The Best Oud Fragrances of 2026: Editor Reviewed

If someone asks me for a perfume that smells rich or expensive, I immediately suggest an oud-based elixir. Oud comes from the Aquilaria (agar) tree, which grows primarily in Southeast Asia. As DSM-Firmenich perfumers Alexandra Monet and Frank Voelkl previously told Who What Wear, the tree emits a fragrant resin that soaks the heartwood. It’s then stripped and distilled and becomes oud—the rich, bold, woody, and sensual fragrance note we all know and love.

Oud doesn’t just smell expensive; it is expensive. In fact, perfumers refer to it as “liquid gold” and “black gold.” Experts say less than 2% of agar trees naturally produce the resin that creates oud, making it one of the most expensive raw materials. It’s been used in the Middle East and Southeast Asia for thousands of years. (Read up on its fascinating history.)