Oudh al Misk

Rasasi's Oudh al Misk announces itself with an almost aggressive citrus declaration—grapefruit and bergamot colliding with a peppery galbanum that cuts through like shattered glass. There's an anise-tinged herbalism from the clary sage that prevents this from becoming a straightforward sunshine fragrance; instead, you're greeted by something more architectural, more deliberately constructed. As the opening settles, geranium softens the edges with its slightly green, slightly powdery character, whilst jasmine adds a whisper of creamy florality that prevents the composition from feeling austere.

The real intrigue emerges in the base. Here, Rasasi has layered a substantial wooden foundation—cedarwood and sandalwood provide warm, almost dusty scaffolding—atop which sits a musk accord that's conspicuously animalic. This isn't the clean, synthetic musk of mainstream fragrances; there's a skin-scent quality, an intimacy that suggests something older and more complex. The patchouli adds earthy weight, whilst ambergris contributes a subtle sweetness that prevents the composition from becoming dry or austere. Vetiver threads through with mineral freshness.