This Fragrance Is as Dear as Gold

Image via Dior, Sephora, Georgio Armani Beauty and Neiman Marcus

Oud, a dark resinous heartwood that forms on trees in the South East of Asia has been gaining popularity this year. The core ingredient in a number of perfumes today, was initially used by Middle Eastern families in their homes.

Demand for oud has driven its price up to $500 a kilogram which produces only one ml of its oil. It has come to be called by industry insiders as liquid gold.

And why wouldn’t demand rise when fashion houses like Dior, Tom Ford and Armani are creating scents with oud as the core. Leather Oud by Dior for starters is a heady mix of oud, leather, sandalwood and cedar. Oud Wood, by Tom Ford is a rare combination of oud, rosewood, cardamom, vanilla, sandalwood and tonka bean.

Armani Prive has its own scent with oud called Oud Royal. This has notes of oud, amber, spices, incense and myrrh. Then there is Habit Rouge by Guerlain. This one is composed of lime, oranges, leather, cedar, cinnamon, vanilla, patchouli, oud and amber.

It is simply not a surprise that this scent found in hearts of trees in South East Asia is called liquid gold