap vanilla-scented car air fresheners. The promised amber remains elusive, lost under the sugar.

How Long Does it Last?

Longevity is surprisingly decent at around 6 hours, but the projection is a different story. For the first hour, it projects about an arm's length, then quickly retreats to a skin scent. Tested it in a climate-controlled office – even there, it felt faint after the initial hour. This would be a scent that only you and someone intimately close to you would detect.

Is it Worth It?

If Oud Wonder were a character in a movie, it would be a dollar-store knock-off version of James Bond – all the swagger and charm replaced with a desperate attempt to imitate, leaving a hollow and ultimately unconvincing experience.