What Exactly is Oud?
Oud (also known as agarwood) is actually a defense mechanism. When the Aquilaria tree, native to Southeast Asia, becomes infected with a specific type of mold, it produces a dark, incredibly dense, aromatic resin to protect itself. This resin-embedded wood is agarwood. Because the infection process occurs naturally in only a small percentage of trees, the material is extremely rare and incredibly expensive, often referred to as 'liquid gold'.
Ancient Origins
Long before Tom Ford or Creed bottled it, oud was used in ancient religious and cultural rituals. It is mentioned in the Indian Vedas, the Chinese medical text 'Materia Medica', and the Islamic Hadiths. For centuries, it was burned as incense (bakhoor) to welcome guests in Middle Eastern homes, a tradition that continues today. Its scent was considered purifying, spiritual, and deeply calming.
The Western Discovery
While Middle Eastern perfumery has utilized oud for centuries, the Western world only recently embraced it. In 2002, Yves Saint Laurent released M7, widely considered the first mainstream western designer fragrance to feature an oud note (though heavily synthetic). However, it was Tom Ford's Oud Wood (2007) that truly kicked off the oud craze in the West, leading almost every major niche and designer house to release their own interpretation of the note.