All About Oud
Is Oud Just for Men? Debunking the Myth of This Ancient Scent
on Jul 31 2025
Oud, or agarwood, is among the most prized materials in perfumery. Famous for its smoky, woody depth and multifaceted nature, oud is commonly found in high-end perfumes and incense—but there's one nagging question that keeps arising time and again:
Is oud just for men?
Let's set the record straight once and for all: No, oud is not simply for men—and never was.
A Shared and Sacred History
Oud is blessed with a rich and sacred history that transcends culture and continent. Burned in temples in East Asia, used in traditional medicine and religious rituals in the Middle East and South Asia, oud wood has always been imbued with profound cultural meaning.
It's referred to in religious scriptures such as the Sanskrit Vedas, the Bible, and the Islamic Hadiths, citing its religious significance. In Islamic cultures, for instance, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was a great admirer of the aroma of oud and recommended using it to scent mosques during prayers.
Traditionally, oud was never gendered. Men and women in most cultures have burned agarwood chips to fragrance their garments and homes, or used oud oil perfumes in order to have the fragrance follow them around all day. Particularly in the Middle East and North Africa, women have traditionally used oud perfumes as a part of their daily fragrance routine.
Actually, the notion that oud is a man's fragrance is quite a recent marketing phenomenon.
Oud's Scent Profile: Complex and Versatile
What makes oud perfume so captivating is its multifaceted scent. Oud wood might be characterized as warm, smoky, woody, and faintly sweet—with earthy or even animalic undertones depending on where it comes from and how it's harvested. This natural depth provides perfumers with a rich canvas to work with.
Combine oud with rose, saffron, sandalwood, citrus, or vanilla, and it can go from dark and mysterious to airy and romantic. This is why there are not only oud perfumes for women and oud perfumes for men but also unisex oud perfumes.
Oud for Every Personality
Oud belongs to everyone, both men and women. Here is a collection of carefully curated scents to showcase the full spectrum of oud’s potential—from floral and sweet to rich and woody.
Floral & Oud Fragrances - These are ideal for anyone who adores a light, feminine touch—but with depth and presence.
Oud Al Habayeb: A romantic bouquet of rose and oud that is ageless and elegant.
Oud Al Ibtisam: Dainty, powdery rose paired with a smoky oud base—refined and wearable.
Oud Al Qamar: Oud mellowed by floral and musky accords, leaving a courtly trail.
These fragrances are perfect oud perfumes for women, but they're also adored by anyone who enjoys floral nuances against a solid base.
Woody & Intense Oud Fragrances - For those who prefer a strong, classic oud experience.
Dehn Al Oud: Fresh, rich, and magnetic—a plunge into the essence of Arabian oud.
Ambar Oud: Oud in golden amber for a sensual, extravagant profile.
Oud Swisseri: Powerful and rich, recalling ancient souks and incense-filled evenings.
Oud Mukhalat: A classic oriental mix of oud and Eastern spice—classic and bold.
These are some fine choices if you are on the lookout for the best oud perfume for men or yearn for that intense, regal oud presence.
Balanced & Unisex Oud Fragrances - Versatile fragrances with wide appeal—neither too sweet nor too smoky.
Oud Faten: Blends classic Arabic oud with aquatic, modern notes for a fresh twist.
Oud Al Abyad: Fresh and woody, with complexity that's great for all skin types.
Oud Al Khaleeji: A strong statement fragrance with a unisex balance.
Oud Al Raghbah: Sweetly smoky, warmly fresh—it's oud with universal appeal.
If you’re unsure where to start, these unisex oud perfumes are a beautiful middle ground.
Oud Belongs to Everyone
Oud is not just for men. It never was.
Whether you’re drawn to its bold, smoky character or its romantic, floral pairings, oud offers a fragrance journey like no other. Its use across ancient civilizations and modern-day rituals proves that oud transcends gender—it's about expression, heritage, and identity.
Some brands like Dukhni, Kannauj Attar, Noorson and more, honor this ageless spirit with alcohol-free, halal, and vegan oud fragrances, designed to be worn by anyone who shares a love for the heart of Arabian oud.
So the next time you wonder, "Is oud for men alone?"
Remember: it’s for anyone bold enough to wear it.
White Oud Bakhoor: All You Need to Know
on Jun 19 2024
What is White Oud? What is the smell of White Oud? How to burn bakhoor safely? Read more to get the answers to these questions and more!
Where does the Best Oud Come From?
on Feb 16 2022
The most preferred and premium oud quality comes from India. It is colloquially known as Oud Hindi and this quality is followed closely by Oud from Cambodia and Vietnam.
The recent surge in consumption of Oud, not just amongst Arabs worldwide but other nationalities has created some disarray. The availability of Agarwood (Oud) in South Asian nations has decreased because of deforestation and over-exploitation. Vietnam, with a large quantity of Aquilaria trees (which when infected becomes Oud), is recognized as one of the main suppliers of Oud today.
Cultivated Agarwood (Oud) is also becoming increasingly available. It is collected after 2-3 years, while natural Agarwood (Oud) remains in the aquilaria trees for upto 10 years. Thus, the oil quality in natural Agarwood (Oud) is always better than cultivated agarwood irrespective of which region the tree comes from. This also make natural agarwood 3 or 4 times more expensive than the cultivated variety.
Its good to be aware of the quality of Oud going into your bakhoor, attar oil or perfume. The quality of Oud and other ingredients definitely has an impact on the quality and lasting of the fragrance product that you use.
If you would like to explore oud for yourself, you may find the collection here:
Oud Bakhoor عود بخور
Oud Muattar عود معطر
Maamoul Bakhoor معمول عود بخور
Yemeni Bakhoor عود بخور يمني
Arabic Attar عطر
Natural Mists & Linen Sprays عطر الفراش
Arabic Gifts اطقم هدايا
Why Is Oud Everyone's Favourite?
on Feb 15 2022
A perfume connoisseur may regard oud as a prized possession. However, truth be told, oud may not be for everyone from the very beginning. The fragrance of oud is heady and evokes strong and intense smells primarily described as animalic. Depending on your body chemistry with the resinous fragrance, your experience may be very different. It's because oud is an active organism that reacts to body contact, climatic conditions of your environment, time of the day, layering with other fragrances, etc. Thus, oud will be an aromatic experience as unique as you!
While oud is a product of infected Agar trees, the procurement is similar to that of maple syrup. The infected wood is brought to a distillery where the separation of wood parts and resin parts is carried out. The actual wood part is broken as chips to be later burned on charcoal for fragrance or used in the making of bakhoor (incense), and the resinous part is what becomes oil to be used in perfumes and attars. Oud is said to have two types essentially, black oud and white oud. While black oud is more potent with a dominating spell, white oud, is a softer rendition of the aromatic ‘liquid gold’.
Did you know that oud is not just the modern-day obsession of the populace, but that its roots go back to the many religious scriptures of yore! In many cultures, it’s called upon for its medicinal properties, a catalyst to spiritual upliftment, to even chosen for the utmost special occasions. Today, however, it signifies an epitome of sophisticated choice among the community of perfume lovers. Oud, going beyond just an aromatic commodity, is rather an exploration of yourself.
If you would like to explore oud for yourself, you may find the collection here:
Oud Bakhoor عود بخور
Oud Muattar عود معطر
Maamoul Bakhoor معمول عود بخور
Yemeni Bakhoor عود بخور يمني
Arabic Attar عطر
Natural Mists & Linen Sprays عطر الفراش
Arabic Gifts اطقم هدايا
on Feb 15 2022
Oud – An Olfactive Rendezvous With God
What’s been untold about the mystical oud or oudh in the world of fragrances may be iterated here for purposes of pleasured reading! Cited as ‘liquid gold’, ‘black gold’, ‘the five thousand per pound scent’, or simply, ‘the wood of the Gods’, oud is an odyssey of time. The potent raw resin has witnessed seasons, calamities, beautiful days, long nights, urbanisation, stories of people, and much more. All endured to produce an olfactive pinnacle that’s bottled exquisitely in perfumes, essential oils or attar, bakhoor and more.
Oud comes from infected heartwood of Agar trees by a type of mould called the Phialophora parasitica to form a dark aromatic resin to protect itself. This resin is the resulting fragrance called oud. Just 2 percent of the total Agar or Aquilaria trees get infected by this mould to produce oud. Geographically, oud is said to be native to the Southeast Asian regions but its charioteer for popularity is credited to the regions of Arabia.
Talk about how to use oud, well, you can of course wear it as a perfume or the more natural attar. You can also burn it as raw wood chips or use it to make bakhoor incense to cleanse and add fragrance to your surroundings. Did you know that oud also has many medicinal benefits that have been passed down from generations! Oud is as mystical and multifaceted as it can be. Whether you wear it as a perfume or gift it to a loved one, it’s a must to add to your collection.
And what better time to browse through our Oud gifting collections than in the month of love!
Explore oud in solid form - Oud Bakhoor
Explore oud in liquid form as attars - Attar oils
