Sunday, May 9, 2010

Random Rave: Oud Mubakhar, Itarji
















I've been seeking out some olfactory comfort these past few days to counteract the time spent cleaning up my nasty, wet basement. This morning I ferreted through a pile of old samples and came across a vial of Oud Mubakhar that arrived along with the Itarji perfumes I blogged about last year. I can't remember if I sniffed this particular samp when it arrived. If I did, it didn't make much of an impression--maybe because I was so thrilled with the stuff I'd actually ordered. I dabbed some on this morning, not expecting anything special, and immediately started wondering if it might be bottle-worthy. It's that rare thing, a light oud perfume. There's a fleeting whiff of something citrusy in the opening, but once that passes, Oud Mubakhar is nothing but a subdued agarwood note.  The notorious aromatic punch of oud is not entirely missing, but it's tamed considerably. The overall effect is fresh and natural, with just a hint of opulence. I could never have imagined wearing an oud fragrance in the summer, but Oud Mubakhar is something I think I could enjoy even on a sweltering day. That lightness probably makes it a poor choice for people who cherish the hot, heavy quality of most oud perfumes; but if, like me, you're one who likes oud in tiny doses, it might be just what you're looking for.


Reclining river nymph at the fountain, Lucas Cranach the Elder, 1518

1 comment:

ScentScelf said...

Mmm, this one does indeed sound interesting. And I am glad you found it at this particular point...sorry for all the flooding issues, and glad that you seem to be reaching the far side of clean up.