The Different Company
The Different Company
165 votes
A unique visual signature based on accords, character, and seasonality
Whisky's alcohol burn cuts through immediately, setting a reckless tone whilst saffron and cumin create a spice-forward blast that's almost savoury rather than sweet. The aldehydes add a subtle brightness, preventing the boozy opening from becoming too murky, though you're left in no doubt this is something unconventional and masculine-leaning.
Tuberose emerges with fleshy, almost creamy intensity, but clove and iris snap back with sharp elegance, creating a fascinating tug-of-war. Sandalwood creeps beneath, and the fragrance becomes increasingly sensual, the spice settling into background warmth whilst florals gain ground—though never prettiness takes hold.
The oud finally reveals itself fully now, smoky and woody rather than animalic, supported by caramel's subtle sweetness and that creeping castoreum warmth. Vetiver and patchouli create an earthy, skin-scent base with hyraceum's leather-like dryness lingering longest, leaving something intimate and faintly indecent on the skin.
*Oud For Love* is Bertrand Duchaufour's paradox: a fragrance that demands respect whilst remaining utterly seductive. This is oud without piety—no temple incense solemnity here. Instead, the whisky top note immediately establishes a boozy, almost debauched character, spiked with saffron's peppery heat and cumin's earthiness. It's the olfactory equivalent of leather armchairs and late-night conversations.
The heart reveals Duchaufour's true craft. Tuberose and ylang ylang arrive with almost obscene richness, their honeyed thickness clashing deliciously against iron-sharp iris and clove's medicinal bite. Sandalwood anchors this floral excess, preventing it from tipping into cloying territory. There's tension here—a push-pull between creamy florals and austere spice that keeps the composition thrilling rather than comforting.
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4.3/5 (561)