I’m a violinist in Southern California. My family can not stand most fragrances so I tend toward unisex, earthy, woody, Middle Eastern fragrances. I was excited to click on an Instagram ad for Oakcha’s Oud Collection Sample Set. This was my first time trying Oud fragrance … and I LOVED it!
The packaging was lovely, and it’s great to find an Oud set that is vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free and phthalate- free. Wearing a fragrance feels SO much better knowing it is less harmful to myself, animals, and the environment.
Before I tried any of them, I played a little game for myself and drew tarot cards asking what each fragrance would be like for me to wear.
I wore a different one every day for six days. First thing I noticed is because there is no atomizer spray on these sample bottles, I dabbed oil from the cap on my wrist and hair, which smelled great but very strong that way. Each fragrance in the collection had its own effect. Here were the ones that stood out.
Based on my tarot card drawing I tried Ocean of Gold (two of cups) first, and fell in love. If I could bottle my fantasies it would be this fragrance. Spices open into earthy sandalwood, and dries down with Oud and vanilla, which adds a subtle sweetness without being overpoweringly “sweet.” I was lifeguarding that day so I asked my 25 year old male coworker to smell my fragrance, who even let out a little sigh when he smelled it. Then I asked a 75 year old male patron to smell my fragrance, and the faraway…