What is Oud?

Oud is made from the wood of the tropical Agar tree, which grows in India and much of Southeast Asia. Although it sounds bizarre, it’s actually parasitic mold that causes the tree to produce a dark, fragrant resin. This is the oud.

And, because the tree has to be infected by the parasite to create the resin, it’s very rare: only about 2 percent of trees produce it. This makes the Agarwood among the most expensive on the market.

Not surprisingly, the rarity of the oud and the difficulty of harvesting it means oud oil is thought to be the most expensive in the world.

More recently, oud perfumes are a hit with both designer and niche brands catering for those who prefer a more exotic scent.

Many perfumers in the West are now using it as a base to create incredible fragrances for men and women. The base notes of oud tend to linger on the skin long after the others dissipate. In fact, a perfume with an oud base will likely last for hours after application.

Oud is also widely considered a unisex scent and most oud perfumes can be worn by men or women.