Bohemian Oud by Zara

I walked into Zara with plenty of time and headed straight to my favourite section. I was drawn in by the notes; I adore incense but had never been convinced until I was looking for something for autumn/winter. The opening is a brilliant incense, and as it dries, it leaves a woody vanilla with cocoa, yet there’s something more that makes it elegant, sexy and distinct. It lasted my entire shift on my wrist. I now have it in my collection and I miss it…

I bought it blindly because of the wonderful reviews, but I have to admit it disappointed me. I was expecting leather or oud notes that are completely absent. It came across as cloying and very synthetic, and that sweetish blend of incense and chocolate didn’t convince me either, even though it sounds good on paper. The performance is poor and it sits right on the skin almost immediately. In short, nothing special. I think it’s the weakest in the entire Zara Chapter 4 collection.

This is my favourite Zara perfume; I suffer every time I see it being discontinued (it usually returns, now there’s the 30ml version online). It was through this that I started exploring incense perfumes. In the opening, I notice lots of black pepper that turns into a delicious vanilla-chocolate incense 🤤🤤. The longevity isn’t extraordinary but it clings well to the skin, just like the projection. People have complimented it on occasion, but I wear it myself and I love it 😍😍. To me, it doesn’t resemble By the Fireplace; I understand they share the same vibe, but this is more chocolatey incense and less burnt wood with vanilla. As I say, it’s one of my must-haves ❤️

It’s as if you have a campfire and a pot of hot colacao warming up. I love it. Sophisticated and quintessentially winter. I usually wear it on crisp summer days when I miss the sweet winter bombs that the stifling heat won’t let me use. Gentlemen, what a magnificent perfume. The pity is that I bought the 30ml. The large bottle is coming with me for the autumn/winter season soon. If you have the chance, don’t miss out, try it.

A fragrance that I liked at first sniff and didn’t hesitate to take home; the opening is powerful, mixing incense and chocolate. After about 15-20 minutes, it becomes a softer aroma, vanilla-chocolate. Ideal for cold climates and casual use; in my case, I combine it with Zara’s Tender Amber. Just be careful with the number of sprays: longevity on skin 6-7 hours, projection 1h30 to 2h. Price 10/10, longevity 10/10, projection 9/10.

I’d been testing it for ages and waited for the cold weather to buy it. It finally arrived and I snapped it up. That mix of incense, cacao and spices is brilliant. It awakens my transcendental side and the perverse one that can’t stop eating chocolate. People say it leaves a good trail. The longevity could be better, but the opening is very punchy. At £20 it’s a great buy. If you like dark, spicy perfumes, give it a try.

Opens with a smoky note, like standing beside a brazier, then vanishes in seconds to give way to woods and sweets, like roasting marshmallows on aromatic woods. I was fascinated by it. I have five from Zara and this is my favourite. It lasts eight hours on my skin and on clothes until I wash them.

Quite good and long-lasting oud. Very harsh at first, the opening is intense, but then it stays rich and fresh. Something fascinating. Very similar to Lattafa’s Badee al Oud, another gem. 100% recommended.

I loved it. It doesn’t smell like what everyone else usually wears, that trend everyone is following. For me, it isn’t. You need to give it time because the incense is strong at first, but then it develops nuances that I adore. It has personality and stands out from the crowd. Clothes smell of it for days.

It’s a lovely fragrance. The opening is a bit generic, but then a rich scent settles in, blending oud, incense, and fresh herbs, finishing very cleanly. You have to be patient, but after a few minutes, it’s absolutely worth it. 🕉️

It smells like church incense, very penetrating. There might be cocoa in the base, but it’s not chocolate at all; rather, it adds a sweetness that ends up being cloying. I wouldn’t wear it.

Cocoa and incense… a very pleasant and addictive fragrance… luckily it’s back on sale in Spain.

Although it’s compared to Fireplace, it’s not its dupe. It’s in the same style, but they aren’t the same: Fireplace is smokier, while this is sweeter. It’s a very pleasant and sweet scent with good skin longevity for the price. You get a product with good performance, although Fireplace has higher quality. In summary, it’s an inspiration, not a dupe.

I adore it. I grabbed it on the first or second day of its launch, seeing it by chance, without reviews or knowing if it resembled others… I just smelled it and it was love at first sniff. I love the opening, that wonderful incense scent that gradually sweetens with the cocoa. On my skin, it has very good longevity; on clothes, let’s not even talk… until you wash it. I don’t find it masculine at all. I’d buy it again without a single doubt.