Oud Wood by Tom Ford is a masculine unisex fragrance that was released as part of his Private Blend Collection in 2007. This sophisticated eau de parfum is popular among celebrities and has been worn by Keith Urban and Steve Harvey. Oud Wood projects sophistication and confidence, making it the perfect option for date night. If you love the way Oud Wood smells but can’t get your hands on a bottle then you’re in luck. I’ve tracked down some of the best clones and fragrances you should try if you love this iconic Tom Ford fragrance.
Discover Tom Ford Oud Wood dupes in this video:
What We Are looking for in Tom Ford Oud Wood
Oud Wood by Tom Ford is a refined, mature fragrance featuring a combination of woody and amber notes which envelop a bold agarwood (oud) heart. At first spray, it is spicy and mysterious as it reveals fragrant rosewood and spicy cardamom notes. These quickly settle into a warm mix of sandalwood and oud while Sichuan pepper notes begin to develop. These notes remain and intensify before drying down into an amber, tonka bean, and vanilla base mixed with subtle hints of citrusy vetiver.
Although Oud Wood projects quite well, it doesn’t leave an overwhelming scent trail and is suitable for the office as long as you don’t overspray it. Its longevity is strong and will stay with you throughout your workday. It’s perfect for the wintertime, although I could see this working for warmer months as well, especially if it’s lightly sprayed and then layered with something fresh or fruity. It’s versatile, refined and great for any occasion. Without further delay, let’s get started with my top ten list of fragrances to try if you love Tom Ford’s Oud Wood.
10 Clones of Tom Ford Oud Wood
1. Amore Oudh by Oakcha
First on my list of perfumes similar to Tom Ford Oud Wood is Amore Oudh by Oakcha. Upon first spray, it starts off heavy as notes of cardamom, rosewood, and Chinese pepper fill the air. After a few minutes it moves through a warm oud and sandalwood heart flanked by hints of vetiver. It settles nicely on the skin with an amber vanilla base. To my nose the amber is a bit more pronounced than in Oud Wood, and it leaves a strong scent trail for the first few hours. The longevity is decent, though it doesn’t last nearly as long as Oud Wood. Overall I think this is a pretty well formulated clone and it is also much more affordable than the original. I must note that the sillage is pretty strong so you might want to try it a couple of times before committing to an entire bottle.
2. Fougere Oud by Dossier (inspired by Tom Ford Oud Wood)
For a fragrance with a slightly more floral vibe, you should check out Dossier’s Fougere Oud. To my nose, Fougere Oud starts off with a smokier vibe than Oud Wood as sweet tobacco notes intertwine with pink pepper, coriander, and rosewood. It moves through these top notes fairly quickly before revealing a deep oud heart enveloped in a patchouli and vetiver backdrop. It’s deep, fragrant, and earthy, however there is some lightness thanks to the addition of fragrant labdanum notes at the base. A notable difference from Oud Wood is the absence of any true amber notes. Although labdanum does have a slightly amber vibe, it’s quite transient and fades very quickly. While Fougere Oud does start off pretty strong it doesn’t project well and becomes more of a subtle skin scent within a few hours. You could try layering this one with something a bit more powdery or floral if you’d like to extend its longevity, or you could create more depth with a perfume featuring bold amber notes. If you’re interested in discovering more inspired by perfumes from Dossier, you can find my review of Dossier here.
3. DIVAIN-305 inspired by Oud Wood from Tom Ford
Next on my list of Tom Ford Oud Wood clones is DIVAIN-305 inspired by Oud Wood from Tom Ford by DIVAIN. To my nose, this clone starts out slightly sweeter and the bold oud top note develops more quickly as well. At the heart of this fragrance lies earthy notes of sandalwood and vetiver, giving it a slightly softer vibe that carries through as it settles into a base of tonka bean, vanilla and amber. There is a hint of spiciness that’s missing with DIVAIN-305, and I think that’s what keeps it from projecting as well as Oud Wood does. If you’re looking for something a bit more subtle with a lighter scent trail then be sure to try DIVAIN-305. It does a decent job of capturing the overall essence of Oud Wood and is budget friendly too.
4. Our Impression of Tom Ford – Oud Wood by Oil Perfumery
If you’re looking for something small and compact to throw into your bag then be sure to check out Our Impression of Tom Ford by OilPerfumery. This rollerball oil fragrance is the perfect size to carry in your purse or gym bag for a quick refresh between meetings or after your workout. The first thing I noticed with this perfume is that it is much more subtle than Oud Wood. The overall accord is also a bit simplified and there is very little fragrance development after application. To my nose it is a very basic, yet fragrant, mix of oud, rosewood, vetiver, cardamom, amber, and tonka bean. It’s also quite soft, however, you don’t want to overdo due to its rich, oil-based formulation. You could layer this with something a bit more spicy or powdery depending on your preferences. Overall, this fragrance is okay if you want to see how this mix of notes works with your chemistry, but don’t apply this and expect it to project or last all day.
5. Agar Gold by ALT.
If you enjoy a hint of smokiness in your fragrance accord I suggest trying Agar Gold by ALT. This fragrance does start off with a heavy dose of pepper that is quite potent. However, after letting it settle for a few minutes it reveals top notes of rosewood, cardamom, and Chinese pepper which gives it an exotic, spicy feel right at the opening. As it moves through sandalwood and vetiver notes it reveals a deep oud heart that is smokier than Oud Wood. The base is a familiar mix of vanilla, amber, and tonka bean notes and I must say it’s somewhat sweeter, though not overtly so. The sillage is also a bit stronger, and the smoky notes tend to intensify in cooler weather while warmer temperatures bring out the sweeter base notes. Try this fragrance out if you enjoy a smokier vibe, however be careful when initially spraying it as the intensity can be pretty overwhelming at first.
6. Agar Inspired By Tom Ford’s Oud Wood by Alexandria Fragrances
Another similar and affordable clone of Oud Wood to try is Agar by Alexandria Fragrances. In the past, I’ve noticed that many perfumes from Alexandria Fragrances need some time to mature in the bottle and this one is no exception. Upon first spray Agar starts off strong with spicy notes of cardamom that are almost abrasively overwhelming. This fragrance takes a while to settle, so I suggest spraying it only once to experience how it develops before layering it on. It eventually reveals a complex mix of oud, sandalwood, birch, and patchouli. There is a leathery vibe I also get from this fragrance, though leather notes are not included in Agar. While the projection is initially strong it doesn’t last long and becomes more of a skin scent within just a few hours. If you’re looking for something more subtle and don’t mind the harsh opening then you may want to try this fragrance and see how it works for you.
7. Zest Of Bois Oudh by The Dua Brand
For a refreshing blend of citrus notes paired with Oud Wood vibes be sure to try Zest Of Bois Oudh by The Dua Brand. This fragrance is inspired by Oud Wood as well as Ultra Zest by Thierry Mugler, and features the best aspects of both classic fragrances. Upon first spray I immediately noticed a juicy citrus opening that is quite different than Oud Wood. However, as it moves through a sweet, spicy heart and middle notes of incense, cardamom, and pepper I notice the similarities to Oud Wood begin to take shape. The base is similarly earthy and dark with notes of amber, tonka bean, and vanilla and it’s somewhat smokier than Oud Wood. I must note that the projection is not nearly as strong and its longevity is very weak. However, with its lower price point, you can definitely afford to reapply it throughout the day. If you’re a fan of citrus top notes and you enjoy the overall vibe of Oud Wood then you may want to check out Zest Of Bois Oudh.
8. Versace Pour Homme Oud Noir by Versace for men
For a softer, more floral vibe that still includes all the elements that Oud Wood has, I suggest checking out Versace Pour Homme Oud Noir by Versace. This fragrance starts off with a mix of spicy black pepper and bitter orange alongside a hint of citrusy neroli. I believe, Oud Noir has more of a fragrantly spicy heart which is quite different from Oud Wood and features a mix of saffron, cardamom, and olibanum. It eventually transcends into a base of oud, patchouli, and leatherwood, which give it a darker and even more masculine vibe than Oud Wood. In terms of longevity Oud Noir seems to outlast Oud Wood and it projects just as well, if not better. The opening is a little less refined, however, it moves through those top notes fairly quickly so I don’t think that should be the deciding factor in whether you try this one out. The sillage isn’t too strong either, so if you enjoy the way this smells in the bottle you’ll probably enjoy the way it works with your body chemistry too.
9. Carved Oud by Thameen
For something a bit muskier that you can layer with other fragrances be sure to try out Carved Oud by Thameen. To my nose Carved Oud starts out fresher than Oud Wood due to the pink pepper top note. It’s also very woody and there is an earthy, aromatic vibe due to the cypress and cypriol oil notes that appear at the head. The heart of this fragrance is a mix of oud, cedar, and patchouli, though I do notice hints of iris as it develops into a musk, sandalwood, and amber base. There is a creamy hint of vanilla that seems a bit more pronounced than it is within Oud Wood. The projection is comparable to Oud Wood, as well as its longevity. However, it is also one of the more expensive options on my list. If you’re looking for something with a similar vibe to Oud Wood that’s more affordable then you might want to stick with some of the other options I’ve featured here. However, if you’re looking for something with a very similar vibe to the original Oud Wood formulation then this is a good option for you to check out.
10. Oud Noir Intense by Fragrance Du Bois
If you wish Oud Wood incorporated more florals into its accord then you might want to give Oud Noir Intense by Fragrance Du Bois a try. Oud Noir Intense starts off with spicy cardamom notes mixed with refreshing bergamot before revealing a fragrantly floral heart consisting of rose and jasmine notes. To my nose, these softer, floral notes cause this fragrance to lean more feminine than most of the other options on my list. This makes it a good choice for those who are just starting to experiment with more unisex types of fragrances. I think Oud Noir Intense becomes a bit more of a linear fragrance as it dries down and as it matures you’re left with a pleasant (although somewhat formulaic) mix of oud, musk, patchouli, and sandalwood. Amber and vanilla notes also make an appearance, though they are more subtle and remain in the background. Oud Noir Intense will last throughout the day and the sillage is quite high. In addition, Oud Noir Intense is probably the most expensive option on my list so you definitely want to give this one a try before committing to a bottle.
On a Final Note
When you’re looking for your perfect clone or alternative to Oud Wood, make sure that oud lies at the heart of the fragrance. There should also be woody and spicy notes incorporated through the heart as well as the base, although they may also appear at the top of the accord too. You also want to see amber and vanilla make an appearance as it dries down. However, make sure the vanilla doesn’t overwhelm the rest of the accord and make it too sweet. Citrus notes may be detectable upon first spray, but make sure they don’t give way to an overtly fruity feel. Projection is important with oud fragrances so you’ll want to make sure it’s not too subtle, nor too overpowering. Stick to these tips and you’re sure to find your perfect alternative to Oud Wood.
