KILIAN
ROSE OUD (2022)

2022

PERFUMER
Calice Becker

Bulgarian Rose
Saffron
Cinnamon

Lychee
Rose Absolute

Oud
Cedarwood
Cypriol
Leather

Rose Oud was originally launched back in 2010, but made its return (in a red bottle) in 2022. I never had a chance to smell it before, but it seems based on some of the reviews that are out that the red bottle variant is not identical to the old one; the notes have been updated on Kilian’s site as well, hence I added the 2022 nomenclature on this page.

When I smelled this in stores, I was instantly quite pleased and after testing it on skin, I have to say this is one of the better recent Kilians and rose-ouds for me. The style has been done a million times and Rose Oud isn’t doing anything eccentric or vastly different, but I like how this one wears.

It is simultaneously a typical rose-oud style scent, but it’s also less sweet and more green than many of those. There’s an almost rooty quality to the rose here, despite being jammy as well. There’s a citrussy facet to the rose accord that I recognize from more Middle Eastern inspired scents, but I often find it to smell like a cleaning product; it’s done well in this Kilian.

Not a strong oud scent in Rose Oud, if at all and the usual touch of saffron, which I’m frankly tired of. It’s really the rose itself here that sets it apart somewhat for me and I do enjoy the overall wear a lot. It’s like a warm hug, without it being that sweet; as if the sweetness is there, but it’s in the depth of the composition instead of projecting at you.