Honey Oud

God this is gorgeous. A proper English oud, with deliciously fragrant red roses teeming with bee pollen (the effect of labdanum + honey), dipped in and dripping with luscious, ambery wildflower honey. Lightly leathery, slight sweetness; deeply amber of the highest natural order. Not by any means a synthetic-feeling amber, as found in most popular designer amber fragrances; the amber here is natural smelling, so deep, rich, and warm. This could never be cloying. When I wear this I literally hug myself. I love Honey Oud by Floris so much -- yet another British fragrance which makes me look forward to winter time (the others are Babylon + The Bewitching Yasmine by Penhaligons). Criminally underrated house, and I can't understand why. As their creations are pure elegance- oozing with the sophistication of generational wealth. Perhaps Floris is meant for truly wealthy people- such as aristocrats and millionaires. I don't care if Floris never trends. I'm proud to gatekeep something so beautiful. One day I wish to go to the London boutique for the bespoke experience. ❤️

Here we have Leather Oud's sweeter sibling. Yup, the two are rather similar at first glance (sniff), but the honey here makes all the difference for me. Leather Oud is amazing, don't get me wrong, but it's much more formal, more assertive. Honey Oud trades this for honey and the sweetness is amazing here, toned just right (honey can become very overwhelming). As such, it doesn't have the harshness of Tobacco Honey or the overbearing synthetic syrupiness of BTSO's Mad Honey. This is in line with Floris: classy, elegant and the honey here trades the assertiveness for sexiness. Longevity is excellent as would be expected from the DNA. Definitely cold season and ideal for a night out (especially for a date).

I found a sample included with another purchase, tried it and could not get it out of my mind. The honey is true and the oud brings out its rich dimensions full of golden sun and relaxation. The effect is something like the slow beauty of honey dripping like liquified magic hour sunlight. Those whose skin reacts badly to honey perfumes will not be able to wear this one, it’s very real. You know the notes already as listed above, the main thing is the experience which is warm inviting and distractingly beautiful. On the deeper side as compared to the more luminous, brighter Lutens Miel de Bois, which I also love, worth having both for those whose skin accepts a realist strong honey note as it is intended.

Unfortunately I have to report this has undergone a significant reformulation and the news isn't good. I got a decant off a friend, liked it very much. I was confused however why the votes here were predominately 'long lasting' for longevity. The opening lasted around an hour but then it was very light and close after that. Anyway I bought a used bottle off eBay, to my surprise it was way stronger. The opening lasted 3h and I had to be careful not to over-spray as it was very easy for it to get cloying whereas with the decant I was spraying liberally and topping up regularly.

Well, this is what happens when Sunday-best English rose gets a little too familiar with a jar of raw sourwood honey, dark agarwood learns to sit on a velvet parlor sofa, and warm vanilla decides to abandon all respectable behavior.