The lilacs and lilies, those notes of honeydew and apricot, the sumptuous melange of oud resin, flowers, and fruit has made Oud Yusuf one of the most beloved ouds ever.
Anybody who knows something about oud, knows Oud Yusuf.
If there was ever an oud that was made to be turned into a perfume, it would be Oud Yusuf. If there was ever an ‘oud perfume’ worthy of that title, it’s what you’ve got here.
Actually, after a spritz of Oud Yusuf, anyone who’s tried a bunch of oud perfumes wouldn’t know what hit them. The ‘oud’ note in all those perfumes is courtesy of cheap fermented Laotian ouds or the even cheaper artificial concoction shared by nearly all of them. Instead of that dark ‘oudy’ image those are about, Oud Yusuf is pretty. Delectable. A sweet woodiness that, once you’ve smelled it, you know what all the praise is about.
As far as I’m concerned, Oud Yusuf is my first oud perfume.
Other perfumes may have contained oud, often copious amounts of it, but the oud was used to complement a theme build around musk or iris, tobacco or blue lotus.
But in Oud Yusuf, the auxiliary aromatics and botanicals all serve to serenade the star of the show: OUD.
This exclusive edition jams those lilacally apricot chords, along with rose and a gourmand chef’s favorite spices into a bottle of what must be one of the most beautiful perfumes.
Featured Testimonials…
A first spray on the hot and humid walk from DHL bag to Subway car delivers what my brain fully expected (so take it, perhaps, as expectation shaping reality): sweet, honeyed apricots and blonde woody facets. It got more interesting at home where—for context—I do not have the original Oud Yusuf perfume but did swipe some Yusuf Royale oil.
They are intriguingly different.
Where the oil debuts (and keeps chugging ahead) with a caramelized, fruity sweetness, the drier perfume leads with dustier kinamic vibes. Fruit emerges, but it’s more effervescent (perhaps leaning sparkling orange more than milky peach.) Thankfully, the blend (so far) is not as sweet as I imagined it “could” be. The florals feel meatier, slightly camphorous, and the wood—rich and a tad bit smokey— is more pronounced. What wood, you ask? Cacau nibs. Yes, wood I need to gnaw on. Not bombastic, but absolutely beautiful and devoutly “Yusuf” at its core. But it’s a mere 1 hour in… so what do I know? 😉
I must confess that Oud Yusuf is the most beautiful oud perfumes I have ever smelt.
The high concentration of essential oils gives it an unparalleled texture, and the fragrance it produces, a fusion of fruity and woody aromas, adds more to its lure.
No oud perfume has ever achieved this extent of elegance, left me such a remarkable olfactory experience. A perfume that fits very much the aesthetic of East Asia.
Thank you for bringing this to us. Masterpiece! – Miqi Pan, China
I’m enjoying the beautiful Oud Yusuf. How nice to be reunited with the first oud I ever smelled. Brings to mind Kipling’s quote, “…smells like morning in paradise.” Thanks so very much. – Beverly, USA
This is the perfume that designer “Oud” fragrances wish they could be. It is truly a gem! – TJ, USA
This perfume reminds me of home. I don’t even know how to write a response to this. It reminds me of my home country Vietnam when the smell of smoke at the altar was in the air while monks tried to keep us from leaving the mountain. So many childhood memories triggered. Mostly memories of feeling at home. This perfume is priceless. – Joaquin, Vietnam
I received my Oud Yusuf. Let me express my absolutely deepest respect and admiration for your exquisite craftmanship. You have given me THE greatest, most joyful experience in thirty years of perfume collecting. My deepest respect. – Josef, Sweden
I’d say it’s more about apricot and lilacs, which were really prominent in the oil itself. I think up until that point Thais only exhibited fruits and resins but not really florals like lilac and definitely not apricot.
Ensar seems to have pronounced these traits but there’s a defined woodiness as well as strong floral overtones. It’s such an interesting fragrance that has no comparison in my opinion.
It’s straight up Oud-centric. More so than any other fragrance he’s released. The drydown is pure Oud oleoresins and if you’ve smelled Oud Yusuf before you’ll recognize that drydown in an instant. It lasts for hours. – Aaron, USA
Oud Yusuf and Homeros are both incredible but very very different. Yusuf is built entirely around the oud and its facets, and while the experience is amazing every time I wear it, it stays consistent. Homeros is an entirely different animal. I’ve probably gotten a dozen full wearings out of it now, and each and every one of them has been different. Every wearing different notes take center stage and the nuances are always showing me something new. Sometimes I get loads of cedar, sometimes leather. Sometimes it’s all about the oud, and one time the citrus was singing to me almost through the entire life of the fragrance. I don’t know if this effect is as pronounced for others as it is for me, but it still blows my mind every time I put it on. Probably the most complex bottle in my collection, and one of my favorites. – Ryan, USA
Ok… So, I bit on the Oud Yusuf!!! So worth it!!
I actually just found myself saying out loud to myself – “I smell so f@#&ing good it’s ridiculous!!”
No reviews yet – I’m probably going to wear this one for another week before being able to describe it – it’s soooo complex and luxurious!!
I was almost nervous about posting this cuz I’ve been thinking I may have to get a second bottle! – Cristina, USA
Oud Yusuf Parfum is nothing short of amazing to me. I’ve tried other oud forward from artisanal houses and nothing has checked my “oud box” like Oud Yusuf. That apricot opening is so juicy while the added florals fills the composition and myself with a soft pillow of bliss. – Drew, Japan
It’s a joy-breeding stunner. I am near my wood burner listening to Hans Zimmer with the now firmly in calm focus. Masterpiece.
My humble gratitude to you all. I am in peace. So glad the universe gave us Ensar Oud. – John, UK
The scent is truly exquisite. This feels like a journey of completion in a bottle. Absolutely stunning…. Now if you’ll excuse me I’m going to continue basking in the cloud of this absolutely magical concoction. I was going to write a review but the language part of my brain pretty much said, “You want me to put this into words?!” when I smelled it. – Royce, USA
This. This is special… Ensar Oud has really created something amazing here.
While you’re initially greeted with the wonderful sandalwood and musk signature of EO parfums, you also get the buzz in the brain that only comes from oud. After the initial blast though, that’s when the true beauty of this creation comes to life. About 5-10 minutes into my first wear, the EO base quietly stepped back, and the sweetness of the apricot starts coming through.
Subtle, yet present, sweet, but not overpowering. It’s wonderfully balanced, artistic, and also both exciting and entrancing. I love many from the house, but if first impressions are any indicator, this, to date, may be his magnum opus. – Chris, USA
Initial impressions Oud Yusuf:
Fairly new to the oud world and the perfume world all together. Started collecting fragrances right before the virus and during which time I’ve acquired numerous amounts (over 30) niche fragrances. Oud Yusuf is my fourth oud fragrance so dont have a lot of experience with ouds.
Opening:
· Starts off with a punch of the smoothest oud with basically zero barnyard or sharp tones. At first the apricot is more flowery and airy and a tad sweet.
Drydown:
· The oud obviously is the main player here so sticks around throughout the drydown being an oud focus scent. Then the apricot turns into a more dried fruit scent with a hint of resins, maybe a light hint of leather.
So far, I’m in love with it, really happy with the purchase and the overall quality of Ensar’s products (which I have 3 of now). Oud Yusuf is definitely my favorite of the few i‘ve smelled. – Mathew, USA
My head is spinning right now! I’ve never had a mind buzz effect from a spray-on perfume before NOW! Sesquiterpenes Galore! Oud Yusuf opens with a leathery Oud punch in the face, and then slowly unveiled its mind buzzing effect on me. In the heart I get Oud, Oud, and more Oud, supported with what I perceive to be purple flowers, and tart natural aldehydes. Some say the drydown reminds them of lillies, but in my opinion, I get a soft lavender effect, as if I’m wandering through a purple field in full bloom. Through the air, I can smell sage bushes in the distance, along with peach trees, and roses in full bloom. The earth is alive, and its scent is captured perfectly in this bottle. The closest comparison I can draw this to is Di-Ser’s and Balkrishnan’s composition Keman, but this is denser, and more resinous. This is the feel-good perfume of your dreams. The quote on the website is right: don’t think, just buy! – Jono, USA
It’s accessible and complex at the same time. I love all the other perfumes but they usually take a few wears for me to begin understand them. Yusuf was instantly accessible but now the more I wear it the more complex it gets. – Andy, USA
So, I decided to take Yusuf to Michigan Ave, in Chicago, for the inaugural wearing. It was cold, but we were wearing our leather jackets. And man, did Yusuf show me a good time! – Anthony, USA
It arrived and it is fantastic… very, very special and unique oud swirl. What a beauty! I’m considering buying a 2nd just for a backup…
20 minutes: spray on my left upper palm… and the leatherish notes are conquering the direct air around my… it is a leather scent super, super strong… Marquis de Sade would have an instant b*ner over this one… sooo nice… I take it to sleep with me!!!! – Walter, Belgium
Indeed, the most beautiful Oud Yusuf. I never had a chance to try the OG. But I believe the parfum version is beautifully crafted. Lilac and apricot and a well-blended rose play a beautiful symphony here.
Outstanding presentation with gold finishing plated on the bottle – Kazu, USA
In all seriousness, if you like Oud with floral elements like apricot, jammy and resinous, swirling into gorgeously creamy woody dry-down that lasts for ages and makes the mind slightly numb… Don’t think, just buy it. – Ryan, Canada
Touchdown in Berlin. I never tried the original Oud Yusuf, but now I understand why this is possibly the prettiest oud you can wear. Now spending time with this bottled flowery apricot-pie-oud-goodness. – Tom, Germany
I think, more and more people should be able to sniff it. What an amazing scent. The presentation, the color of the juice and the smell, everything is quite satiating about this fragrance.
This is a compete fragrance. In my opinion, the heart of this fragrance lies in the balance that has been achieved here. The bitter and the sweet, the bright and the dark, the florals and the resins buttress each other, creating a delightful experience. It’s flamboyant and baroque but succeeds to be modest at the same time. Very far away from the land of young punks looking for panty droppers, this is the style statement of a romantic lover. The hint of earthiness in the heart is balanced by faint powdery-ness from flowers. I believe slight green jasmine and rose are playing the symphony here. A mild acrid-ness is well complemented by dried fruits. I picture florals and dried fruit leather with woody floral oud in the background. Does the base have a bit of civet? The base, what do I say about the base. Pure bliss. Gives me impressions of a dark burgundy or a Bordeaux.
Ensar’s signature is ubiquitous. What an amazing fragrance! It smells natural. Off hand and effortless. But that does not mean it is a simple scent. I understand it has many many layers. A lot of hard work is evident from how all the notes play into each other. As some vice human said, “Balance isn’t something you achieve, ‘someday’”. I am glad that I was online at the right time and clicked to buy it, right before it got sold out. Now, my EO2 leather pouch bottle has a new friend in my scent cabinet. Feels like it was created with me in mind. – Himanshu, USA
This beautiful oud scent goes with the name “Prophet Yusuf, as revered for his noble character and outstanding beauty”. Surely this inspired Ensar to create this heavenly beauty.
The finest organic Trat oud I have ever smelt, with a hypnotic fruity aroma that messes with your senses. I get beautiful frangipani kicking in, which blends really well with oud and also possibly some iris. No barnyard smell—I wouldn’t expect that anyway.
I get ripe apricots at the initial stage, then it settles down into that beautiful, amazing Thai oud. This can be worn by men or women to any occasion.
I am so pleased to have this in my possession. This is the real deal. Real oud! It’ll beat any oud based frags from Selfridges, etc., not to mention names…
Well done to Ensar Oud and his team. This sits right at the top of the list for best oud perfume. I hope Ensar makes more oud-based perfumes similar to this in the future. (I know he loves his musk-based perfumes, which I have and admire and love.) – Muzakkir, UK
Santa really does exist. He rode a DHL sleigh all the way to Canada and delivered this on the night before Christmas.
Small test spray has me believing in magic! The Mrs: “Oh, that smells amazing.”
It’s -33° outside but this little magic potion is keeping the whole house warm. – Ryan, Canada