Gold

Gold pitches itself as an oud fragrance, but this is oud by way of sweet shop rather than traditional distillation—a confection that winks at Middle Eastern opulence whilst remaining firmly tethered to Western gourmand sensibilities. The opening promises something austere with its oud and guaiac wood billing, but what actually materialises is a jammy, honeyed jasmine that's been drenched in vanilla syrup and rolled in amber resin. The aniseed in the heart adds an unexpected liquorice twist, creating an almost Pontefract cake effect against the sandalwood's creamy backdrop, whilst the cedarwood attempts—with limited success—to inject some structural integrity into proceedings.

This is sweetness with a capital S, the kind that arrives in a cloud of sugared flowers and never quite lets up. The oud here feels decorative rather than transformative, more of a dark caramel note than anything medicinal or animalic. Ylang ylang weaves through the base with its banana-custard richness, conspiring with vanilla to create something that sits closer to salted caramel than sacred resin. It's the fragrance equivalent of gilded baroque furniture—ornate, unabashed, and utterly lacking in minimalist restraint.