Arabian Oud Ghroob, Woody & Misty Wood

The Saudi-based perfume house of Arabian Oud is one of the most prolific brands in the region, but few of their fragrances are talked about in the West other than the lovely amber oriental, Kalemat. Today, I thought I’d take a look at three of their other creations: the floriental oud perfume oil, Ghroob (sometimes spelled as “Ghoroob“); the dry, spiced, rose-saffron-oud scent called Woody; and the warm, spiced, heavily ambered oud fragrance, Misty Wood.

GHROOB:

Source: Amazon.

Source: Amazon.

Ghroob caught my attention when I was in Paris last year and had the opportunity to visit the Arabian Oud store. The main reason was that I had never before (or since) encountered such a powerful, potent and highly concentrated blast of orange blossom. I have a weakness for the flower, which assailed me right from the start, but Ghroob’s prettiness really lies in its subsequent stages.

Ghroob is not a perfume that you spray but, rather, is a concentrated perfume oil that you dab. Fragrantica  says that its perfume pyramid is as follows:

Top notes are agarwood (oud), saffron, cinnamon, orange blossom, thyme and marjoram;
middle notes are bulgarian rose, jasmine, gardenia, palmarosa and geranium;
base notes are sandalwood, white amber, musk and vanilla.

Source: Amazon

Source: Amazon

However, according to the very kind gentleman at Arabian Oud London, Ahmed Chowdhury, who sent me my sample, Ghroob’s notes are quite different:

Top notes: Oud, Saffron, Cinnamon, Orange blossom
Heart notes: Jasmine, Gardenia, Bulgarian rose
Base notes: Sandalwood, White amber, Cambodian Oud, Musk.

Ghroob opens on my skin with very sweet, syrupy orange blossom that is infused with a black, indolic dirtiness on top and a touch of leatheriness underneath. It feels a little bit smoky, and, for a few minutes, almost verges on the camphorous in the way that very indolic flowers can sometimes be. At the same time, however, there is also a certain piquant greenness underlying Ghroob that feels almost as if the perfume contained a good dose of neroli as well. Neroli is merely another form of orange blossoms, resulting from a different method of distillation, so the overlap is not surprising.

Photo: onewomanshands.blogspot.com

Photo: onewomanshands.blogspot.com

There are other elements woven in as well. The undercurrent of greenness is supplemented by flecks of creamy gardenia that somehow manages to be clean, fresh, indolic, lush, and narcotic, all at the same time. Initially, the note is just a tiny hint in the background, one that is often lost in the sea of extremely intense, highly sweetened orange blossoms, but, as you will see, it becomes much more significant later. The green gardenia is accompanied by the lightest touch of sweet jasmine. The whole thing is lightly dusted with saffron, along with clean musk.

"Fractal Orange Blossoms" by wolfepaw on Deviantart.com. (Website link embedded within photo.)

“Fractal Orange Blossoms”
by wolfepaw on Deviantart.com. (Website link embedded within photo.)

It’s a very intense bouquet at first, one that may easily seem screeching if you’re not a fan of Middle Eastern attars or concentrated orange blossoms. The latter are flowers in full bloom, almost verging on over-ripe at times, with an intense, heady voluptuousness. Their initial sweetness could have been toned down for my personal tastes, but I really like how brightness and almost smoky blackness are somehow juxtaposed at the same time. The undercurrent of greenness also helps to keep the orange blossoms wavering just before the border of excessive syrup, without actually falling over it.

Ghroob’s concentrated richness initially feels quite heavy, but the perfume is actually airier and lighter in weight than what you’d expect, at least once the first hour passes. As with many attars, Ghroob doesn’t have monumental projection, no matter how much of an orange blossom, floriental bomb it might be. Initially, 2 small smears create a cloud that hovers about 3 inches above my skin, but the number starts to drop with every passing half-hour.

Poster by Asia Jensen at Barewalls.com.

Poster by Asia Jensen at Barewalls.com.

Ghroob slowly shifts. After 30 minutes, the bitter, neroli-like green note increases, cutting even further through the sweetness, and amplifying both the brightness and the freshness of the orange blossoms. Ghroob is not a photo-realistic orange blossom scent because of the other floral notes, the saffron, and the sweetness, but I find it quite lovely.

What is interesting is the slow movement away from an indolic scent towards one that is greener, fresher, cleaner, and more balanced. At the end of the first hour, the oud rises from the base but it, too, feels quite clean. It smells primarily of a slightly singed, general woodiness, and doesn’t have any of the medicinal, earthy, musky tonalities that agarwood can sometimes manifest.

By the 90-minute mark, soft, slightly creamy warmth begins to coat the orange blossoms, as amber rises from the base. The indolic overtones are now gone, replaced by a surprising greenness, almost like the sap from freshly crushed leaf stems, and an increasingly prominent green gardenia note. Ghroob is now a softer, very fresh blend of orange blossom and gardenia, infused with greenness, woodiness, and a subtle cleanness, all lightly wrapped in a sheer cocoon of abstract amber. It hovers just above the skin, and the sillage stays there for almost 8 more hours to come.

The gardenia and greenness eventually fade away, and the start of the 4th hour heralds a Ghroob that is primarily clean orange blossom with ambered oud and a touch of clean musk. There is a certain synthetic sharpness running through the scent, which doesn’t make me happy but it’s subtle enough that I don’t think a lot of people will notice. Slowly, slowly, other elements appear as well. There is a tiny touch of vanilla that stirs in the base, while a subtle spiciness hovers like a ghost at the edges, almost out of sight. It is suggestive of sweetened cinnamon with a tiny pinch of dry saffron.

Photo: My own.

Photo: My own.

Ghroob remains largely unchanged throughout its drydown. It’s a blur of sweet, slightly golden, soft orange blossoms and clean, dry oud, with amber, abstract spices, oud, creaminess and an undercurrent of cleanness. In its final moments, almost 15.5 hours from the start, Ghroob is a faint trace of vaguely clean sweetness.

There aren’t really proper blog reviews out there for Ghroob that I could share with you for comparative purposes. However, there are a number of positive comments left about the scent in my prior review of Arabian Oud’s lovely amber scent, Kalemat. The one person who didn’t like it was a chap who hated gardenia, and that seemed to be the dominant flower on his skin, not the orange blossoms.

On Fragrantica, Ghroob has received 4 reviews, and all 4 are positive raves that call it “beautiful,” “gorgeous,” and “wonderful.” Many note that it is not a heavy fragrance at all, though I do not think you should mistake their comments to mean that the scent is light and mild. It is most certainly not. On Amazon — the main place where Ghroob is available in the U.S. and where it retails for $69 — the perfume has five 5-star reviews, all highly positive. Some of the comments:

  • The most beautiful Oud Oil.. I adore it !  [¶] It’s not heavy or enormous Oud at all, it’s more on the side of (soft spice oriental Oud), the orange blossoms here are so pretty and makes the scent younger & more wearable for all ages, developed with the elegant saffron note.
  • Deep and complex aroma and very beautiful. Definitely, very beautiful … mysterious. Just one drop lasts the whole day.
  • Complex and deep, but not overpowering. Little bit strange at the beginning, you just need to wait for a half hour for the beauty to appear. After that soft silage and cloud of delicious smell for all day long.
  • I purchased this based on one review I read and it exceeded all my expectations. It’s warm, spicy, delicate, breezy and exotic all at the same time. Just a breath of oud and a luscious blend of florals I didn’t even think I’d like. It’s the warmth of it that’s so intoxicating. A little goes a long way. I’ve been wearing this alone and mixed with mukhallats and even western perfume and its always perfection. I work with a pregnant chick who has had terrible bouts of morning sickness and can’t stomach even the scent of soap. She’s been following me around for days telling me how it’s the best stuff she ever smelled and the only thing tht doesn’t make her diZzy. As for longevity, my skin drinks up fragrance but this stuff lingers! My days are 8am til 10pm most days and I still smell it when I come home. People at work commented at how they know I’ve been on the elevator or in a certain hallway. All in a good way bc even though this stuff lasts, it’s not heady or cloying, just regal. I love it and can’t wait for my next bottle! Way to go arabian oud. I have killian oud, Tom ford galore and various others but this is the one I keep turning to. It’s only 25 ml but a little goes a long way and for this price, its a steal. [Emphasis to other names added by me.]

If you love intense orange blossoms and floral orientals, then Ghroob is definitely one for you to try.

WOODY:

Source: Amazon.

Source: Amazon.

Woody is a very traditional Middle Eastern fragrance that is initially centered on the conventional saffron-rose-oud combination before eventually turning into a dry, lightly sweetened, woody fragrance with some ambered warmth.

According to Arabian Oud on its Amazon website, Woody’s notes are simple:

Aged oud, rose, patchouli, dry amber and musk.

Woody opens on my skin with saffron, rose, and oud, infused heavily with very jammy, fruited patchouli. The heavy saffron touch smells fiery, dusty, buttery, and nutty, all at once. By its side is the velvety, rich, blood-red, fruit-chouli rose. Trailing behind, and not quite as dominant, is the oud which smells clean, slightly peppery, and musky. If you want my honest opinion, it smells rather synthetic. On occasion, it also has an odd undertone that smells a little bit sour and stale, thought it is a very minor, mute, and subtle aspect amidst the musky, earthy, and dry tonalities. In fact, the oud often appears in this opening stage as a mere suggestion amidst the velvety syrup, thick roses, and spices.

fresh_red_rose- wallpaper

As a whole, Woody opens as a very spicy, sweet but dry, slightly dusty, somewhat peppered fragrance dominated primarily by a very velvety, syrupy fruitchouli-rose with saffron, then by the oud in second place. I realise that it seems rather like a contradiction to present something as simultaneously very dry but also very syrupy and sweet, but that’s how Woody opens on my skin. The thick saffron-patchouli-rose trio is not only bifurcated by that synthetic oud but, also, by a strong streak of general woody dryness running through the fragrance. Neither one changes Woody’s main focus on the spiced, jammy roses, but the elements are definitely there in the background.

Saffron threads. Photo: Tim Whittaker. Source: gourmet-delights.com

Saffron threads. Photo: Tim Whittaker. Source: gourmet-delights.com

There are other notes lurking about as well. It feels as though a strong heaping of cardamom has also been sprinkled on top of everything. In the base, there is a softly ambered warmth. The latter is never profound enough to turn Woody into a truly ambered scent, though it does try its best a little later on in the perfume’s development. As a whole, Woody is strong in scent but light in weight, and has soft sillage. Three small smears amounting to one good spray yielded a soft, airy cloud that hovered only 2 inches above my skin. That figure dropped even further by the end of the first hour, leaving quite a discreet fragrance.

Slowly, the woody elements grow much stronger and eventually take over the scent. At the end of the 3rd hour, the oud becomes very prominent, while the saffron is now more muted, and the spiciness turns rather amorphous. The jammy, patchouli rose retreats to the sidelines. Woody is primarily a spicy, woody, oud fragrance with abstract spiciness and only a suggestion of rose. It has a subtle streak of smokiness running through the wood on top, and a balsamic, leathery feel to the base below.

Woody continues to turn more abstract. At the start of the 6th hour, it is a dry, slightly smoky, slightly sweet oud fragrance upon a warm, vaguely ambered base. The spices feel generalized and abstract, though hints of the saffron appear on occasion. There is now only a lingering trace of the rose. In contrast, though, Woody’s aromachemical sharpness remains, most noticeably evident in the dryness of the oud.

Photo: my own.

Photo: my own.

Woody stays largely unchanged for the next few hours. In its final moments, the perfume is a nebulous blur of dry woodiness with a vague suggestion of something sweet and golden mixed in. All in all, Woody lasted just over 10.75 hours on my perfume-consuming skin with 3 small smears.

I’m afraid Woody did nothing for me, but that is primarily for reasons of personal taste. As regular readers know, I’m really not one for rose scents, let alone jammy roses supplemented by fruit-chouli. I’m also really quite tired of the patchouli-rose-saffron-oud combination. So, for those reasons, plus the synthetics, Woody isn’t my personal cup of tea.

However, I know it is one of Arabian Oud’s most popular creations, and the combination it celebrates is a very traditional one — both in the Middle East and in modern Western niche perfumery. Woody is not a bad scent at all, though it obviously cannot replicate the quality level or smoothness of something like Roja Dove‘s Amber Aoud. Then again, it is hundreds of dollars cheaper at roughly $109 for a 100 ml bottle.

Just to be clear, please don’t think I’m saying that the two perfumes are identical. They aren’t, neither in quality nor in terms of their overall progression and their essence. Despite the jammy roses and saffron in its opening, Woody’s main core is centered on dry, sweet woodiness with oud. But I have to say, I did think of the Roja Dove scent on occasion — both when I tested Woody now, and back when I tested both fragrances in Paris last year. Even then, I thought of Amber Oud when sniffing Woody, though the main reason is that they both celebrate a very common theme (saffron-rose-patchouli-oud) with heavy richness.

Source: wallpaper-source.com

Source: wallpaper-source.com

Woody has received generally positive comments on Fragrantica. People don’t consider it to be a masterpiece, but, then, it’s much too traditional and simple to be that. Instead, the majority of the reviews consider it to be a solid, lovely rose-oud-woody fragrance that is approachable, easy, and unisex. Some comment on the clean nature of the oud; others note that the sillage is soft while the longevity is good. It’s the same story on Woody’s Amazon page where the perfume has four 5-star reviews, and two 4-star ones.

A few of the Fragrantica assessments:

  • I’m in love with this oriental luxurious perfume.
  • An evocation of exuberance.The seductive interplay of two powerful ingredients,one from opulence,the precious oud,and one from beauty,the may rose note releases its majestic seduction.it scent envelop the skin in distinctive notes.WOODY manages to evoke the orient without having too many notes.simply wonderful, beautiful notes,perfectly charismatic,very oriental and classy.
  • I am a little disappointed. Woody is a nice woody scent (what a surprise 😀 ) but not FB worthy. It is quite expensive, but the sillage and longevity are maximum average, if not below average.
  • This is powerful fragrance worthy of Tom ford line.
    Oud and amber are heavy
    Musk in the middle
    Excellent sill age
    Longevity is better on clothes, but still great on skin
    Would give other oud based fragrance makers a run for their money. [Emphasis to brand name added by me.]

Woody costs roughly $109 for a large 100 ml bottle, so its price is quite moderate, in my opinion, and definitely low by the skewed standards of niche perfumery. So, if you’re interested in a Middle Eastern woody fragrance with clean oud and rich roses, then this may be one for you to consider.

MISTY WOOD:

Source: Amazon.

Source: Amazon.

Misty Wood is a much more ambered, warm, golden take on the woody oud genre. According to Arabian Oud London, its perfume pyramid is a very simple one:

Top: oud, amber;
Heart: Musk;
Base: Saffron.

Misty Wood opens on my skin with rich, intense, deep, smooth, red-gold saffron, trailed by oud and amber. There is a definite rose note, even if it is not included in Arabian Oud’s list. In fact, I smell such a distinct rose note that I have to wonder if that list is really complete. On my skin, the flower is initially more like a pale, pink rose than the more traditional, jammy, red version. Eventually, 20 minutes later, it slowly segues into the latter with its velvety richness, but, even then, the rose is never as profound a presence in Misty Wood as it is in Woody. As for the oud, it smells clean, and a little bit synthetic, though again much less so than in Woody.

Painting by EbiEmporium on Redbubble.

Painting by EbiEmporium on Redbubble.

Another difference is that Misty Woody is substantially less dry than Woody. There is only a subtle, small streak of lightly peppered dryness here, but it feels almost as if cedar has been used. The real key here is the saffron and amber. One of those notes conveys an earthy muskiness that has almost a meatiness underlying it at times. Lest that comment alarm you, don’t worry, it’s subtle, and feels more like a great depth and chewiness, if that makes any sense. I can’t figure out if the earthy muskiness stems from the amber, or if the saffron is the cause. I suspect the amber is actually ambergris (whether real or otherwise), but, whatever the source, it adds a profound richness and warmth to the overall scent.

What I’m less enthused about is the streak of clean, white musk that underlies Misty Wood. It’s not something that I like in any fragrance, and I can be quite sensitive to the note in high doses. Here, Misty Wood just hovers on the border of headache territory for me, but thankfully never quite tips over. That said, I still am not very keen on the soapy nuance underlying the musk’s cleanness. (Yes, white musk is one of the banes of my perfume existence. I wish the bloody thing would be banned or DIE!)

Source: footage.shutterstock.com

Source: footage.shutterstock.com

As a whole, Misty Wood’s opening bouquet is a mix of very rich saffron, wood dryness, earthy muskiness, sweetened roses, and clean musk, all wrapped up in a very ambered, warm base.

Slowly, the perfume changes. Roughly 75 minutes into Misty Wood’s evolution, the mysterious rose note weakens, while the amber and earthy muskiness grow in strength. By the end of the 2nd hour, Misty Wood is a spiced amber oud fragrance with sweet, earthy, musky undertones and a whisper of clean musk. The spiciness begins to turn much more abstract now, though lingering traces of actual saffron remain. At the same time, the rose note vanishes completely.

The middle of the 4th hour brings more changes. Suddenly, there is a beautiful wood note that is incredibly creamy and rich. Thanks to the other, accompanying elements, it is spiced, sweet, musky, and a little bit smoky — almost as if it were red-gold Mysore sandalwood. The spiciness no longer smells like saffron, but something that is fully amorphous and generalized. The best part, though is the delicious warmth and ambered goldenness that now dominates the scent. It conjures up images of salty caramel drizzled over creamy, spiced, musky oud wood.

Source: footage.shutterstock.com

Source: footage.shutterstock.com

Misty Wood remains that way for a few more hours, changing only in its small nuances. On occasion, the oud smells harsher, drier, and more synthetic to my nose, but it is quite subtle. Plus, I’m much more sensitive to synthetics than other people. For the most part, Misty Wood continues to be a spicy, ambered, musky, woody fragrance with an occasional touch of cleanness. In its final moments, the perfume is a mere trace of ambered sweetness with a slightly clean vibe.

All in all, Misty Wood lasted just over 13.75 hours with 3 decent smears, amounting to one big perfume spray. The sillage was initially good, and the perfume wafted about 3 inches above the skin in an airy, but rich, cloud. It took a while for the numbers to drop. About 3.5 hours into its development, Misty Wood hovered half an inch above the skin and remained there until the end of the 7th hour. The perfume felt very sheer and gauzy at that point, but it was still easy to detect if you brought your arm to your nose. As a whole, the perfume has excellent longevity but generally soft sillage. You could definitely wear Misty Wood to most workplaces if you applied only a small quantity.

I couldn’t find any reviews for Misty Wood. There is one comment on the perfume’s Fragrantica listing, but it is a mere question which asks what the perfume smells like. There are no reviews on Misty Wood’s Amazon page, either.

ALL IN ALL:

Orange Blossom. Photo: GardenPictures via Zuoda.net

Orange Blossom. Photo: GardenPictures via Zuoda.net

As a whole, I like Ghroob and Misty Wood. I’m very underwhelmed by Woody, but that is undoubtedly the result of my general issues with roses and jammy, purple patchouli. Misty Wood was quite a surprise to me, as I didn’t expect to enjoy it quite as much as I did. The amber note is truly the best part of the fragrance. I’ve always liked Ghroob, but I definitely think it gets better after the opening 30-minutes or first hour with its very saturated, rather sweet bouquet. Again, I cannot stress enough how intense and concentrated those orange blossoms are initially. One friend of mine who really loves Ghroob called the flowers “screechy” in the first 10 minutes, before they turned “beautiful” and “soft,” so I would advise you to give the scent time to develop.

All three scents are available in America via Arabian Oud’s Amazon site, as you will see in the Details section below. Ghroob is the only one which is an actual perfume oil that you dab on, while the rest are all atomized eau de parfum sprays. Ghroob costs roughly $69 for a 25 ml bottle, but a little goes a long way given its very concentrated nature. The other two scents are 100 ml and retail for $109 and $119, respectively. Shipping is extra, but a lesser combined rate is available if you purchase two products from Arabian Oud.

Arabian Oud, Paris. Photo: my own.

One small section of Arabian Oud’s Paris boutique. Photo: my own.

For those of you outside the U.S., it’s not quite as easy to obtain the fragrances. If you live in London, Paris, or parts of the Middle East (especially Dubai and Saudi Arabia), there is the option of one of the Arabian Oud boutiques. The company has a U.K. website, though I doubt they ship outside the country. I’m afraid I have no idea about the shipping policies of Arabian Oud’s main, Saudi website. The reputable Kuwaiti retailer, Universal Fragrances, carries a number of Arabian Oud fragrances and ships worldwide for a low price. Unfortunately, they only carry Woody out of the three scents in this review. I’m afraid your best bet will be eBay, as there are quite a few sellers who offer both Arabian Oud products and international shipping, though I haven’t found any who sell Misty Wood at the time of this review.

All in all, if you’re looking to explore Middle Eastern perfumery, you may want to consider some offerings from Arabian Oud. They are solid, traditional fragrances with very clean oud notes, generally good longevity, and great richness for a moderate price.

Disclosure: My samples of Ghroob and Misty Wood were kindly provided by Arabian Oud in London. That did not influence this review. I do not do paid reviews, and my opinions are my own. My sample of Woody was provided as a gift by a reader and friend.

DETAILS:
Cost & Availability:  Ghroob is a concentrated perfume oil or attar that is available in a 25 ml dab bottle on Amazon (U.S.) for $69.99. Woody is a sprayable eau de parfum that comes in a 100 ml size and is sold on Amazon for $109.99. Misty Wood is sold on Amazon for $119.99 for a 100 ml spray bottle of eau de parfum. Shipping costs for each one is $16.48, but I know from personal experience that Arabian Oud combines shipment if two items are purchased, with a lesser price for shipping the second item. Another option is to buy Arabian Oud fragrances from Zahras. They have an extensive catalog of the brand’s fragrances, and I believe they also sell samples if you contact them. However, if you’re looking through Zahras’ catalog, please be warned that a good number of their perfume notes and descriptions seem to be incorrect. They frequently don’t match what Arabian Oud lists themselves for the notes. Outside of Zahras, you can turn to some international eBay sellers, especially for smaller sizes of Ghroob. Outside the U.S.: In the U.K., the UK Arabian Oud site has both Ghroob, and Woody currently on sale for £35 each, down from £70. There is no individual page for each, so you’ll have to do a word search by name. (If you go to the website, you may want to immediately mute the volume as the site plays annoyingly repetitive music incredibly loudly.) If you’re located outside of the United States and the U.K., you can also find Arabian Oud on eBay. All the Ghroob entries on eBay are shown here, and run roughly around $99, which is higher than that on Amazon. Under the name Ghoroob, I found a few entries in small decant sizes, including 3 ml for around $30. WOODY: For Woody, I found the perfume sold for $85 from a UAE vendor who ships internationally. One vendor in Saudi Arabia listed as Zahras is currently selling Woody for $99, and also ships worldwide. Another vendor in Kuwait has an eBay store is called Jawimall and carries a few Arabian Oud fragrances, so you are reading this review months from now, you can check to see if he has either Ghroob or Woody in stock. In the Middle East, there is also the original, non-UK Arabian Oud website which sells Ghroob for (Saudi Riyal) 320 SAR which seems to come to a little over $85 at the current currency conversion rates. Woody costs 250 SAR. I believe they ship internationally. Elsewhere, Kuwait’s Universal Perfumes sells a large number of Arabian Oud products, and they ship globally for a very low rate, but they only carry Woody out of the three fragrances in this review. It costs $89.99. MISTY WOOD: Outside the U.S., the perfume is available on the Arabian Oud London website where it is on sale for £60, down from £120. There is no direct link to the perfume’s specific page, so you’ll have to do a manual search as usual. The perfume is also available on the company’s original Saudi website, and an affiliated Saudi site. In the UAE, the perfume is sold at a number of Arabian Oud stores, but also at Souq.com. I couldn’t find any other vendors, I’m afraid, and none on eBay at this time. Samples: The Perfumed Court has a listing for Mukhalat Ghoroob perfume oil, but the notes given are extremely different. Either way, the price starts at $8 for a 1/2 ml vial. Woody is also available, starting at $7.99 for a 1 ml vial. The site does not carry Misty Wood.

34 thoughts on “Arabian Oud Ghroob, Woody & Misty Wood

  1. My dearest Kafka, I have Ghroob and I was overwhelmed by how strong the scent is and not in good way (i.e. not refined like Amouage Tribute Attar). My first thought upon trying it was soapy which you couldn’t wash off even if you scrubbed hard. As to Woody and Misty Wood, I’m probably not going to try it as I know I will have extremely limited use of it if I am around my mom. She is like a bloodhound with the wood synthetics (imagine her crying foul over 2 tiny spritzes of By Kilian Sacred Wood and she was two stories away from em).

    • I’m sorry Ghroob didn’t work for you. Orange blossom can definitely turn soapy on some people’s skin, so I’m not surprised by that. I have a few friends who almost never buy orange blossom scents for that reason. It doesn’t work with their skin chemistry at all. How much of Ghroob did you generally apply?

      As for Woody and Misty Wood, I don’t think either one would be your cup of tea or suit your tastes in general. Interesting about your mother’s reaction to Kilian’s Sacred Wood. I definitely thought that one had a synthetic sandalwood note, though most people haven’t had problems with it (or don’t detect it at all, in fact). I think I rather like your mother. She and I should meet to discuss our mutual sensitivity to synthetic notes. 😉 😀 How much does she hate clean, white musk?? lol

      EDITED TO ADD: Hajusuuri, you may want to look at Cacomixtle’s comment below about a trick she discovered specifically for orange blossom’s soapiness. She always under-applied fragrances with the note, but after reading of my experiences with the muguet/lily-of-the-valley in Oriza’s Muguet Fleuri where a GREATER amount completely reduced the soapiness, she tried the same with various orange blossom scents. It did the trick. Applying MORE of the scent brought out the flowers, and ended the soapiness. Finally, she can now wear a lot of orange blossom scents that she couldn’t before and that had previously been scrubbers on her. Perhaps you can do the same as a test.

  2. Oh I’m so happy you reviewed Ghroob! I smiled when I saw the Fractal Orange Blossoms image because it’s entirely perfect for the early stages of the scent.

    I do agree about that strange synthetic thread in the perfume though, and wish it wasn’t there….

    I find the orange blossom so soothing in Ghroob, and it’s become one of my favorite bedtime scents. I’m not sure that its intensity would lull other people to sleep, but it works very well for me, probably because I adore the floral oriental category, and because I have this ever growing obsession with orange blossoms lol.

    And now you have me quite curious to try Misty Wood. 🙂

    • It’s funny about Ghroob’s intensity. It is DEFINITELY an assault at first, but it really does pipe down on my skin afterwards. That said, I was pretty amazed by all the Amazon and Fragrantica comments that describe the perfume as “soft.” I mean, it IS soft… in *weight!* It’s airy! Even light at times.

      But I would definitely not describe a good portion of its lifespan as anything MILD, the way many of those people seem to imply. Ghroob is intense, and super-saturated to the core for about 80% of time on my skin. In short, I completely agree with you regarding its intensity. As you can see from Hajusuuri’s comment, it was too much for her.

      Call me crazy, but weren’t you one of those who struggled on occasion with orange blossom turning soapy on your skin? Does Ghroob not turn soapy on you? I’m very curious.

      • Not crazy at all, I had thought all orange blossom turned soapy on me until I read your recent review of Muguet Fleuri and how it was much soapier in small amount, which triggered a switch in my brain. I can be a terrible underapplier of perfumes sometimes, especially with new things that I’m slightly afraid of, and it turns out that putting tiny amounts of many orange blossom/neroli perfumes on my skin causes them to turn SO soapy, or rather, all I can smell is the soap.

        Discovering this, I can now wear many orange blossom perfumes like 24, Faubourg with no trouble! You should have seen the slightly panicked look on my face the first time I tried out my theory and applied a fair amount of an orange blossom perfume though, as I am quite afraid of strong soap lol. Ghroob only has a touch of soap on me, nothing that bothers me, the synthetic thing bothers me a lot more.

        I think Ghroob is VERY intense when first applied, I agree! I’m surprised at all the very positive posts considering the mixed feelings that often accompany strong orientals!

        • I’d forgotten about that, but I’m so, so glad you mentioned it here because I think that will help some people who also perhaps under-apply orange blossom scents for fear of the dreaded soapiness. I know that the quantity one applies impacts a LOT of fragrances and what nuances they manifest. A good number of scents that have a very difficult synthetic note for me in a small quantity lose that aromachemical tinge in greater quantities because other elements come out. Or, in the case of many Tom Ford fragrances, they showing more layers with a greater amount, while the Muguet Fleuri did indeed lose its soapy undertone.

          I really hope some other people read your comment and consider altering the quality they apply if they’ve previously experienced soapiness with orange blossom scents. Then again, I have to wonder at just HOW much more intense Ghroob might be in the opening hour if one applied more. On my skin, it seems to be intense either way, but then, I actually LIKE powerhouse florals. Others may not enjoy the strength at all if they’re unused to them.

  3. I’m so delighted to be reminded of Ghroob. I bought a bottle of it back when I bought my Kalemat, and at the time I dabbed a bit, was assaulted by the note that I think of as “screechy cherry almond,” and scrubbed so that I could try something else. This second time, I’ve stuck it out 40 minutes so far, and while the vicious almond note hasn’t gone away, it’s integrated and I’m getting other things that I like, including orange blossom and the dirty leather undertone that adds sex to the composition. This is NOT mild.

    • Cherry almond…. how fascinating! I wonder where it comes from, or what combination of notes triggered that on your skin?! You may want to read Cacomixtle’s comment about her very different experiences with orange blossom when altering the amount of perfume that she applied. Specifically, by INCREASING the amount and not dabbing on a little bit. It made the scent much more floral, much more fully focused on the orange blossoms, and took away the undertone that she struggled with. (In her case, soapiness.)

      Maybe you can experiment, and then report back? I’d be curious to see if that trick helps you at all with your almond note.

    • I don’t know your location, Filomena, but you can always order a sample for testing from The Perfumed Court if you’re in the U.S. and are curious. 🙂 I don’t know how orange blossom works on your skin and how you feel about a very intense version of it, so I don’t know if Ghroob would be the wisest Arabian Oud for you to buy blindly. 🙂

  4. I own a few scents from this line but my best recommendation is to do research and DO NOT BUY from their stores. I made the mistake of purchasing two bottles from their store in London and got ripped off. The price I paid was MUCH higher than online prices. The sales staff is also VERY aggressive to the point of pressuring. I am not saying that their scents are bad just that their sales tactics and flexible price points makes you wonder.

    • I had a very different experience in the Paris boutique, but there are aggressive sales people in all sorts of brands all over the world. In my opinion, and as you indirectly noted, it certainly has nothing to do with the quality of the product or the lack thereof. Nonetheless, research is usually best for everything. Thank you for sharing your experiences.

  5. Ghroob is such a pretty scent – I need to wear it more often. Frankly, even if it weren’t really nice, the presentation in the box is so opulent and fun that it seems worth the $69 anyhow! As for the other two — meh.

    • The bottle is definitely different from anything else in the Western market and really stands out as a result! And I’m glad to hear that Ghroob works for you, Kevin, as it is definitely not a scent for everyone. (Or the faint at heart! lol)

  6. These three probably would not work for me, but I went back and read your review of Kalemat and that might be worth buying. Thanks for a great review with alot of good detail!

    • I’m a huge fan of Kalemat, and think it’s a great scent for anyone who is an amber lover, especially if they don’t mind roses and honeyed notes as well. That said, I’m afraid I don’t know your tastes well enough to know how any of these fragrances would work for you, personally. I do hope to get to know your preferences better so that I have a sense of what you like, don’t like, and how your skin works. 🙂 If you do decide to get Kalemat, I hope you’ll let me know what you think, Sandy. 🙂

  7. I bought Ghroob at the same time I bought Kalemat and I love them both. Now I think I must try Misty Wood.

    • From what I remember of your perfume tastes, Kellilee, I think you would like Misty Wood. 🙂

        • Oh dear, I always worry when people do that. LOL. No, I really do, because I fear the person will hate the scent. I hope it works out for you, Kellilee, and please let me know.

  8. I liked Arabian Oud’s London shop, I learned a lot about agarwood there – and in fact I really like the classic take on oud – rose – saffrom.
    BTW, orange blossom is an absolute no go for me – there are only very few occasions when it doesn’t turn into cat pee on my skin (Hedonist)…

    • I’ve had other friends who enjoyed Arabian Oud’s London store, too. Next time you’re in the area, perhaps you can stop by and smell Woody. 🙂 Also, good to know about the orange blossom on your skin. I will keep that in mind, and definitely not suggest George by Jardins d’Ecrivains for you. lol.

  9. I went around last week and sadly, the shop is closed (under reconstruction). Sigh.

    • They are just refurbishing the premises and should open by early June2014 I’m told. The shop in Westfields Stratford is however open and has got quite a large selection. Mr Ahmed Chowdury reassured me that on reopening the Oxford Street London branch they will have a larger selection of oils ….which I’m looking forward to 🙂

      By the way they have released four 18ml oil formats of Kalemat: Floral, Amber, oudh and musk. I’ve tried all of them and I’ve fallen in love with Kalemat Floral and Amber. To me Kalemat Amber is the very best of what the original Kalemat spray had to offer and floral to my nose is a rather deep rose/pandanus rendition of kalemat….. by the way avoid kalemat musk and oudh if you can…..too Cynthia(synthetic) for my liking.

      Also K. do ask Ahmed for a sample of the loose oils such as the King Fahad blend, Abdul Azeez blend, Sheikha and Raheel blend if you can.
      King Fahad is extortionately expensive(£1200/tolah last time I checked) but it’s just pure unadulterated aged oud and patchouli bliss 🙂

      • Ohhhhh, Kalemat Amber in oil format! Mmmmmmmm, sounds so, so good. I doubt Mr. Chowdhury would send me the oils, never mind one as expensive as the King Fahad you mention. When you say “patchouli,” are we talking about the original, brown sort of patchouli, or the more fruity, modern type? If it’s the brown-spicy-woody TRUE patchouli, then wow, the oil sounds good indeed!

        Still, I doubt I’d get the chance to try them. It wasn’t easy as it was for Mr. Chowdhury to send me the samples that he did, given the UK shipping rules! He was so kind, though, and really went out of his way to send me a few things. I’m afraid some are far too synthetic for me, due mainly to the white musk which, as you know, is one of the notes I have issues with.

        • The patchouli in KF is the brown aged variety (The stuff we adore! ) really really deep stuff. ..perfectly blended with aged hindi oudh and fine high grade Taifi rose. A lot written about it in different places and all good things. …but a lot of complaints about the price.
          by the way the Kalemat Amber oil is really reasonably priced, in one website I saw it for $99 😀

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  11. Love your blog. i try almost everything you recommend and i mostly love it! i haven’t been on in awhile but on my quest to purchase some arabian oud from amazon, i heartbreakingly realize there is no storefront on amazon anymore. i scrambled to find another source as i live n the states and came back onto ur blog. thats where i read my comment on ghoroob from amazon. It’s the last comment you posted. i am still quite obsessed with this oil and its because of this oil that i will try some others from arabian our. i already have the Woody, Woody Intense, Woody Blanc (no likey), kalemat (a million bottles) sehr al kalemat and majestic. i wanted to try gharam and some others but arabian our amazon is no more. any suggestions besides zahras and universal? I’m dying here without my fix.

    • Oh dear, really??!! This is terrible news. I had no idea. Just 10 days ago, a friend was looking at Ghroob on Amazon and she told me there were 17 bottles left. Her BF bought her one, and she told me yesterday she was eagerly awaiting its arrival. So your comment came as a bolt out of the blue, and I went to check Amazon for myself in the futile hope that it was all a mistake. OMG, THERE IS NOTHING!!! Not one single perfume of any kind from Arabian Oud! What happened???!!!

      I have no answers for you. Equally frustrating is the fact that I don’t even know who I could write to in order to GET answers. Arabian Oud’s departments seem to be so compartmentalized. The chap in Saudi Arabia is involved in regional stores, not online sales or Amazon. Same with my London contact.

      I have absolutely no idea what to say at this point. I’m as stunned as you are. I wonder if there is some sort of political reason for all this, given that the brand was there just 10 days ago, and now it’s as if they’ve been wiped off of Amazon entirely and never existed at all.

      There are no other retailers that I have found in the West, other than the ones you’ve already mentioned. Your only option at this point is eBay. There are a handful of eBay sellers, and one or two ship worldwide.

      I can’t believe this. Arabian Oud gone from Amazon. 🙁

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