The Scoop
Oud De Grasse is the single most challenging and time-consuming perfume Taha Syed has ever produced. Classically chypre to the bone, you might think it would be a relatively easy task considering he produced other chypre perfumes in the past (Oud Chypre, Cuir Chypre, and Cuir Et Bois). But this time, he took on a more daunting task: to create something in the vein of acclaimed giants like Mitsuoko, Aramis, and Chypre Extraordinaire.
To do so, he had to completely rewire his nose and delve deeply into the study of synthetic compounds- the cornerstone of modern perfumery as we know it. For this reason, Oud De Grasse is quite likely the most “un-Taha” perfume produced to date. Twangy tonka, grapefruit, and Mexican juniper take the lead. Geranium and patchouli provide a rich, herbaceous aroma in the heart, while warm and deep notes of amber, sandalwood, oak moss (natural!), and the faintest hint of civet serve as a comforting and long-lasting base.
Sustainable Thai oud and wild-crafted Burmese oud permeate every peak and valley of the scent profile. In fact, Oud De Grasse has the highest concentration of oud in any of Taha’s creations. Those who are familiar with the scent profiles of Thai and Burmese oud oils may be able to detect the oud component; however, the oud was deliberately utilized to merely enrich the aroma, lending depth and richness to the other ingredients.
Oud De Grasse is primarily composed of natural ingredients, and the whole idea behind its creation was to reveal how a mostly-synthetic scent genre would smell when life is breathed into it with rich, natural materials.
