Hello my darlings!

I have been on a roller coaster for the past few months.. But that hasn’t stopped me from trying out new perfumes. It probably was the most sane / realistic / true-to-myself action by the end of 2016.

Today I want to share with you my first steps into the world of oud fragrances. This is a relatively new concept to me – I have heard about them, tried some, but never got to like anything from this range. Mainly because it is so different from what I am used to… Well, until now. Whatever was floating in the air recently just hit me with this need for oud wood. And the more I tried, the more I got hooked…

My Oud Journey starts with Maison Francis Kurkdjian. The fragrance house offers a selection of five very different and mysterious compositions inspired by the Orient, using natural oud wood from Laos. And today I would like to introduce you to the three of them – Oud, Oud Silk Mood, and Oud Satin Mood.

Personally, I find Oud Satin Mood the most gentle of ouds I have tried so far! It is so smooth, so powdery and creamy… Beautiful Bulgarian and Turkish roses and vanilla, with a touch of woody note.. Satin Mood is the perfume I would definitely recommend to someone at the early stage, so not to scare them off this note! 🙂 Obviously, as I am trying this in the middle of winter (in Ireland, though…), my nose could be picking up something different, and I cannot wait to test it again during summer months. But for the moment, this perfume is the one to go for if you’re looking for a light and creamy oud (hence, satin? 🙂 )….

To compare the differences, I would like to continue with Oud Silk Mood. Rose and oud are the most distinctive notes for me in this extrait de parfum…But this beauty is indeed very dissimilar from Satin Mood. It is bold, daring, out there! Silk Mood is a perfume for an entrance on to the stage! I welcome you, my dear performer! The blend is so right that I want to shield my eyes from the dazzling lights and at the same time I want to keep sniffing my wrists and bury myself under the layers of…well…silk… However, I only feel like wearing it when I want to storm through my challenges in life – and come out of them with a bang! A winner and smelling great! Oh, what a night to remember!

And finally we come to the last of today’s trio – Oud. It is the first in the Oud collection, created in 2012, and comes as eau de parfum (also available in scented body cream). Personally, out of the three I like this fragrance the most. Maybe because it is the most familiar. Or maybe I find the formulation the most satisfying. As it settles on my skin, I feel all I need – a gorgeously gentle blend of oud, saffron and patchouli, with a touch of sweetness at the end of the day – not too much, not too little… Just perfectly warm and balsamic… I am short for words as it is sheer perfection..

All the Oud collection from Maison Francis Kurkdjian is created for both women and men. Whenever you come across it, give it a try, as I am sure you will be carried away to your own personal dimensions, maybe even to Laos.. Just close your eyes and let the imagination run free while you wrap up in each one of the Moods… Give them time, let them grow and blossom on your skin… You never know how they may surprise you…

Lastly, as the new year cycle is here, I want to congratulate you all with this beautiful occasion! 🙂 Be happy, whatever you do. Make the most of it and just Be Happy with whatever comes your way.. ❤

Love,

Jessica