Royal Oud
Creed (2011)

made me think they sell root beer in austria alas it was me. probably the best fragrance ever

If this is oud then sign me up but I think it’s more of a woodsy, peppery tobacco affair, which I love. Smells natural and all but 2 pricey retail 4 me lol

Probably the best Creed I have smelled or tried, yes it is pricey and isnt worth that kind of price tag, but as a scent it is awesome for the 5 to 6 hours that it lasts on my skin




Overall 9-10
Longevity 5-10
Silage 5.2- 10

Try if you like dry spicy Cedar

Royal Oud is for me both exasperating and enticing. If money was no object I would buy a flacon and coat myself with this scent continuously. It is a subtle, dry expression of cedar with the angelica and other elements bringing a bit of 'noir' to the party. It smells really expensive but is not all that powerful and it's longevity and sillage are not equitable to its obnoxiously high price. I have about 15ml left and will treasure it but can't fathom paying upwards of $400 for a standard bottle. Some claim the cheapo synthetic homage to Royal Oud is Lomani's Intense Black. I can't entirely agree as Intense Black's note pyramid is somewhat similar yet just incredibly synthetic and unable to touch the 'organic' natural dry cedar of Royal Oud. Therefore the Lomani would not be a suitable substitute IMO, and I have both fragrances. Royal Oud doesn't smell youthful, and it's elegance demands it be worn with finer clothes such as a suit. It is wearable all seasons except hot summer days. It is not a beast, and considering the price you aren't getting great performance. Part of it may be that I get nose blind to it, and maybe others (hopefully) can still smell it. Even with the cons of performance and price this is still one of my favorite fragrances of all time, so thumbs up. I would never blind buy this but definitely get a decant. Royal Oud is an amazing, sophisticated, elusive fragrance.

A blast of green galbanum in the opening, which transitions to sweet and smoky woods. No oud accord to speak of, but this is an absolutely beautiful wood scent for fall and winter. I also sometimes pick up a vague impression of tobacco accord as it develops. One of my favorites from the line.

Creed is essentially a "dad cologne" house (and I say that not as a pejorative, but just an acknowledgment that the Creed lineup is fairly conservative in its style), and Royal Oud is no exception. This feels like a modern scent for the person who remembers what it was like when oakmoss was around. No oakmoss here, but the ambient, fuzzy greenness of Royal Oud feels like it's taking a path to a neighboring destination.

This spicy, green take on cedar (no oud in sight) wears lightly but wears well: an everyday cologne for a man of means whose tastes don't lineup with niche/luxury "statement" fragrances. Its effortlessness makes it my favorite of the Creed lineup from the last fifteen years. It's rich, but it's also linear and restrained, with the only development here being a shift from spiciness to a richer, deeper register, with a light, coumarin-style sweetness lingering in the base. The cedar here isn't a "pencil" cedar, but a satisfying "tree" cedar, bark and all.

Like any Creed, it's impossible to recommend at retail, but it's nevertheless a good one that feels destined to age well due to its limited market influence and its avoidance of cliches.