Driftwood

Subtitle: Bold, masculine-leaning and surprisingly smooth in the drydown

I’ve had some rough experiences with oud, so I approached Driftwood cautiously. The oud is unmistakable from the first spray, and one spray is plenty. It’s powerful, but never harsh or offensive.

Although marketed as unisex, it leans distinctly masculine to my nose. For the first hour, the oud dominates so strongly that the other notes are difficult to distinguish. I even layered a touch of vanilla over it, and Driftwood still remained firmly in control.

After three to four hours, it softens into a creamy, slightly powdery drydown while keeping its woody depth. That’s when I really appreciated how well the oud was handled.

It’s not necessarily one I’d reach for personally, but it’s beautifully composed, long-lasting, and perfectly suited for a man. I’d much rather smell this on someone else.

If a person is not familiar with oud fragrances, this is an excellent extremely mild oud fragrance to start that olfactory journey. I personally feel like it is in Oud Malaki territory at a significantly lower price point. I'm more of an Oud Zarian, Royal Oud or even M7 person myself but certainly appreciate this milder take.