Our take
What does Oud Ispahan smell like?
François Demachy created Oud Ispahan in 2012 for Dior's La Collection Privée. The name nods to the Ispahan rose, and the perfume delivers. Rose opens alone, red and dense, with a candied side. The heart darkens the picture. Patchouli brings damp earth and sandalwood a velvety feel. Dry cedar holds the structure. The oud is present without being brutal. You get an animalic and smoky note that stays in its frame, far from the medicinal ouds found elsewhere. The base is the richest part. Labdanum suggests leather and warm resin, while saffron adds an almost metallic spice. Next to Frédéric Malle's Portrait of a Lady, another big rose and patchouli, Oud Ispahan is smokier and more resinous. It is still sold.
When to wear it
Winter evenings and big occasions. One spray on the neck is enough, or two on a coat.
It belongs to the Floral, Oriental / Amber family. Oud Ispahan is one of 72 creations by Dior in our encyclopedia.
