Le labo Oud 27

Sometimes, it takes more than understanding a scent to be able to review it. You can smell something and instantly relate it to different things, yet everything you relate it to smells extremely different from each other. What if I told you there’s a scent that reminds me of gasoline, varnish, oud dipped in kerosene, airy wine, a freshly bathed animal, or even stepping out in summer wearing a freshly laundered T-shirt? Some scents are more of an experience. As is the case with Oud 27.

Opening with a blast of aldehydes, civet, and gasoline-like oud, this scent starts strong — extremely masculine and airy. The aroma carries a noticeable tinge, which most people would describe as “pissy.” I, however, would call it a great rendition of musk and oud. What the scent then reveals is a vetiver and wood combination that contributes to its airy nature. For a scent in this genre, it is extremely fresh and light. As it dries down further, the oud, ambergris, civet, and aldehydes settle together for the remainder of the wear. This isn’t a scent that keeps changing every few minutes, but one that maintains its dimension beautifully throughout.

Some say unwearable. Some say urine. Some say cheap and plasticky. I get none of that. I get a beautiful, high-quality creation from the house of Le Labo. I get a similar scent when I wash my cat and she sits in the sun. I get something similar at the gas station. I get something similar when I walk past a house being redone. I get something similar when I wear a good-quality oud and sweat it out in the heat. I get funk — but it is clean. I get musk — but it is polished. I get woods, naturally drenched in gasoline.

The creation is a work of art, as are most Le Labo fragrances — Patchouli 24 being another favourite. One aspect I truly enjoy about the brand is its transparency: from the beautiful, minimal presentation to listing the number of ingredients used in each fragrance next to its name. The scents remain artistic, beautifully crafted, and high quality. Unfortunately, Oud 27 is another gem that has been discontinued. A work of art lost — whether because the masses didn’t appreciate it, because it became too expensive to produce, or for some other reason.