The 16 Best Oud Fragrances for Men

How about we start you with the weirdest option? Orto Parisi is Alessandro Gualtieri's project that's obsessed with earthy and animalic smells, where Gualtieri, a genius nose, says "[The smells] have become unpleasant to us, because the excess of soul is intolerable to the extent that our innate animalism is repressed and breaking from civilization." We love this esoteric freak...

The marketing around Stercus tells you it's meant to smell like shit, literal shit. It doesn't, don't worry. It does, however, lean into what oud really is, a fungus off a tree that's trying to not be eaten alive. Animalic leather, florals, and aldehydes give Stercus a wet forest-y tinge that gets the point across. That said, oud and a general woodiness anchor the whole thing. Maybe don't wear it to meet their parents, but it's a perfectly acceptable winter-time dinner party scent.

Inspired by exotic desert journeys, Louis Vuitton's Ombre Nomade combines notes of rich oud, rose, and saffron with delicate wisps of bright raspberry and incense. It's a complex aroma that's totally signature scent-worthy.

The Moon from Julien Rasquinet for Frédéric Malle is known as a very, very long lasting and large sillage fragrance. If you want to be associated with a scent, this'll do that.

It helps that it's a wonderful oud, if a bit divisive. There's a touch of rose. And it's listed as having a fruity accord running through it, but depending on your body, you might just get straight oud and leather. If you can find the fruit in it, it's really lovely.

Wonderwood is a CDG classic, and this interpretation leans slightly into the smokier, more funky world of oud. But it doesn't lean very far. If you want pure oud, look elsewhere. If you want compliments and an agreeable woody scent, this is you're pick.

Heady oud is at the heart of this aptly named Gucci scent, expertly balanced by floral notes of Bulgarian rose and orange blossom. Mysterious and seductive, it’s perfect for date night and leaves behind an intoxicating trail.

One of our all-time favorite colognes, this Tom Ford scent is a warm, spicy mélange of oud, Szechuan pepper, cardamom, and sandalwood. A bestseller from the brand's original line, it continues to be a crowd favorite because it smells incredible on literally every man.

Ranger Station is a Nashville-based perfumer that makes all its scents there. The vibe, as such, is very country music. That's not what you'd normally associate with Oud, but it really, really works.

Here, Oud plays rhythm to Palo Santo's lead. Palo Santo makes it western and gives it that dude ranch name, but Oud—along with that spicy pepper running through it—keeps it interesting. It's dry, yes, but that makes it pretty versatile and layer-able.

While Initio's original Oud for Greatness might get all the attention, don't sleep on its newer Neo iteration. Aromatic notes of lavender, bergamot, and fir balsam smooth out oud’s intensity, making this a surprisingly versatile, laidback scent for any season or occasion.

If I could bottle the feeling of lounging in silk sheets in a penthouse suite, this would be it. An elegant blend of oud, rose, violet and vanilla amber, it's best worn with a heavy dose of confidence—and don’t be surprised if your girlfriend tries to steal a spritz.

Not all oud fragrances lean dark and wintery—this Maison Crivelli pick is ideal for warm weather, thanks to its juicy passionfruit note. It also boasts a higher concentration of fragrance oils, so it lingers on the skin all day.

Arabians Tonka is the kind of head-turning scent that earns compliments the moment you enter a room. Inspired by the fiery spirit of Arabian horses, it features notes of oud, saffron, tonka bean, and amber and is exceptionally long-lasting.

Prefer a scent that whispers rather than shouts oud? This Versace pick is decidedly more subdued, with supporting aromas of neroli, black pepper, and cardamom. While it's not the most intense or longest-lasting scent on this list, its subtle composition means you can wear it to the office without offending your coworkers.

Chris Collins' indulgent pairing of dark chocolate, hazelnut, oud, and resinous wood oozes sex appeal. But don't worry, you won't smell like straight-up dessert—grounding notes of sandalwood and benzoin resin keep the scent feeling sophisticated.

A nod to 18th-century French haute parfumerie, Parfums de Marly's Haltane is the perfect balance of rich and refreshing. Blending silky oud with bergamot, clary sage, cedar, and praline, it's a mature scent that's best paired with knitwear on crisp winter days.

Brooklyn-based fragrance brand DS & Durga is known for its unique, eclectic scents, and Notorious Oud is no exception. It opens with cooling camphor and earthy saffron, then settles into a warm, smoky base. Synthetic animal musks like civet and cetalox enhance oud's sultry, skin-like qualities, so don't be surprised if people around you lean in for another whiff.

If you find most oud fragrances to be too smoky, Jo Malone's Oud & Bergamot cologne will make you a convert. This zesty cologne opens with a burst of bergamot and orange, before drying down into a soothing oud and cedar skin scent. It's on the lighter side, so it's great for oud virgins.

We know a thing or two about grooming. From our annual Grooming Awards and Cologne Awards to our frequent roundups of the best products for your skin, hair, and more, we're constantly testing out products and selecting the very best ones for you. These are all fragrances we swear by, and you will too once you try 'em out. We've put in the work and done our due diligence to curate these oud colognes for you—and now you get to enjoy them.