Oud (agarwood) is formed when Aquilaria trees become infected with a particular mold, producing a dark, fragrant resin in response. Natural oud is among the most expensive raw materials on earth — rarer than gold by weight. Its complex, almost alive character has made it central to Middle Eastern perfumery for centuries and the hottest trend in Western niche perfumery of the past decade.
True oud is challenging — barnyard, medicinal, sweet, smoky, woody, and deeply animalic all at once. It evolves dramatically over hours. Western "oud" fragrances typically use synthetic analogues that emphasize the woody-smoky facets while taming the more challenging animalic qualities.
Oud signals opulence, depth, and a willingness to be polarizing. It's not a people-pleaser — it's a statement of self. Wearing oud says you value transformative experiences over comfortable ones.