The scent itself is powder, characterized by amber and sandalwood of a luxurious interpretation in the opening. Musk and amber dominate its drydown.

And if you LOVE vanilla based scents, you can discover more on our best vanilla perfumes shootout (most are unisex). Absolute Aphrodisiac is more suited for the mature 25-up crowd and best worn in cool weather: fall & winter (avoid use in the high heat). The oud is woody and very fine, not a trace of animalistic and the smoky character it gets only in the later course. But there is always only one nuance and the smoky character never drowns out the woody part of the oud. There is a certain depth, or rather another layer, given to the fragrance by the oud, with the ostentatious sweetness providing the base note and the rest filling in the highs. The lavender provides a balanced freshness and nutmeg adds a bit of pep, so the fragrance finally becomes a bit more tangible, and they not only make the overall picture a bit more fruity in combination with the sweetness, but with the patchouli-musk base they also take responsibility for the masculine vein that is inherent in the fragrance. It should be mentioned that no note plays by itself, but all notes are well coordinated with each other. That makes all the notes individually recognizable, but if you concentrate on something else, even for a split second, the boundaries blur again and everything becomes one. After a few hours the oud gives way and becomes smokier and smokier, the patchouli takes up more space for itself and slowly comes to the fore, but without completely displacing the oud. As a result, the fragrance becomes increasingly velvety and grainy as time goes by, until it reaches the base note, which is surprisingly much more classic than the top note would have suggested. Once you get to the base note, the fragrance has shed its fruity character and appears somewhat drier and spicy, perhaps even a bit leathery. The oud no longer steams, the freshness fades away and it gets a bit cooler. One is left with a still image that doesn't change much in the picture, but only decreases in intensity.

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The final scent of this blend is open to interpretation, much like most Initio perfumes. Some find this sexy perfume to be very sensual. Others find it mostly smooth. This final category of people might think it’s smooth as the typical harsh tobacco note in perfumes is very subtle here and probably well-blended beyond expectations. Oud for Greatness opens the portal to our boldest dreams and most daring goals. It is dedicated to the full magnitude of our desires, united in a breathtaking fragrance that enchants, desires and inspires. Created from natural ingredients, Oud for Greatness reflects Initio's intention to create charismatic fragrances characterised by deep aesthetics. Less costly but just as good on the designer side, there’s Chopard Oud Malaki EDP, Gucci Intense Oud EDP and Versace Pour Homme Oud Noir EDP to sniff out. For the record, none of these contain real oud but they still capture its beauty using synthetic and natural materials. The fragrance cuts the best figure on special occasions and occasions. As soon as it begins to dawn, the cool night forms a beautiful contrast to the opulence and the full charm of the fragrance becomes apparent. The fragrance is unisex with a masculine tendency, without excluding the feminine.

But what is really frightening is how precisely and accommodatingly the fragrance Oud for Greatness performs this tightrope act. Yes! It’s designed for all genders, and I definitely think everyone can fall for its bright but subtly spicy tones. Although it has universal appeal, I think it feels slightly closer to a traditionally ‘masculine’ fragrance due to its hot, woody feel, but anyone who loves rich, opulent fragrances is sure to love Oud for Happiness. Initio Parfums Prives are a fairly new French luxury niche perfume house that are making waves in the fragrance community. If you’re looking for a room filler, this is NOT it. This is an intimate scent that sits closer to the skin and draws people in. Initio Absolutes is the largest category from the perfume-maker. This line includes Initio Absolute Aphrodisiac (for men and women), Initio Addictive Vibration (perfume for women), Initio Blessed Baraka (for men and women), Initio Divine Attraction (for men and women), and Initio Mystic Experience (for men and women).This fragrance boasts impressive longevity. Personally, it lasted around six hours for me, although you could still make out the delicate sensual, warm and vanillary musk base for slightly longer. Be careful not to overspray this one. You only need 1–2 sprays MAX or this could become annoying to others around you (it will fill a room!).

This is certainly the definition of a stand-out perfume. If you like to be in the center of attention, this is for you. A bit too bold for some men and women, this perfume comes with beast mode projection and you will be noticed in a room even when only applying 2 spritzs Now, as it dries down… some creamy vanilla and cinnamon morph with the rum and tobacco to leave you with a gorgeous smooth creamy sweet boozy tobacco scent. Dark, Rich & Sexy Sweet Rehab is part of Initio’s Hedonist collection (white bottles). This was a project to source super high quality natural ingredients to create a nearly all natural luxurious blend.This perfume is neither masculine nor feminine. You will try to categorize it yourself only to realize there’s no point to this approach. It smells sexy and it elevates this attractive sensual scent on almost any person. It then calms down to create a gorgeous scent bubble around you and lasts an impressive 7–10 plus hours. It’s easy to understand why Initio Oud for Happiness is so popular. Yes, it’s not particularly complex but it’s beautifully blended in a friendly Western style. Always apply the fragrance to your pulse points, and Initio always advise not to rub it in; always pat it in to let the molecules settle. Initio bottle the energy of oud, and pair it with the dynamic forces of sacred geometry. The fragrance nods to powerful symbols and ideology, as reflected in the bottle’s design. It ties into the concept of the Tree of Life, which symbolises the connection between the fertility of earth and heaven, the connection between mankind and God.