Amber Aoud

Amber Aoud, inspired by Roja Parfums Amber Aoud (2012)

Lemon, lime and bergamot flare up for a moment and then step aside for rose de mai, jasmine and a milky fig note. Ylang-ylang brings a banana-like, buttery floral tone. Underneath, oud gives a smooth woody depth while saffron and cinnamon add a spiced, leathery glow. Benzoin, a balsam with a vanilla-like scent, and ambergris, which smells salty and skin-like, carry the finish.

About the original

Roja Dove launched Amber Aoud at Harrods in 2012 as a Parfum, part of the Roja Aoud Collection. According to the brand, it followed three years of studying oud in the Middle East. The house describes it as rich and sensual with sweet, spicy, salty and woody facets. It is also sold in Roja's Crystal Parfum concentration, and the brand now trades as ROJA London. It should not be mixed up with Roja's plain Aoud, Musk Aoud, Sweetie Aoud or Amber Heritage, which are separate scents.

Our version

Ours is an independent eau de parfum made to evoke the same character. It is not Roja Parfums stock, not an official relaunch and not the original formula.

Who it suits

Its density is the point: this is amber layered with resin, spice and wood, with the citrus gone almost at once. In one review the oud comes across as smooth and slightly animalic, though the writer found the whole a little too sweet, so anyone wary of sugar should take note.

Related scents

• Roja Sweetie Aoud
• Kilian Amber Oud
• Jo Malone Velvet Rose & Oud

Notes of the original fragrance, as published by the brand.

Top notes: Lemon, Bergamot, Lime

Heart notes: Rose De Mai, Jasmine, Ylang-ylang, Fig

Base notes: Cinnamon, Saffron, Patchouli, Oakmoss, Sandalwood, Oud, Benzoin, Orris, Birch, Ambergris, Musk

The first moments are citrus, lemon and lime with bergamot, but they fade quickly.

Rose de mai and jasmine take over, with fig and ylang-ylang giving the floral heart a rounded, fruity body.

The base is the core of the scent: oud, saffron and cinnamon over patchouli, oakmoss, sandalwood, orris, birch, benzoin, ambergris and musk.

Is this Amber Aoud the Parfum or the Crystal Parfum?

The reference is the standard Roja Amber Aoud Parfum from 2012. Roja also sells a Crystal Parfum version; our product is an eau de parfum.

Does Amber Aoud smell strongly of oud?

Oud is clearly present but smooth, wrapped in rose, saffron, cinnamon and benzoin.

How is it different from Roja Sweetie Aoud?

Sweetie Aoud is a separate scent in the same Aoud Collection. Amber Aoud is built on rose, fig, spice, resins and ambergris.

Inside the EU, delivery is free on orders of €49 or more. Below that it is a flat €4.99. Outside the EU, delivery is a flat €4.99 on every order. We send every order in 1 to 2 working days. It arrives in 3 to 7 days across the EU and in 7 to 14 days outside the EU. You have 14 days to return an unopened bottle.

Roja Parfums and Amber Aoud are trademarks of their respective owners, and all rights remain with them. Parfumour is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or connected to Roja Parfums in any way, and no business relationship of any kind is implied. Our product is an original interpretation created to evoke a similar scent profile, and the trademark names are used purely for honest, descriptive comparison, so that you can quickly identify the style and fragrance family you are looking for. We make no claim to sell the original product, and we do not use the same ingredients or formula. Any similarity lies in the overall impression of the scent as interpreted by our own perfumers, not in the source materials.