The 13 Best Oud Perfumes of 2023

The thing about the fragrance industry however is that it’s full of innovation, and perfumers love a challenge. Attempting to modernise a classic or reinvent an underrated fragrance note is a big trend in perfume right now, which means that oud is seeing a bit of a renaissance. I recently had a fragrance consultation with the perfume experts at Guerlain, and was passed a tester of Guerlain Oud Nude to try. Of course, I wasn’t expecting to like it, which made it all the more interesting when I found that for the first time, I wasn’t put off at first sniff. With notes of almond, raspberry, vanilla, and sandalwood—and just a touch of smoky, leathery oud, it’s sweet, soft, and surprisingly subtle. On skin, it smells even better, and the oud really does take a backseat, while still giving the fragrance the rich warmth for which the note is so famous. It’s undoubtedly one of the best oud perfumes I’ve ever smelled, and immediately inspired me to find more.

If, like me, you’d previously written off oud, here are the 13 best oud perfumes that aren’t at all overpowering or headache-inducing—I promise.