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IMG_20140226_124620-(1) By FashionMista (Oge) A good fragrance is just the “Perfect icing on a cake”; this leaves me with no compromise for smelling good. I remember the first time I smelled Oud, a white stripe of perfume paper, dipped in perfume oil and it refused to dissolve. Prior to the time, I had absolutely no idea what Oud oil was but everyone around me who had encountered it kept saying I had to perceive it, that there was no other perfume like it. So I did. As I took the fragrance in, I was captivated by a scent that was unlike anything I had perceived before. I would describe the core scent of Oud as a resinous-woodiness that is continually in motion, evolving as it is worn. Certainly, the best way to discover the pure Oud scent is to burn Oud chips. The scent of Oud chips, gently heated and resonating highly is the central and defining scent of the highest quality Oud oil. Below are my best picks of fragrances for discerning men of style, taking you through a thorough profiling from top fragrance brands. nd.15519 1: ACQUA DI PARMA – COLONIA INTENSA OUD EAU DE COLOGNE CONCENTREE: This is a new edition by the Italian house of Acqua di Parma. The exclusive and elegant composition of the new fragrance originates from a mixture of popular and highly esteemed edition, the Colonia Intensa, enriched with precious Oud essential oil. Its top notes open with luminous citruses as an overture to a heart composed of Oud, Russian coriander and amyris wood from the Hawaii. The base of the composition is characterised by musk and leather. The composition announces elegance, richness and vibrancy. nd.391 2: COMMES DES GARCONS -‎ MAN2: This fragrance was launched in 2004 and the nose behind this awesome fragrance is Mark Buxton. Its top notes are aldehydes, nutmeg, caraway, kumquat and mint. Its middle notes are iris, vetiver and saffron. Its base notes are leather, incense and mahogany. This fragrance is all about the power of transformation;, the power of every individual to turn anything into something positive. The male wearing this is sophisticated yet a thoroughbred who roars if he likes. This fragrance is woody, classy, smoky, warm, gorgeous, absolutely masculine and modern all expressed in a classy way. nd.15294 3: AMOUAGE – INTERLUDE MAN: This fragrance is known to evoke an air of disorder while maintaining a sense of balance and tranquility through the inventive use of incense and myrrh. Amouage Interlude Man has established an enviable reputation for re-inventing accustomed scents. It has been reconstructed to feel contemporary yet sophisticated. Amouage is a luxury perfume house established in Oman in 1983 by the Sultan of Oman‎. It is a spicy-woody fragrance that opens with zesty bergamot, oregamo & pimento berry oil, aromatic notes of amber, frankincense, cistus & myrrh. Its middle notes are of agarwood smoke, patchouli and its base notes are of sandalwood. The nose behind this scent is Pierre Negrin. nd.406 4: GIORGIO ARMANI – ARMANI PRIVE BOIS D’ENCENS: Giorgio Armani says he wanted “to rediscover the damp coolness of the stones of the Italian churches still filled with the “curling smoke of incense” with this cologne. It is a very masculine cologne that takes you to a time in the past like the medieval times. It is a good incense cologne that is suitable for the discerning man, sophisticated and mysterious that gets the respect it deserves always. It is a fragrance from the Prive Haute Couture fragrance collection and a personal favourite of Giorgio Armani. This dark,warm and woody fragrance includes only five noble ingredients. Its main notes are incense, vetiver and precious woods. It was created in 2004. o.1826 5: TOM FORD – OUD WOOD: This is a long lasting luxurious fragrance great for the office or any formal event. Oud Wood is completely different as Tom Ford did a great job on this masculine scent which possesses a very long sillage that refuses to leave your skin. Oud Wood is a beautiful manly scent and if you are not a fan of Oud, this one is sure to convert you. It smells expensive but in a subtle rich way. Its mix is warm wood and amber but not heavy. This can be worn all day and smells just as good after 6-8 hours. If your job requires putting on suits every time, then look no further, reach for a bottle of this great master piece. Although this fragrance is based around an Oud note, this is Oud for western sensibilities – very sensual; very sexy. Oud Wood sits very close to the skin and does not project so far, so it is more of a scent that people who come really close to you will go “Wow, you smell incredible!” nd.16155 6: ROJA DOVE PARFUMS – VETIVER EXTRAIT: This is an incredibly well blended fragrance, a luxurious fragrance for that man who really wants to stand out. It separates the men from the boys. The vetiver here has a fresh-woody quality with the typical rubbery undertone and together with oakmoss, it gives birth to an endless old-fashioned dry down that goes on for 15-plus hours. In this context, Roja Dove is responsible for one of the most tenacious vetiver-centered composition available whilst the price is simply at Roja-level. Your search for the ultimate high-end vetiver can almost certainly finish right here. If you like your vetiver to be simple but unquestionably blended with top quality ingredients, as long as you don’t expect something groundbreaking or revolutionary, your search for the ultimate high-end vetiver could just stop here. One word… Terrific. nd.797 7: BALDESSARINI – AMBER: You don’t have to “get to know” this fragrance. You only have to wear it a few times to appreciate it or understand it because it owns you the very first time it hits you. Right from the get-go, it smells of such high quality. The magical elixir creators created their defining masterpiece as their pride and joy. It is not loud, not obscene, it is just pure class with impeccable manners and sophistication. Amber is a very warm, soft, vanilla sweet fragrance that sits on a strong masculine base of Oak room leather and rum amber. The overall package is beautifully rich and incredibly well balanced. These notes weren’t just thrown together; they found each other, then created an institution. This fragrance was created in 2007 by Firmenich. nd.17 8‎: HERMES – TERRE D’ HERMES EDT: This is a great fragrance that has fresh, earthy, orange and vetiver scents. This unique, luxurious and masculine fragrance makes someone feel wealthy. The longevity is monstrous. Its sillage is moderate depending on how much you spray. The versatility of this fragrance marks it as one of the best ever made fragrances. Terre d’ Hermes EDT is undoubtedly a staggering step in a different direction – at least for the House of Hermes, prior to their trinity of colognes for men – Equipage, Bel Ami and Rocabar. They did much to clearly emphasize quality of the ingredients as a critical determinant of how great fragrance should be perceived. Here, however, there is the presence of the almighty molecule of modern perfumery. Having said this, there are still so many positive and wonderful things about this creation. Terre D’ Hermes comes in EDT and EDP versions. nd.9828 9: CREED – AVENTUS: The finest ingredients were hand selected for this composition and the result yields this provocative, masculine and optimistic fragrance. Aventus celebrates strength, vision, passion, masculinity and success, all inspired by the the dramatic life of war, peace and romance lived by Emperor Napoleon. A beauty to behold, its presentation impeccable, it is quite expensive but it feels right from the moment you take it away that you have just spent your money well. You feel you are getting more than what you have paid as you walk down the street with a rare and precious treasure purchased. Its longevity is 7 – 8 hours of strong performance. In 8 – 12 hours, it projects about a foot to six inches of decent sillage then becomes a skin scent that lasts 12-plus hours until showered off. On clothes, it can last for a week until you wash. The New York Times describes Creed – Aventus as MESMERIZING. nd.22822 10: BOND No.9- SAKS NEW YORK OUD: This is an oriental woody fragrance for that man who understands what Oud should smell like. This is what heaven could smell like, fresh, inspiring, strong composition of Arabian Oud spices and very good sillage. This fragrance needs twenty minutes to show its best notes. Its top notes are bergamont, saffron and nutmeg. Its middle notes are palisander rosewood and jasmine. Its base notes are amber, musk, agarwood (Oud) and vanilla. Its projection is good, longevity is great, smell is so classy and unique. You might consider applying this on a paper and come back to it after two hours ‎to smell the best of it.
Oge-IgwedinmaOgechukwu Igwedinma is a style consultant/fashionista. He is passionate about dressing people in exquisite and simple wears for special events like weddings, dinners, award ceremonies e.t.c He is also an expert in the procurement of fashion accessories and consultations on male grooming. His brand is Fashionmista Inc. Contact him via BBM: 2AC9BEF9; email: ogechukwu78@gmail.com; phone: 08023021898
 
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This article was first published on 6th March 2014

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