Solid Oud by Sapil

I bought this by mistake, thinking it was unisex; at first I didn’t even notice the box said ‘for men’, but upon using it, I realised it doesn’t feel masculine at all – I find it totally unisex. It was a great surprise; with low expectations, I found a low-cost gem that smells like an expensive, exotic perfume. I absolutely love it; it’s a delight. I admit I have a weakness for florals with oud, and this one is delicate, sweet, intense, and very pleasant. The bottle is simple, which I like, though it’s not entirely comfortable as it’s designed for a man’s hand and I need to use both hands to apply it. To me, it’s delicious, sophisticated and elegant: floral, warm, woody, sweet, enveloping you with a delicate and subtle trail. It’s very versatile; you can wear it for work, going out with friends, or formal events. It’s a hit, draws positive attention, you receive compliments and people will certainly ask what perfume you’re wearing. It opens with a strong saffron note that yields to give way to a modern, pink rose; I don’t detect the pepper and the patchouli is very soft. It’s bright, cheerful, with a good dose of caramel, aromatised with vanilla and a clean, woody, delicate yet intense oud; the dry down is cosy, sweet and ambered. In short, ideal for oud beginners given how delicate and beautiful it is and the price. I’ve loved it so much I’ve used it up in less than three months; my wardrobe, handkerchiefs and coats smell wonderful, and I’ve already ordered two more bottles. I admit I have a weakness for Arabic scents with oud, and now that I know this one, it’s become one of my favourites alongside my beloved Arabia Femme by Emper (spectacular for £35+ shipping), Oud Mood, Opulence Oud Lattafa, Ramz and other Lattafa options, the Chapter 4s from Zara, Oud Blanc de Ted Lapidus (red rose and oud with spectacular performance), Oud al Mubakhar by Rasasi, Black Tohfa by Bait al Bakhoor and Oud Noir Perfume Royal from Mercadona… and countless other low-cost options. Although to be honest, the one I’ve liked most of all is Rose d’Armani Privé, but currently I buy all my preferred Arabic perfumes at this price point. When Rose d’Armani came out, we didn’t have access to the vast variety of oud perfumes available now; there weren’t many accessible options, let alone low-cost ones, but now Arabic houses are releasing excellent quality perfumes at very affordable prices. You no longer need to spend a fortune to have a good oud perfume. Personally, I prefer to have variety and spend happily on a fragrance I love every day without worrying about the price, rather than reserving it for special occasions because it’s so expensive. I’m happy having variety and quantity with the same performance and quality. Regarding performance, it seemed very correct to me. My experience isn’t very representative as I have very dry skin and all perfumes last me a short time; I have to hydrate well and use a lot, and even so, perfumes that last others 6, 8 or 10 hours last me about 5. This one lasts about two or three hours with a trail and a maximum of 5 in total; it lasts longer on clothes, but for me this is more than fine, it’s not a beast of longevity like other Arabic perfumes I own. Consequently, perhaps Solid OUD by Sapil might last considerably longer on another person’s skin. In summary, it’s a unisex perfume for daily use that is very pleasant, versatile and recommended with an excellent price-to-quality ratio that has nothing to envy from others that are more expensive; at this price you can afford to buy it blindly, I don’t think you’ll regret it. EDIT: I recommend it wholeheartedly; the more I use it, the more I like it; it’s a delight and if applied generously it lasts a long time; if you use it two or three days in a row it seems to stick to your skin and you can’t get it off even with a good shower.