These oud perfumes are opulence in a bottle

We asked Alchemists of high perfumery, at Initio Parfum Prive some of your most asked questions around ouds and here is everything you need to know:

Why are oud fragrances so expensive?

“This sacred wood sees the light of day in the Assam mountain range in Bangladesh, an isolated, hard-to-access location. It is in this place that a parasitic insect attacks the smooth trunk and light bark of the Aquilaria tree to feed on the sap, causing an infection that manifests as fungi. In response to this attack, the tree produces a dark resin that hardens the wood to protect it. So it’s not simply a case of waiting for the tree to be ten years old for it to secrete this precious resin, only one tree in a hundred produces this miracle. It’s a sort of botanical lottery. This is one of nature’s priceless riches, the result of an arcane stroke of luck, which is why it’s so exorbitantly priced.”

What makes oud so special and opulent?

“It can take up to ten days to distill oud wood chips to obtain a high-quality wild, exotic essence. It will have a more or less animal aspect according to the age of the tree. Following this painstaking operation, the essential oil obtained is thick, oily and resiny. But agarwood (the other name for oud) also has a special miracle: each tree develops its own disease and so the resin is unique each time, meaning every fragrance is a unique vintage.”

“At INITIO, the Collection’s iconic fragrance, Oud for Greatness, £305, Selfridges, exhales the force of nature and, the trail of greatness. The natural essence of oud wood has been perfected to this pitch, handled with majesty and brutality in this bold formula, scarcely highlighted by patchouli and musk. Superbly textured and strikingly natural, the oud has been wielded by the creator in an astonishingly fresh lavender, and, spicy manner nutmeg and saffron. Oud for Happiness, £305, Selfridges is a portal to modernity. It amplifies the benefits of oud with a breath of freshly-cut narcotic grass, energising and uninhibited. The composition provides an addictive means of relaxation that stimulates self-confidence.”

Why do ouds last longer than other scents?

“This addictive, ancient essence has a rare complexity. It has woody, smoky, leather, resin, animal and even fruity aspects. This extreme richness explains why a perfume containing a substantial quantity of oud lasts on the skin and clothes for so long.”

Can you layer ouds with other scent families?

“Oud wood is like a blank canvas where other colours from the perfumer’s palette can be painted. When it comes to layering, a composition that’s rich in oud INITIO Oud for Greatness, £305, Selfridges, mixed with the sweet and rich vanilla fragrances and the creamy sandalwood like INITIO Rehab Extrait de Parfum, £240, Selfridges, work.”