As a result of this greatness being released by the Initio Parfums Prives in 2018, it was met with an explosion of impressions and remarks – some were tempted to regard it as just another oud fragrance, whereas others immediately placed it as a scent that must be taken seriously.
Those of you who are unfamiliar with Initio’s fragrance craftsmanship know that they only use natural, raw materials to create their fragrances, and the Oud For Greatness is no exception to that rule. The name says it all, this dark masterpiece is made from natural oud and natural agarwood oil. Or is it?
As oud is one of the most expensive natural ingredients in the perfumery industry, the majority of perfume houses are manipulating various aroma chemicals in order to recreate the scent of natural oud.
Let’s find out if Oud For Greatness by Initio is worth the hefty price, if it contains the real oud, and if it is really the best oud fragrance. Let’s get to the bottom of this review.
Do you know how Oud For Greatness smells?
Initio’s Oud For Greatness by Initio is a classy, warm, and a little dark oud-based perfume that many people reported that it reminded them of his earlier fragrances. However, there is no question that Oud For Greatness is extremely unique in terms of composition and scent.
According to Initio Parfums Prive, notes are:
Top notes:
- Saffron
- Nutmeg
- Lavender
Heart notes:
- Natural Oud
- Agarwood
Base notes:
- Patchouli
- Musk
Oud For Greatness opens with the aroma of Saffron dominating the opening notes, which is very evident when you use it for the first time. The nutmeg in this bomb is what makes it so unique and interesting, because it adds a touch of spice to the bomb, and it blends wonderfully with the saffron as the main note, and a hint of lavender to make it seem so unique and interesting.
In the opening, it is possible to detect an essence of oud and agarwood but they are not dominant or dominant; it is more of a shadow that waits patiently to take its turn to become prominent behind all that spiciness and warmth of top notes.
The patchouli in the base adds to the dark and woody character of this beautifully crafted fragrance, as well as contributing to the softness of the scent.
There is no denying that oud is a kind of note that not everyone likes, but Initio has managed to blend this one so well that oud is active somewhere in the recesses of the scent. On the surface, it certainly has a woody vibe, but the exact oud note is almost impossible to pinpoint.
The Oud For Greatness fragrance has been reported to smell very similar to Baccarat Rouge 540 because it also contains the dominant note of saffron but personally I would never compare these two fragrances. Yes, they both contain the dominant note of the saffron in their opening, but their structure and the vibe are totally different. There is no doubt that some people think that this fragrance smells like a more expensive Baccarat Rouge 540, while others claim that it smells like a cheaper version of Baccarat Rouge 540, which proves that fact.
In the case of comparing Oud For Greatness against other perfumes on the market, I would say that it kind of reminds me of Tom Ford Oud Wood, which is also an oud-based perfume, but like the Tom Ford Oud Wood, it is just a scent that gives the impression of Oud Wood, instead of actually smelling like oud wood.
Does Oud For Greatness Have A Real Oud Note To It?
For quite some time now, there has been a debate on the use of natural oud in Initio’s fragrances. Do they use real natural oud in their fragrances or do they use artificial aroma chemicals?
It was my personal experience that even though I have smelled natural oud multiple times and the fact that I have a 100% natural oud oil in my collection, I was not able to detect or verify that they used natural oud.
On Initio’s website, they claim that they use 100% real oud. However, I also watched the review of Aaron Terrance Hughes wherein he also stated that he was not sure whether Oud For Greatness was made with real oud or if it was made with only aroma chemicals.
A note like oud has a very unique scent, and it dries down in a way that no other note is able to do. For me, it’s more of a feeling than a description, because it’s more of a way to describe how it feels.
The Oud For Greatness would most certainly have its heaviness on heaviness if they used real oud, and I wish they had used a bit more concentration if they had used real oud. Alternatively, if they had used aroma chemicals, they certainly blended them so well that it could not even be figured out by the experts, which was an amazing achievement.
Whether you choose to use it or not, you are sure to enjoy its warm, woodsy fragrance!
What is the duration of Oud For Greatness?
With its great projection and longevity, Oud For Greatness is a very long-lasting perfume with over twelve hours of longevity and around three hours of longevity.
A scent like Oud For Greatness is one of those scents that will remind you just how beautiful you smelt after 12 hours, even though you probably think you don’t smell that beautiful after that long of a period of time. The longevity is phenomenal, more than I expected, and I have never heard anyone complain about it not staying on their skin for that long of a period.
My experience with the projection is also great – I can get around three hours of projection before it settles a bit closer to my skin, but it is still evident and highly noticeable even after that. I realize that for some people, this might be a red flag, but with the longevity being so great, it is hard to say no.
As a matter of fact, silage is another reason why you should definitely buy this woody and spicy aroma since the scent is very strong and will guarantee that you will leave a 5-6 foot long trail behind you when you leave.
I personally don’t find Oud For Greatness to be an aggressive or in-your-face type of fragrance. It is powerful, and it leaves a strong impression, but it still smells sexy and rich to me.
What Should I Wear When I Want To Be Great?
It is recommended to wear Oud For Greatness during colder days (preferably fall and winter), however, as a result of its woody, smoky, and dark aroma, it is more of a nighttime scent rather than a daytime scent. It is quite wearable, perfect for many evening occasions as well.
The Oud For Greatness scent is definitely made for colder weather and lower temperatures because of its woody and spicy scent – it works best in the winter, fall, and maybe even in the spring when it is chilly outside. As a result of the high temperatures, it will not be able to open or perform properly in the summer. It is an absolute no-go.
There are times when I wear it during the day, but I usually wear it at night for dinner dates, or for drinks with friends, but I can also wear it during the day if I want to.
Moreover, this is categorized as a unisex scent, so I can see both genders pulling it off with ease, however, I must admit that the aroma of this perfume is definitely more masculine in nature than feminine.
Is It Enough To Spray Several Sprays of Oud For Greatness?
In order to obtain the best possible performance, it is recommended that a maximum of four to five sprays of Oud For Greatness be used. As this is a very powerful perfume, be careful not to overapply it.
It has been mentioned, in the past, that Oud For Greatness is very easily over-applied, and if that happens, well, then you might be in for some unpleasant surprises. Because of its intensity, too many sprays will cause the perfume to become aggressive, pushy, and even offensive.
The best thing you can do is not to apply more than five sprays at once. Focus on the pulse points and you will be able to project the scent well — two sprays behind your ears, two in the dip of your collarbone, and one behind your head, and you will gain a very good projection. Check out our guide here to learn more about how and where to apply fragrance properly for maximum effectiveness.
What is the best place to buy Oud For Greatness?
If you’re buying Oud For Greatness by Initio, you should buy it at a perfumery that is an authorized reseller of Initio perfumes, or if you want to buy it online, the best places to buy it are Amazon, FragranceNet, FragranceX, and the official website of Initio.
Initio brand has very quickly become a victim of many clones and fakes as a result of the fact that it is a luxury and niche-focused fragrance brand, so you should be extra careful when you decide to purchase it.
This is why the safest option is always to buy your perfume from a local perfumery that is the authorized reseller and besides the fact that you will be able to ensure that your money won’t go to waste, you can also test it out on your skin before making any final decisions.
I would personally recommend getting your bottle from FragranceNet or Amazon if you’re considering getting it online – I personally order from them, so I can guarantee that you’re going to get the original product.
This perfume can be found on FragranceNet and Amazon as well as on FragranceX and Initio’s official website, but you can also get a bottle on FragranceX or Initio’s official website.
Just like the shipping times on all sources, the prices on all sources vary as well.
Do your best to avoid buying fake fragrances and clones as they are not dermatologically tested on human skin and can cause serious skin conditions and health problems to the skin.
Packaging
Like other Initio fragrances, Oud For Greatness has a similar appearance to the other Initio fragrances, however the difference is that this one looks so different and luxurious.
As part of the packaging, a slipcover is wrapped around the box and includes the name and concentration of the fragrance, as well as the brand name, as well as an interesting, designer, goldish detail that is very similar to the Illuminati sign on many people’s minds. It seems rather strange, doesn’t it? Still, it looks like a luxurious item.
The box itself does not have many details, but once you remove the top piece, the bottle sits in the lower part of the box, which is black, matte, and a bit rubberized. The box itself feels very good in your hand, although it does not have many details.
The bottle also has a rubberized feel to it, that is to say that it is coated with a rubberized material, and that it also has the “sign of Illuminati” or should I say the “golden eye ornament” and it looks amazing. The cap also has the name of Initio on it, and the atomizer works well.
I think the overall appearance of this item is so stylish, mysterious, luxurious, something you will be proud to show off to everyone that comes into your house and something you will likely admire yourself for quite a while after you purchase it.
The following sizes are available:
- Sample of 7.5ml
- 90ml
Is Oud For Greatness the best oud fragrance on the market today?
As it turns out, Oud For Greatness is not one of the best oud fragrances. However, it doesn’t mean it’s not good, it’s just that I think there are a lot better oud-based fragrances out there that are better than this one.
As I previously mentioned, Initio calls this project “Black Gold Project” and in addition to this perfume, they also have Oud For Happiness which is phenomenal, but it is not worthy of the title of the best oud fragrance as it simply does not live up to the hype.
It is my personal opinion that for a fragrance to be called the best oud fragrance, all of the magic, power, and “colors” of oud must be displayed – and in my opinion, this means telling a story about the oud, rather than using it as a tool to convey a story.
Do you think Oud For Greatness is worth it?
Oud For Greatness is definitely a valuable piece to have in your collection, and one worth having in your collection, when you consider the price, performance, uniqueness, and other aspects of its identity.
At the end of the day, this truly is a beautiful fragrance many will enjoy, and it would be best if you managed to tie it to memory — giving it to someone on a special occasion. In our list of the best winter fragrances for men in 2021, this perfume is included, and it is one of the best ones on the market.
While I am passionate about perfume, I live in a rural area of the Bronx, New York, far from any perfume stores that are close by. It is straightforward: I do not have any credentials to provide as the author of this blog. I just love perfume, that’s all I have to offer.
In addition to wearing male, female, and unisex fragrances, I also enjoy wearing perfumes containing woods, incense, citrus, flowers, spices, vetiver, and green notes. As well as chypre perfumes, I enjoy fragrances with oakmoss, especially chypres. Patchouli and amber are not particularly appealing to me, and with some notable exceptions, perfumes that smell very clean, oceanic, or are too sweet are not particularly appealing to me.
I also have an addiction to expensive chocolates and teas, and I spend a great deal of time browsing the Internet, reading blogs primarily written by others.