Oud Save The King

Oud Save The King, inspired by Atkinsons Oud Save The King (2013)

Bergamot and Earl Grey tea give the start a crisp, citrus-scented brightness, the familiar smell of a freshly brewed cup. Within minutes it turns quieter and more textural, as iris brings a cool, rooty powder and a suede accord adds the feel of brushed leather. The oud accord is woody and restrained rather than barnyard or medicinal, and sandalwood rounds the base with a smooth, milky dryness.

About the original

Amandine Clerc-Marie of Firmenich composed Oud Save The King, which Atkinsons released in December 2013 together with Oud Save The Queen, at selected retailers including Harrods. Both scents take their story from the 1920s romance between Egyptian Crown Prince Mohammed Ali Ibrahim and Hollywood actress Mabel Normand. The brand paired British tea and suede with oud and sandalwood to reflect the prince's heritage. Launch press described the oud accord as a blend that includes cypriol, Atlas cedar, gurjun balsam and guaiac wood.

Our version

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

Who it suits

A good first oud for someone wary of the note. The tea and iris keep it dry and refined, and nothing in the pyramid is sugary. Buyers expecting the dark, smoky oud of the Middle Eastern style may find it too polite.

Related scents

• Atkinsons Oud Save The Queen
• Atkinsons His Majesty the Oud

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

Top notes: Earl Grey Tea, Bergamot

Heart notes: Iris, Suede

Base notes: Sandalwood, Oud

It begins with Earl Grey: bergamot peel and black tea, fresh and slightly tannic.

Iris and suede form the middle. The iris smells of cool root and faint powder, and the suede gives it a soft, brushed-leather surface.

Sandalwood and the oud accord finish it, woody and smooth.

Is Oud Save The King a men's or women's fragrance?

Atkinsons does not state a gender, but it was launched as the King half of a pair with Oud Save The Queen, which leans floral. The King is the drier, leather-and-iris side.

How does it differ from Oud Save The Queen?

Both open on Earl Grey tea and bergamot. The King moves to iris and suede over sandalwood; the Queen moves to jasmine and orange blossom over guaiac wood.

Does it smell strongly of oud?

The oud here is an accord, which launch press says blends cypriol, cedar, gurjun balsam and guaiac wood, and it sits alongside tea, iris and suede.

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.

Atkinsons and Oud Save The King are trademarks of their respective owners, and all rights remain with them. Parfumour is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or connected to Atkinsons 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.