Best Oud by The Spirit of Dubai Alternatives & Similar Perfumes

Santal takes its inspiration from a Sandalwood fragrance originally created in the 1800s which has then been given a distinctive contemporary edge.

“Udbaha” means “marriage” in Bangla, and this extrait references the Bangladeshi Holud Night celebration before the wedding. The festival is decorated with marigolds, roses and tuberoses. The aromas of festival sweets and treats fill the air: sugar, nuts, cardamom and saffron, mingling with oranges, pineapple and ripe mangoes. A spicy/earthy paste of turmeric and fenugreek is applied to the bride and groom’s body, enhanced by warm amber. And summoning the ceremonial application of henna, Bengal oud and oakmoss weaves a funky green trail through the proceedings. A deep and joyful perfume.

The colors of the day are melting. In the shadows, feelings take surprising shapes. The night is calling. Softness is in the air. Silent connections form. The alchemy is real. Two shadows. One.

Sombra is a dirty shadow of tough rose and oud, spiced with saffron and nutmeg. Tolu balsam bathes the composition in a twilight effect of almost-sweet tobacco and leather, for an animalic result that purrs.

January 1618 A Japanese Galleon, the Pacific Ocean

Following a diplomatic mission to the West, a galleon carrying a delegation of samurai charges through dark ocean currents. Loaded with a rare and precious cargo, the ship’s hull is redolent of sweet-smelling tropical woods, heady Spanish leather, frankincense, fine black pepper and other exotic ground spices—the intoxicating spirit of a singular, extraordinary voyage of discovery.

A good perfume to visit if your are in a search for perfect true sandalwood,  smoky and a touch dirty. Arquiste carefully selected the companions for its sandal in this formula: tea and osmanthus, coffee, myrrh and stryrax and others to give it a dark, sensual depth.

***

GQ US on Nanban:

"This is my signature scent. I wear it all the time. And let me tell you: I’ve never worn something that has gotten so many compliments—no sunglasses, no sneakers, no full-body rubber suit. People actually turn their heads and ask me what I'm wearing. And then they jot down the product name. Arquiste’s masterpiece introduces itself with Malabar black pepper and Persian saffron, gives way to coffee, sandalwood, myrrh, and Spanish leather, and embraces you all day with a blanket of frankincense, balsam, and cade juniper."

Read full review

***

Financial Times' resident perfume writer Victoria Frolova on Nanban:

"... approach coffee notes creatively. Instead of mimicking nature, a perfumer instead might fashion a blend that hints at coffee’s pleasing bitterness and heady richness. Such is Arquiste’s Nanban (£160 for 100ml EDP). The composition uses a plush backdrop of woods to frame the smoky, spicy notes of myrrh and incense, with an accent of coffee to lend the composition a dark, delicious twist. It teases with its smoky, nutty warmth, but keeps its presence mellow behind layers of sandalwood and leather."

Read more

An emphasis on amber and leather in this extrait version of the original EdP renders this Wolf darker and more dangerous. The higher perfume oil content means that the shadings of vetiver, pine and oakmoss are richer and deeper. The dark sparkle of cardamom holds its ground, providing a tantalising chiaroscuro to this sumptuous composition.

Campus is the 'bon vivant' moment in Molinard's historical collection, first created in 2004 it sparks adventurous pineapple and calms into luxurious tones of Provençal Lavender. It conjures an air of freedom and elegance. Beautiful geranium and woody notes from amber and sandalwood makes Campus nothing short of charm in perfume form.

The lone wolf roams the forest at twilight. Strong and resilient in the face of cold, crisp and hostile woods. Vetiver and pine evoke the dark green atmosphere, whilst plums and davana allude to the spicy energetic power of the wolf. Cedarwood and pepper are beautifully balanced with leather, with tonka beans adding a herbaceous bitter richness to the fragrance. This original EdP version offers a leaner, more frankincense-forward iteration to the bass-heavy extrait treatment.

Perfumer: Kévin Mathys

In this perfume story, the smoky gaiac aroma is gliding across a fresh and boundless ozonic void.

The story is open to interpretation: you can smell the waterproof canvas of the parachute gear in the abstract clean woodiness of the formula; or the air from under the tarpaulin you pull off a glider in its hangar; or think of any scenario involving flying machinery and an unlimited supply of fresh air.

The perfumer wanted to achieve a hazy floating shadow of an aroma, evoking a sensation of endless dark blue space, the calm humming of an engine, and hints of gasoline or machine oil. A worthy heir to the grandpa of all hazy smoky formulas inspired by airplane wings: Guerlain’s Vol de Nuit.

Tiger Rouge summons the mythical Red Tiger, embodying the soul of the Indian wilderness. Fierce black pepper, pimento and paprika contrast with blood orange and lemon myrtle, with cinnamon and cloves weaving through the landscape. Muscular Hainan oud and Indian vetiver put meat on the bones, while rose, cherry and pomegranate add bright, voluptuous beauty.

Perfumer: Tomoo Inaba

Rich and gothic Moth starts with a heavy dose of dark spices to jolt your senses before settling into a dusting of honey-sweet rose and powdery florals. Slowly, it tests its wings, taking flight on an exotic journey of nagarmotha, guaiac wood and patchouli. Beneath it all lingers a smoky undertone that serves as a constant reminder to fluttering creatures of the danger in the tantalizing flame.