Rihan Al Aoud
Abdul Samad Al Qurashi (2014)

Could be worn in all year long. Easily likable.

At around $250 per tola, Rihan Al Aoud is priced at the middle of the pack, and quite appropriately so for what I would consider a perfect 'starter' oud for (mostly) women. It contains a blend of different oud oils from Southeastern Asia (that's not too specific, is it, but that's what the online catalogs say!), but there is nothing aged, balsamic, barnyardy or animalic here in the least. Whatever oud used here registers as a pleasant, dry, woody, lightly smoky 'buzz' that is sustained throughout the life of the fragrance, from top to toe. Actually, it doesn't smell that much different from the synthetic versions of the 'smoked oud wood chips' smell (as opposed to a representation of the oud oil smell).

The smoked oud chip accord is pleasantly spiced with the fruity floral melange beloved of ASAQ in their female blends, which is to say, a good dose of really fruity, grapey jasmine, orange blossoms, neroli, and so on. This typical ASAQ 'female' touch is so fruity/floral that it almost approaches pink bubblegum territory - but thankfully it pulls from that effect here. Here it is pleasant, subtle, just juicy and sweet. I really like Rihan Al Aoud. I don't find it as complex or as delicious as Rouh Al Aoud (the male equivalent), but I prefer masculine-leaning scents anyway. Don't let that put you off - this is a really great-smelling oud blend, definitely not a pure oud like they say, and nicely positioned and priced for an entry-level plunge into oud waters. Recommended.

An oriental-floral with a woody-ambery-incensey bone structure in the same mould of a bunch of the latest deliveries by Amouage (Opus VIII above all but, more generally, most of their latest feminines). It's extremely well done and easy to like, perfectly unisex and delivers a fantastic performance too but, just like those Amouage I refer to, it lacks a bit of personality…at least in my opinion.

Downline: If you like the latest stuff by Amouage (especially a bunch of the latest Opus and/or feminines), give this a chance as it is absolutely on the same level. For me though, while I appreciate the quality, it is still somewhat of a pass.