Oud for Greatness is a men’s cologne launched in 2018 by Initio Parfums Prives. this fragrance does utilize natural wood oil, which, of course, is very hard to come by. It's very expensive, and it's said to have a very sort of harmonious and spiritual effect on you.
Anyway, Today, our noses are in for a treat as we unravel the mysteries behind one of Initio's best gems – “Oud for Greatness.”
Buckle up, because this fragrance journey promises to be nothing short of extraordinary.
What does Oud for Greatness smell like?
Let's first unveil the notes of the fragrance.
The top notes are Saffron, Nutmeg, and Lavender.
The middle note is Agarwood (Oud).
Base notes are Patchouli and Musk.
Now, as soon as you spray this fragrance on, the first note that's going to be prominent right off the bat is inevitably the note of Oud. It's indicated in the name.
There's certainly a lot of Oud in this composition, but it's not a fecal, barnyard, animalistic Oud.
Initially, I thought I was getting a little bit of that, and I was making comparisons between this one and Al-Khat by Xerjoff, which is part of the Oud Stars collection.
But the more that I wore it, the more that some of the sweeter elements peaked their head through, some of the spices, some of the other aromatic notes started to peak their head through. And I know there's Nutmeg in here, there's Saffron in here.
It doesn't quite smell like Tuscan Leather, which I know has a reputation for being a very sort of leathery, animalic, smoky, ashy, Saffron-y kind of a blend. But this one is more of an emphasis on the note of Oud.
The thing that sets Oud for Greatness apart from other oud fragrances, however, is the fact that it does have a lot of those spices and aromatic notes in here.
The Nutmeg brings about this aura of exoticism, whereas the Saffron gives you that familiar element because I think now, especially in the perfume industry, we are seeing a lot more fragrances that contain the note of Saffron, especially on the niche side of things.
And so this one does utilize that Saffron note. It complements the Oud very well.
And then in the base, you have a little patchouli, a little musk, but neither one of those notes kind of overpower the other.
I would probably say that the note that I get the most strongly in the base is the patchouli, but it's not a patchouli that you can instantly pick up on.
So if I were to have you smell this fragrance and I said to you, what notes do you get mostly out of this?
You would say it's spicy and it's woodsy. I don't think anybody would say it's green or verdant. I don't think anybody would pick up on the note of patchouli.
But when you start to think about it and you think of other fragrances that convey a similar olfactory profile, you know that patchouli is one of those notes that contribute to that overall smell. And I do know that patchouli is used in this scent.
The more you dig your nose deeper into it, the more that that note of patchouli becomes a lot more apparent to you.
The musk is there, but it's just kind of serving as a base, just a warm blanket for everything to sort of rest on. But it's really all about the Oud.
This is a masculine scent. However, if you're a lady and feel comfortable wearing this one, and you love the smell, nobody is telling you that you shouldn't wear it. I do believe it can be classified as a unisex fragrance, which is all well and good.
However, I think there is a prominent level of woods in the scent that many people might lean a bit more towards the masculine side when asked to describe, classify, or categorize the scent. This is something that we shouldn't be doing, but it's kind of something that people do in the industry.
I love the scent for an Oud-based scent. I know it sounds like a crazy comparison, but there were even times when I got hints of Baccarat Rouge 540 by Maison Francis Kurkdjian.
It's not sweet in any way, but there's something about the complexity of the ingredients that kind of evokes something that the perfumer Francis Kurkdjian would make.
So something from the OUD collection, whether it be Silk Mood or, Satin Mood, or one of those Mood fragrances.
But this is a truly incredible scent. It's a gorgeous composition. It's one that I have been loving. I've been wearing it for the past week and a half to two weeks, and I have been enjoying it thoroughly.
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Comparison between Oud for Greatness and Parfums de Marly Haltane
In Parfums de Marly Haltane, the citrus and musk are more pronounced, creating a more complex perfume.
Oud for Greatness, on the other hand, has a stronger, leathery, saffron, and oakmoss quality.
The core is similar, but they're like close cousins rather than exact duplicates.
There's a noticeable difference in the use of raw materials, with Oud for Greatness having higher concentrations. It provides a more robust, in-your-face scent.
While both fragrances are fantastic and wearable, Parfums de Marly Haltane feels slightly sweeter and softer, while Oud for Greatness is stronger and more leathery.
I marked down Parfums de Marly Haltane because, despite its excellence, it feels like a variation of the successful Oud for Greatness DNA. It would have been interesting to see a unique approach from the sister company.
In conclusion, both fragrances are superb, each with its distinct character. Parfums de Marly Haltane feels like the elegant cousin, while Oud for Greatness is the rock cousin with a bold, saffron-leathery edge.
They're not duplicates but share a common DNA.
How long does Oud for Greatness last?
This one lasted 10-plus hours, and even after you wash your hands, you're still getting whiffs and remnants and shadows of this fragrance.
And so it does linger on the skin. It's highly concentrated, and the oil that's used here is highly concentrated as well.
In terms of the projection, loud.
Even though it doesn't have a lot of volatile notes, namely citrus, it's still quite loud when you spray it on.
But I wouldn't say it's as loud as some of its citrusy counterparts.
And so whereas those citrus-based fragrances that are very volatile will give you a solid hour and a half of projection, this one gave you 45 minutes of projection, but it was still there.
A lot of the ingredients that are in here definitely make a bold and strong presence, and it has an identity that is unabashed, and unapologetic.
I've quite enjoyed it for that reason.
When to Wear Oud for Greatness?
In terms of versatility:
I think it is compromised somewhat just because Oud as an ingredient is not something that everybody loves.
So there are people who dislike Oud, there are people who dislike Vetiver, there are people who dislike vanilla, believe it or not.
And so I think that this is one that you have to sample before you buy unless you know you're a lover of Oud fragrances. It's a little bit safer to make that purchase, but this is one that I would not recommend for everybody.
But if you're in the market for something that smells different, exotic, woodsy, leaning on the masculine side, a little bit spicy with a musky base, I think this one would be in your wheelhouse. I personally really, really enjoy it.
In terms of the seasons:
I think this one is fall and winter, but mostly winter because it does have such a loud presence about it.
And I do think it leans masculine, but anyone can wear it.
Wear what makes you happy.
Don't let other people tell you what you should wear.
In Conclusion – Oud for Greatness
So for me, overall, I like it. I think it smells very nice.
The performance is great.
I understand why a lot of people like it. It's got a lot of mass appeal as well.
This is a fragrance that you don't have to worry whether people are going to like it or not unless maybe you go too heavy and then it just becomes a cloying monster, you know, giving people headaches and stuff.
And then at that point, it's not really on the fragrance. It's on you.
I think you will like it as well, especially if you are a fan of Oud.
