Philly & Phill
Philly & Phill
111 votes
A unique visual signature based on accords, character, and seasonality
A brilliant assault of orange peel and pink pepper, almost savoury with nutmeg's immediate earthiness grounding the citrus. Within moments, you're aware this is spiced and woody—the orange reads less as a top note cheerleader and more as a peppery accent to the fragrance's true temperament.
The plum emerges with vinous sweetness, softening into a rose-cinnamon duet that's both floral and spiced, whilst the oud begins its gradual ascent from the background. The vanilla arrives here too, not as caramel or gourmand richness, but as a creamy underpinning that prevents the spice from becoming abrasive. The composition settles into its most balanced phase—all accords represented, none dominating.
Vanilla and oud become the primary conversation, with the rose retreating to a subtle floral suggestion rather than a presence. The cinnamon and spice fade to a woody-amber haze, creating a soft, slightly powdered finish that retains warmth without intensity. What remains is closer to incense than perfume—meditative, skin-scent intimate, with whispers of that initial spiced citrus still detectible if you search for it.
Out at the Opera Glamorous Aoud announces itself with the brash confidence of someone who's just walked into a spotlight. The opening volley of orange and pink pepper creates an almost citrus-spiced effervescence, immediately complicated by nutmeg's woody warmth—this isn't bright citrus, but rather citrus filtered through a spice cabinet, rendered dusty and slightly austere. What emerges over the first few minutes is a fragrance deeply committed to tension: the plum in the heart arrives with unexpected ripeness, its jammy sweetness playing against rose that's rendered almost peppery by the lingering spice accord, whilst cinnamon deepens the woody character without tipping into gourmand territory. This is where the oud enters the equation—not as a dominant force, but as a shadowy presence that lends the composition a leathered, slightly animalic quality beneath the florals.
The overall character is deliberately theatrical; there's an operatic sensibility to its construction, all drama and deliberate contrasts rather than seamless blending. The woody-spicy DNA dominates (100% and 88% respectively), yet the sweet accord tempers what could have been austere, creating something that feels both sophisticated and slightly decadent. The 52% amber accord provides crucial warmth and connectivity, binding the disparate elements into something cohesive.
Add fragrances to your collection and unlock your personalised scent DNA, note map, and shareable identity card.
3.6/5 (106)