* Starts off like a soft floral, with a bit of citrus. I get jasmine and germanium.
* The floral calms down but stays present throughout – a subtle light oud starts to come through.
* The oud gets a bit sweaty and salty, but never dirty or aggressive.
* The sweat fades away, and a light vanilla with sandalwood and musk is the base.
Summary: Indian Oud isn’t necessarily feminine but is an oud that a woman could wear without it being overbearing. It definitely smells great on a guy, I got a few compliments when I was wearing it. Unlike many of the ouds on the market, this is not an “oud in your face” or an arabic-styled fragrance. The base notes last a really long time – more than 12 hours and easily into the next day or next shower. Though there is strong projection on first spray, it lightens and becomes office-friendly after the first hour. If you are looking for an oud to wear that doesn’t “wear you” – Indian Oud is worth checking out.
Illuminum Haute Perfumes are available from http://www.illuminumperfumelounge.com/ . They will be available at Henri Bendel in June 2012.
Disclaimer: Sample provided by Illuminum. My opinions are my own and I am not financially compensated for this review or any others. Image from www.illuminumperfumelounge.com