SOTD:Oud 24 Hours Black by Ard Al Zaafaran

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This was an recent interesting find, straight away Black Orchid sprung to mind. Yet the notes are different. Secondly, Oud? Where exactly is it? Got me intrigued and it's on my shelf now. I tend to keep Black Orchid for special occasions, but it's nice to take the DNA for a regular spin without putting a serious dent in the OG. So forget about the oud, it is a listed note in the base, but it plays a minor role at best. This is a Dark gourmand with earthy florals at a fraction of the cost of a TF.

Top notes of Dark Chocolate, Mandarin Orange & Bergamot. The initial spray hits with a surprising contrast. While there is a flicker of Mandarin and Bergamot, but the Dark Chocolate note is the true protagonist. It isn’t a sweet, milky chocolate; it’s dusty, dark & slightly bitter, setting a moody tone right from the start. The core contains, Fruity Notes, Spicy Notes, Ylang-Ylang, Gardenia & Jasmine. As the citrus fades, the scent thickens. A combination of Ylang-Ylang & Gardenia gives it a creamy, narcotic floral quality. This is layered with warm spices & a nondescript "fruity" accord that prevents the florals from becoming too powdery. But there is also an earthy note here that mimics damp soil or truffles! Base notes include Patchouli, Agarwood, Sandalwood, Incense & Amber. Like I said the name is slightly misleading, the Oud here is not a harsh, medicinal, or barnyard oud. it’s a smooth, synthetic oud that aids a woody backbone. The real stars of the dry down are Patchouli, which adds to the chocolatey earthiness & Incense, which gives the fragrance a smoky, mysterious veil.

Performance is a solid 7 hours on skin, I'll be smelling this if it gets on my hoodie for days. This is a spray with caution scent. Less is more, it projects extremely well, Strong for the first 2 hours, but settles into a noticeable, warm bubble. While the floral middle notes (Jasmine and Gardenia) give it a feminine touch, the dark chocolate and heavy incense/patchouli base make it popular among men who enjoy bold, dark fragrances. Ard Al Zaafaran is a new house for me but I must say I'm impressed, this seems to be a release from circa 2014–2015, and it comes with a wee body spray. Best suited for Cold weather/evening wear.

My Rating 7.5/10

Scent 2

Longevity 2.5

Sillage 2

Y/N 1

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