To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
gabal – :
I was expecting way more incense. This is mostly a peppery rose fragrance with some spices and oud. Reminded me immediately of Portrait of a Lady, Rose 31, French Affair, etc. Nothing really sets it apart from those, I probably prefer it to Rose 31 but not the others. Wish it smelled more like Promise by Frederic Malle instead of smelling like a less-good Portrait of a Lady. This is being discontinued, but I don’t think anyone will care all that much. If it’s your signature, you can easily replace it with a variety of other things out there
KlUV – :
So…you’re going to get to the incense, the oud and some rose eventually, don’t be too impatient.
Just hang on to your hat, because the opening of this fragrance will sweep you off your feet, and it’s not about any of those things.
It’s about that burst of grapefruit coming from the methyl pamplemousse, along with the geranium and the cardamom. These things will lift you up and make you smile. This phase is incredible and will stay with you in some form throughout your wearing of Incense Oud.
Later the cedar and labdanum come in, with some subtle sandlewood to compliment the lovely incense note that is the star of the drydown. The oud is there, but much like Amber Oud from the same line, it’s inconspicuous and plays more of a supporting role.
Put the cost aside and try to take it for what it is. Pure magnificence!
sashapid – :
I sprayed the tester on my hand and at first it smelt like a fresh, crisp scent but then the incense in the dry down comes out quite strong. To me, the incense reminds me of the candles in church and incense sticks for praying. I don’t know if I would be able to wear it as the incense notes are really intense on my skin. Also, the price to buy this is really expensive in comparison to cost per wear. I think I will give this one a miss.
Vago76 – :
this is an incensy/rose/peppery-spicy scent. i don’t seem to get much oud. it’s just cardamom, rose and incense at the beginning. i get some labdanum and pink pepper but that’s about it. it reminds me a lot of histoires des perfumes 1740, but without the leather. a very nice scent, though i don’t smell much, if any oud. it does smell, rich warm and is perfect for cool/cold days.
slofsPreope – :
Probably the best out of the entire By Kilian line, out of what I’ve smelled. Still, it certainly isn’t worth the price.
dymin_ilia – :
A beautiful incense, perfectly enriched by the supporting notes. One of few Kilian worth the price.
The comparison to Timbuktu is somewhat valid because they share many common notes, but they are mostly different fragrances and it is worth owning both.
gma895JeomiWogkig – :
People mentioning that this smells like Timbuktu in a way but honestly I can’t see that! Are they identical or are they just a bit similar?
Nattpraniny – :
smells like Timbuktu with a hint of rose 🙂
lnc113intitytek – :
“Smoky The Bear with a rose in his teeth.”
One of the Top 5 rose ouds for men.
If you’re like me and tend to shy away from anything rose, you owe it to yourself to get a tester from the nice man or woman at the Saks store, (because if you’re also like me you will never justify paying upward $500 for a 50ml bottle!)
That said, this is some intensely smoky macho shizz, an entire forest of oud on fire, and the rose they use seems equal to the task. This aint no girly rose, this rose has hair and teeth!
1986310 – :
its a really great frag from the house but kilian overall is over priced imo, i get lots and lots of incense with spices and a lil hint of oud at the background. this also reminds me of Amouage Journey Man which i adore.
DARK KNIGHT – :
its a really great frag from the house but kilian overall is over priced imo, i get lots and lots of incense with spices and a lil hint of oud at the background. this also reminds me of Amouage Journey Man which i adore.
XAMILIOH – :
Got a sample of this with my purchase and i have been wearing it. What can i say is gentle and precise. Gentle meaning its not a straight in your face oud. Oud is supposed to be the star of the show right??, but its not. Gentle as projection is solid moderate 3-4sprays is no problem here last about 6-8 hrs. Precise as It is blended well with the insense and is not over powering. Precise meaning all the notes just blends well and i can smell each note, well maybe not all, but most are detectable. Now the downside kilian price is absurd, i mean i dont mind if they give me 100ml, but for 50 ml?? really?. Do i think its worth the asking price?? “NO” good news is do your research as you get this for a very reasonable price elsewhere. Now If i find a bottle on my price range a definite pick up for me.
Scent breakdown; rosey; spicey/woody; insense/oud.
Freedom063 – :
Spice, incense, oud and musk; long lasting; dry and sharp in a dry incense/herbal/balsamic way which is the cedar and sandalwood rising
IvanPopovi – :
Overall a good scent. Smells like a newly sharpened pencils and very similar to Bond no. 9 Silver factory, which I have in my collection. The only question I am asking myself is if it is worth all the money. And i do not think it is. I am glad that I got the chance to sample and test it.
Scent:8/10
Longevity: 8/10
Projection: 8/10
Price: 1/10
Павло Лінда – :
An excellent creation of Incense and Oud,Which does not last long enough on skin for its price tag,
The presentation is an A+, Best suited for formal atires and did not perform as well at night as it did during the day, It does not last at all during the colder Months.
Scent 10/10
Silage 5/10
Long Lasting 5/10
Price tag $600+CN
Test many times before buy!
Thanks,
Raffaello – :
The main focus is on the frankincense and the gorgeous opening adds oud and spices. These will fade leaving space to a dirty patchouli paired with a thick, sweet rose and a resinous base. The blend is addictive, classy, elegant.
Scent: 8.5/10
Longevity: 8/10
Projection: 7/10
D.J.B.B. – :
Nice fragrance by Kilian that opens very bright with geranium and spices, is slightly cool, bright and brief (best of Incense Oud) to immediately show a smoky agreement incense and rose, pretty, unobtrusive, even relaxed under a base during the middle notes you start to feel very balmy, woody and licorice. In this phase sandalwood it brings a lot of effort, while the oud wood feels too shy and hidden.
Drying with a very oriental appearance, and it is very attached to the skin where licorice, balsamic facet is maintained and sweeter with a gentle whiff of smoke.
Moderate wake duration and moderate pulling smooth with very good quality as usual to make By Kilian. The truth is that although the fragrance is good, not brought me much.
Anyway, I had called Incense Incense Oud Santal instead sticking more, but I guess everything obeys fashions and commercial reasons.
Rating: 6
saglartyday – :
A heavy dark oud with a multifaceted 3 dimensional background. A herbal, floral, incensey, woody masterpiece. Projection is off the charts and bound to stop traffic. Longevity is hours upon hours. I spray this maybe too heavily on, but I don’t give a sh*t. Crazy expensive but worth every penny. I freakin’ love this.
Oldr – :
A dirty oud, rose and incense scent. Powerful, aggressive and in your face, i love it.
Jerhoorpogele – :
I’m dying to try Kilian Insence Oud.
I think Ive smelled it in my dreams. ❤️
koxha – :
To me, I get a super well done incense with a dry and resinous rose. Not the kind of incense that people refer to as “church incense” though. The rose makes this fragrance. The masks and resins tie this up to be a super well done niche fragrance. I elaborate more on my review I just posted on YouTube under the name ConsumerThis, but other than that I have to give this fragrance a personal 9/10
The longevity is great, projection is really nice. The quality is very very high. The perfumer spent lots of time on this fragrance and I have a feeling that she had a unlimited budget with this one as well.
I have tried rose oud and musc oud from this line, but they didn’t warrant a purchase for me. This on the other hand has made it in my top 5 favorite all time scents!
Tigr_98 – :
Big, woody opening with patchouli blast. Very church-y. I’m getting a booziness, not like rum or cognac but less sweet, like whiskey. I’m guessing this is due to the spices. Despite all the wood and patchouli has a roundness from the spices which add just a touch of sweetness but not too much. I barely get any rose though, sadly. Sillage is pretty big but reduces dramatically within an hour or two. Not a particularly subtle fragrance – this seems to be a characteristic of the house – but attractive and well balanced in a muscular way. A priest with a big stick.
rudenok30 – :
The second member of the Arabian Nights collection By Kilian, Incense Oud, like Amber Oud, is a fine composition, but performs significantly better on my skin.
Frankincense dominates this, with oud and some other notes being subservient to the eponymous note. The notes listed is immense but the mix of peppers and indistinct florals cited by one online reviewer ring true to me. There’s a slight peppery aspect to this in concert with the oud, though at their meeting it becomes a little difficult to distinguish between the two.
The result is a scent that is not sharp or abrasive but still bold. In conclusion, Incense Oud is one of the most refined incense-based fragrances that doesn’t use sweet notes. Still, a tough sell at $395 for 50ml, but there’s always the 50ml refill route that in this case is half the price at $195.
8 out of 10
hellouin1 – :
Incense oud turned out just as I had imagined: incense and oud, and lots of woods in the background. The incense here is not frankincense but more like an Asian type of incense, the kind you would find in a buddhist temple. The oud here is like the one you would find in Kilian’s Black Oud.
Overall smells like opening an old wooden drawer or wardrobe, very nostalgic and reminiscent of the past.
My only issue with this fragrance, price aside, is the performance. With notes such as incense and woods, you’d expect the longevity to be beast and yet it is not. After 4 hours I cannot detect it anymore. What a shame.
dagbor – :
another incense beauty from by kilian….great juice
Hargollabrido – :
smells lovely – like a slightly masculine version of Tom Ford’s Black Orchid, unfortunately my skin eats it up unlike Black Orchid – next time i will put scentless lotion on first and see if that helps longevity. Very well done incense fragrance nonetheless – does not stifle or smell dated, but rather mysteriously dark sexy smoke that makes me think of layers of black lace, tulle, silk…
winslow – :
One of the best scents I own and the best from by kilian line.
It’s been awhile since I shared my thoughts with this fragrance, so here’s an update after many wearings.. I ENJOY IT even MORE now!
The notes all come together in such a harmonious way, with a name such as incense and oud, two very strong notes, you may think this would be very strong, but it’s actually very pleasant and easy on the nose believe it or not.
I think it’s the Rose that makes this fragrance. I am not a fan of Rose dominate fragrances or anything floral, but this is NOT like that at all. It just makes the incense fell fresh sharp and sweet. I’ve never smelled anything like this, it’s masculine too.
The silage and projection on this are AMAZING. You will get noticed. I find this so appropriate for the cooler days and nights of the year.
There’s no oud in this fragrance but it’s ok, I don’t want anything to change with this formulation bc it’s perfect. The opening with Rose goes away after a little bit and leave such a well done sweet incense going on with a smoky and woody dry undertake
Would I pay $400 for a 50ml bottle? No
But, I found a 50ml bottle (not refill) on the grey market or $190 and yes, it’s worth that all day long! The same nose that made straight to heaven made this as well. Two of the only by kilians I find full bottle worthy so far!
Scent 10/10
Longevity 10hours plus on skin
Projection 8/10 with 2 sprays
Quality 10/10
Originality 10/10 smells nothing like you would imagine or have
Rank in my collection – top 5 ever
west-92 – :
I find myself layering all my ouds lately. At the end of the day I have no idea what I’m wearing anymore. But I am 99% sure that this is one of my favorites.
inkmen – :
I have to agree with so many other reviews here. This is an amazingly beautiful scent… for 15 minutes. After an hour it tones down and becomes very close to the skin. After a few hours it is completely gone. The only time I can see this one working is right before you walk onto stage for your 15 minutes of fame. But like the 15 minutes of fame, this one will fade just as fast.
A great scent to try, but I wont be adding this to my collection.
Dahaka_predator – :
All ouds are not created equally. . This is beautiful. That’s it. Sweet oud. I’m not going to go on and on. I got 5ml sample surprise in the mail with oud noir by Versace . This is full bottle worthy I may add. This is the kind of fragrance that puts designer ours in their place. Damn, a blast of rose at first makes you wonder why so many rose and oud combos, but this one I see why, the Rose goes away only to bring out the incense when she is done. The aftermath of what you get after the Rose opening is what made me want to write this review, this house is really putting out of some super killer fragrances, only downfall… Price point. I got thousands of dollars wrapped up in my collection so it’s kind of pointless to complain about price on one fragrance, but man $100 for a black shiny box… And $350 for 50ml…I dunno man..I got a couple kilian bottles but I have them for $180 a piece, I don’t like going over that.., so with that said, please message me if you want to sell a bottle of this for a good deal…I’m in love with it right now
naumann – :
tonileefiore just wrote the perfect review of Incense Oud that I share 100% (complimenti…!).
This fragrance brings me on a warm, sophisticated, wrapping cloud. My lady adores it.
serg160783 – :
Perhaps I am simply drinking the Kool-Aid but I am in love with this fragrance! After searching high ‘n low for another “signature” fragrance, I decided to try By Kilian “Incense Oud.”
When I received my sample, I opened it in my car as I was going through the rest of my daily mail. I had forgotten about ordering the scent and when I sprayed the sample, it was love at first whiff! My first thoughts were, “Oh my-this is some beautiful stuff!!” Then, I glanced at the packaging insert and immediately thought, “Oh no-I hope this isn’t the stuff that goes for $395 a bottle.” Alas, it was and it is.
The opening is warm, enticing and STRONG with definite spicy & floral notes including pepper, cardamom and rose. To me, the opening is almost like meeting up with an old friend or wrapping oneself in a cozy afghan or blanket. This fragrance simply smells special.
After 30 minutes or so, a wonderful mixture of wood (cedarwood, sandalwood, oud), incense (patchouli?), smoke, and musk rises. Nothing I read about in all the reviews could prepare me for the dry-down or the base. Sitting very close to the skin and without much silage, there is obviously something in the sum parts and ALL the notes that makes this some pretty complex and incredible stuff.
If I had to describe the dry down in a few words, it would be “smooth, relaxing, and almost meditative.” This is definitely not an over-powering fragrance. This is a sophisticated & subtle incense fragrance that is not at all reminiscent of being at High Holy Mass or in a head shop (characteristics that I ordinarily dislike in other incense based fragrances).
Silage is not great & longevity could be better. I DID figure out that after purchasing the VERY EXPENSIVE original crystal bottle, one can get refills for a less expensive (still very expensive) price.
This must be what Heaven smells like! I LOVE this stuff! Sigh…
vazgen1111 – :
Like bad sex, this is very frustrating. It opens as one of the best ouds I’ve ever smelled and the balsam note is gorgeous. You have 15 minutes of utter heaven and then it abruptly stops–literally disappearing off your skin. I went through a miniature in about 2 hours because of this–the scent was addictive but it just wouldn’t last. Tragic.
Sillage–1-2 ft
Longevity–life of a mayfly
Fabulosity–15 minutes of amazing
Value to price ratio: awful
vallerik – :
I got this for Christmas and was extremely happy ripping open the box and giving myself a couple of blasts….I had never smelled this one before and I was immediately surrounded by wafting, smoky rich tendrils of scent. Ooooh, what a gorgeous smell. I’ve finally found a perfect…wait a minute! Where did the smell go? Oh there it….nope, gone again!
Sigh
This perfume smells absolutely amazing…for about 15 minutes. Then it’s gone. I’m not kidding. Deep and luscious one second, gone the next. I don’t think that I will buy anymore kilian perfume once I’ve used all that I have. They are well constructed and smell amazing, but they just don’t last for the cash.
Scent 9/10
Projection 4/10
Fortitude 2/10
maaaksim – :
I have tried a sample vial today and while I love the smell I don’t find it long lasting enough to justify the price of buying it, had to respray after an hour and can no longer smell this evening after using full 1.5ml vial. Based on these results I won’t be buying full bottle. I likely would if it were more affordable but the longevity dosen’t match price.
enemy-11 – :
Incense Oud should be called Incense Patchouli. It is a very nice incense fragrance but there is nothing resembling oud in it. It is a really nice mossy patchouli though, very earthy and rooty…that dirty patchouli but still quite smooth. The opening and first hour or so includes a wonderful incense note but this part only lasts for about an hour or so on me then it turns into mostly a patchouli based fragrance. It definitely leans masculine. There is mild geranium initially but the rose is non-existent to my nose. This is in no way a floral even with the minor floral players…they are near invisible accents. So please do not let the floral notes scare you away if you are not into florals.
While the Kilian Oud line contains no actual oud, the combination of woody notes are used to create this illusion (which is very common in western “oud” fragrances), if you are looking for more of an oud feel, you will find a better representation in Rose Oud in my opinion. But that one is loaded with rose so be warned. (Rose Oud is BY FAR my favorite from the Arabian Nights collection but I am female so that could have something to do with it.)
Incense Oud starts out strong/potent but really tones down pretty quickly and stays close to the skin after about an hour. This is more of a scent to enjoy yourself or when someone is close. I did need to reapply it after several hours. Rose Oud lasts almost all day on me though.
If you love patchouli and incense, you may really love this one. Both notes are dominant (incense in the beginning, patchouli in the end) and are very nice, high quality and well blended without any harsh edges.
djandreyka – :
This is my first encounter with a By Kilian and I am unfortunately less than impressed… it is an ok scent that doesn’t seem to go anywhere.
I guess that if I had smelled this 4 years ago, before Black Aoud, before so many other oud -incense – rose combos, I would have found this somehow appealing… but at this price range I would expect the rendition to be more interesting and/or offer something to remember.
If I had to summarise, I’d say it starts off with a nice cereal note which is joined by a clear oud, not as strong as, say, in Black Aoud, more subdued… and then rose and incense. It has small projection and after the first 5 minutes it all becomes predictable and so lacked of soul… like a watered down Montale and I say this in a bad way since I sometimes do look for such thing, a softer oud-incense, and I can name a few that work perfectly without getting bland like this (Arabian nights by Jesus del Pozo being the first that comes to mind).
I don’t mean to be harsh, I wouldn’t mind people around me wearing this (if you knew what they smell like you’d understand it isn’t that hard either for me to pray they change habits with ANY other scent than the current) but I believe someone here has to stand up sometimes and break the overhyped scents that make some people (like me)blind buy expensive scents that can be found for a third and are even much more genuine in their concept. In this case I can’t escape from the feeling it only follows the trend of launching an oud, no matter how. I wish I had had someone saying some of the things I bought were bad or unnecessary to even up a bit the hype and make me think twice. Where I live there is no single place to sample niche or any other good brand so Fragrantica and other blogs are my only resource.
I expect to try the rest of By Kilian, I’m sure I’ll find a few jewels. Incense oud is totally forgettable in my book.
deman163 – :
oh so gorgeously heavy, dark and smooth. dry and spicy smoke, with warm and creamy woody undertones
INGWAR – :
Deliciously sexy and unique. I love how this opens up with a sharp burst of pepper and cardamom, I could swear something smells like licorice too.. just right at the beginning. And then it settles down into a mysterious woody aroma that just seems to wrap itself around me. This is a wonderful scent, warm and comforting in the most luxurious way.
I_am_Yto4ka_xD – :
This is like Avignon but with oud. Like Avignon, like this even better but…impossible to get excited about because not original enough to be excited by and insultingly expensive.
Рittermtn – :
Kilian Perfume Lovers: Buy the refill its half the price.
If the refill is not available then go for the travel bottles. But refill usually is.
Nice composition.
From my experience it reminds me of wealth. Its not an every day scent. It smells rich and dry.
There is some floral notes in the opening but key players is the woody incense.
This smells good alone not to be blending with another perfume.
CHORNbI – :
It smells like church incense with dried/candied orange peels pricked by cloves. So basically to me, this smells like Christmas day in church.
I will totally wear this over the winter holiday but even though it is a beautiful scent I’m not sure if I could get away from the Church-ey feeling enough to wear it on a more frequent basis.
Once I use up my decant I don’t think I will purchase full bottle.
I like it a lot though and find it’s a well balanced, well structured fragrance with good projection and agreeable silage.
Cawelelay – :
I love this fragrance and enjoy wearing it every time it’s very very good. I’ve noticed a few things having worn it extensively now.
I can totally sympathize with @Prodigy’s review below this is one of those scents that is Oud in name alone. However, Oud is strange in here and I always pick up on it for literally a split second after the opening then it’s gone!
It might be because of the boozy qualities of this and the incense and rose which are more apparent.
Anyway…despite that this scent is absolutely off the charts good and the best By Killian by far!
haman325 – :
Don’t get me wrong this is a great smelling fragrance. So much that I paid retail for it cause I didn’t want to wait until I stumbled on one for sale on ebay for example. The only thing I didn’t mesh well with this fragrance is the high price for no oud. I absolutely smell no oud. So to me it is falsely advertised, misleading representation. Still I will be keeping this in my collection because it is a phenomenal scent but for perspective buyers be aware there is no oud (agarwood) in this fragrance. At least to my nose.
anuto4ka – :
This is an excellent fragrance . You are not going to smell it on your self . But others will smell it on you . I sprayed a total of 5 spray’s on my self . I could just recognize it . It cost a total of $522 in Canada at Holt . I like it .
angelaf – :
اگر تمایل به خرید محصولات”گروه گُلد” این کمپانی داشتید،پیغام بگذارید
Vit777 – :
Oh wowie wow!!! My oh my this is the complete perfect balance of Incense, Oud, patchouli and a touch of Rose. This scent is perfection for the incense lover, to me it’s not smokey more of a fresh incense, the oud is really gentle, the rose is sweet its truly intoxicating.
Ridiculously expensive…I mean really is a crazy price for 50ml of juice but despite being similar to many fragrances I like in terms of ingredients I found this one to have struck the finest balance. Incense Oud is absolutely spectacular no doubt about it.
wcman – :
A beautifully composed incense scent!! This lovely is all about the incense. The cardamom is a nice touch and lends a bit of spice to the resonating incense. I grew up Catholic and sometimes incense fumes can take on too much of a church feel and fortunately this one does not. I never get full on roses or oud like others have. This is beautiful incense and spice love with gorgeous fragrant roses off in the distance with a bit of oud and patch.
I actually like that this is not screaming oud. Everyone seems to be doing that today and I think by Killian nailed it with this one by having it complement the other notes. Really very beautiful!!!!
mach197 – :
This is a heavenly dose of the most well blended and genuine incense I have ever had the privilege of experiencing. It is extremely rich yet classy and elegant. I completely do not understand the review below that describes this as sour…!?!? As for Alfarom, our noses differ to such an extreme I don’t know what to think of his reviews anymore. This is a gorgeous masterpiece. I would recommend wearing this to a night out, cold weather, or even to the office in moderate doses. Very long lasting.
8.5 out of 10
**I should’ve noted, I do not get much (if any) oud in this juice but it does have a dark and thick feel to it…just the way I want an incense based fragrance to be.
olga.petrik2012 – :
esta mezcla es como bajada del cielo,la combinación de todos y cada uno de los ingredientes es de lo mejor ,incienso, sandalo , oud, cardamomo y rosa ….
es lo mejor que he olido durante mucho tiempo …
quiero una botella gigante, amo kilian
sneggg – :
You really have to be a lover of heavier, sharper kind of perfumes. This is definitely a very strong presence smell, but not for everyone. Five years ago, I would of been head over heels for this kind of fragrance, but now I find it too sharp and too sour.
The oud here is not medicinal which is a big plus, and the incense is very deep and beautiful, but I personally believe that it justifies the price, it’s good but not that good.
Bakuganus – :
i received my bottle yesterday and i love this fragrance. Its tickles my sences, big wow! Big fan of kilian!
JeannyMean68 – :
I can only presume most are not familiar with the smell of geranium as it is rated so lowly in the perceived notes. This begins with a very clear geranium note flanked by a bit of spice and citrus. The geranium continues, eventually losing most of the more fatty and slightly ascerbic qualities that it possesses, with rose-like qualities taking their place.
The oud in this is exceptionally well done – it’s much like the oud in many Montale scents but while it is clear and distinct in the heart, it does not disrupt the beauty of the opening as it does when used with abandon. Same for the geranium; exceptionally well balanced. Geranium is a note that often overpowers. It is very rare to find a scent with such a clear geranium note that manages to avoid being dominated by it, but Incense Oud is definitely an exception!
If you like the rose/oud archetype, you owe it to yourself to check out this scent. Wild and daring? No. Precisely balanced and smells exceptional? Yes!
uraukr – :
If I had never met Malle’s Portrait of a Lady, I might like Incense Oud even more than I do. (Am I the only one who thinks they smell similar?) It’s a lovely scent, but to me this smells like an echo of the Malle, with many of the same elements in place (rose, incense, patchouli, sandalwood, etc) but thinner somehow, with somewhat less drama and presence overall. On me Incense Oud starts out a bit unfocused but quickly settles down to a relatively quiet rose-patchouli-spicy incense fragrance. I only get the vaguest sense of oud. I really did enjoy sampling it, but I’m truly grateful not to be lusting after such an expensive perfume in the end!
All in all, this is beautiful, a nice combination of floral and incense, and I think I’d be satisfied with it….if I hadn’t already fallen for the Malle last year. Don’t get me wrong, it was nice to have met Incense Oud, but I think I’ll be staying with my Lady.
Kinolog – :
I did not expect much of it but it is much better than Rose Oud (someone mentioned it is very like the Montale and I must agree; this one is really a fragrance on its own). As I have not the best experiences with Cruel Intentions and Dangereuse Liasions (too weak for this price category!)I am really positively surprised about Incense Oud (sillage is very good and also the lasting power (what I can’t say about the samples I have tested firstly from by Kilian)).
gorryu – :
Beautiful perfume. This is the first frag I tried from By Kilian house. As a lover of incense I enjoyed it in many ways. It’s a well-balanced and rich scent. Incense is not dark and smoky, rather diluted with creamy patchouli and rose aroma and seasoned with oud and spices. I’d like to own a FB. Must-try for an incense lover!
Personally for me it reminds of my grandmothers closet, where she kept her best clothes that she was wearing to church and on other occasions. With her getting older and ill, clothes were brought to the daylight more and more rarely; they hang in the closet and share their own scents with each other – scent of grandmothers floral perfume on summer dresses, scent of church on her black shawl, scent of our people houses she used to visit. And most of all – scent of old dry wood. This is what Incense Oud is all about for me: smell of mystery and aging; memories embedded in old wooden shell.
alex788000 – :
My first foray into Kilian and I am pleased with my choice. As previous reviewers have mentioned, this is a smoky incense perfume. Is there oud? At the price point I really hope so but what oud note there is, is very polite and nothing like the Arabian ouds I have known on my Arab classmates. This is definitely not a feminine perfume if by feminine I mean sweet and pretty in this case. This is dark, moody and an attention grabber. Heavy on notes and heavy on smell. Just a couple of drops( this comes from someone who is a liberal sprayer) is more than enough to permeate the air around you like how incense curls in the still air of a closed room. As it dries down, it becomes slightly more friendly than its opening but keeps an aloof air all the same. I agree with Yamba1 who said this is somewhat similar to Memoir Women but I find this more bitter and less floral than Memoir which is a favorite of mine. If I should be lucky to find a good deal on a bottle of this I would grab it. Until then, this will remain a distinct and lasting memory.
olyaanisimowa – :
I am glad that I got this sample from the salesperson at HN; generally I do not buy perfumes with Oud notes or those with Arabian night themes because honestly I believe that all the perfumes in the market for Oud are simply Oriental and not truly Arabian.
This one smells nice and mystical and lasts wonderfully on clothes for a long time. It invokes feelings of religious mysticism and a slight feeling of sadness (I can’t help but feel a bit down when spraying it) . However, like most Oud perfumes I find it more westernized, perhaps it is made for the European taste and so the Oud is subdued while other spices are given more dominance. Notes of cardamom, spices, pepper, nutmeg are used in almost all perfumes where Oud is used in the perfume name, these are indeed warm and spicy but they are Oriental scents and do not represent Arabian fragrances (yes cardamom is used in coffee thoug