Oud Bleue Intense does indeed have a strangely “blue” vibe to it. Bracing and intense, its mixture of marine air, earth, truffles, and ozone is simply intoxicating. Opening with an earthy, fungal myrrh fused with oily sandalwood, the scent picks up spice in the form of nutmeg and cardamom but retains that cool tone. A bright mandarin note weaves it way through the resins and spices, keeping things as fresh as a Mediterranean breeze. The citrus, myrrh, and spices continue to dominate well into the heart, where they merge smoothly with a rich, balsamic amber. In what has become a signature of Fragrance du Bois, the pure oud oil in this composition is deployed as a unifying balm to knit all the other elements together rather than to stand out on its own. If you’re wary of oud but love fresh, spicy, balsamic ambers, then give this one a try. It’s superb.
