This is a surprisingly good attempt at a simulated oud - without the endangered oud. Iris and neroli give a brief whiff of a floral opening, but neither is particularly strong, and they soon give way to the heart notes. They’ve used a very rich, jammy rose to simulate oud’s pungent richness, and amber for the resin and wood element. It helps that Shay & Blue list the exact chemical components of their compositions and exactly what each is supposed to emulate, because in addition to the rose and amber they’re used eugenol for the oud scent. Eugenol is present in the essential oils extracted from plants such as clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, basil, and bay leaf. As such, it’s function here is to add a dash of woody spice. The rich, jammy rose, the resinous amber, and the spicy, woody eugenol all mixed together do a fairly decent job of simulating oud’s pungent, funky scent that is at once so divisive, off-putting to some and addictive to others. But I will concede that it isn’t a perfect match. The rose is almost too jammy, and oud’s funkiness is a little drier and more animalic. However, given the rarity of oud nowadays, this is a worthy substitute. Another point in its favour is that over time, as the opening dries down and the base notes become more prominent, the fragrance does feel less jammy and becomes drier and woodier; in other words, it increasingly smells closer to real oud over time. I would definitely consider this if I want an oud-centred fragrance.

This is a beautiful fragrance but I felt it was a little too masculine for me, delighted to have the opportunity to try the sample and I’ll be trying some more when they are back in stock

Brought this tester amazing looking to buy the large bottle but can't find it

Just beautiful, very evocative of sultry Arabian nights. Long lasting but not overpowering.

Thanks to being able to buy the smaller volumes and tester samples I now have many Shay and Blue fragrances in my library and I love them all. Having said that Black Tulip is my very favorite but Amber Oud Ahad is very close behind.

Nice scent but too feminine for a guy

Lovely gentle scent with a strong staying power. Enough in the bottle to give enough for a few days use.

Great way of choosing a favourite.. only downside is I love them all ..never wore perfume until I was given a handbag size ‘blood orange’ 2 years ago ..now my only problem is choosing which one to wear ..

Unique fragrance, but It reminds me of the past time.

Love the perfume it will become my go to

wonderfully complex perfume, long lasting as well