Oud Wood vs Black Oud

Side-by-Side Notes

How Black Oud Compares to Oud Wood

Put the two pyramids side by side and Black Oud covers roughly 25% of Oud Wood: 2 of 8 notes match. Both build around Amber and Vanilla — the backbone that makes the resemblance work.

Black Oud drops Oud Wood, Rosewood and Cardamom and substitutes Musk, Cedar and Herbal Notes, which shifts the character in the dry-down. Note lists only tell part of the story — materials and dosage decide how close it actually smells, which is what our AI similarity score weighs.

Black Oud Scores vs Oud Wood

1 comparisons run · How We Score

AI Verdict

Black Oud by Al Haramain captures the general warm, woody amber aesthetic of Oud Wood but diverges significantly in character. Tom Ford's version is refined, creamy, and sophisticated with genuine oud, rosewood, and cardamom nuance. Al Haramain's iteration leans darker, heavier, and more patchouli-forward with a musky, herbal quality that feels distinctly Middle Eastern rather than a true clone. The oud note is bolder and less polished. Longevity is impressive for the price point, often outlasting the EDP original. At $15-25, it offers strong value as a complementary fragrance, but fragrance enthusiasts seeking a true Oud Wood dupe should temper expectations — this is a spiritual cousin, not a twin.

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