I’ve been avoiding Oud Palao due to an unfortunate misconception: I kept misreading it as “Oud Paleo“, and I’m not trying to be lectured by a perfume about our cavemen ancestors and their nutritious root vegetables. (I am thrilled for anyone who is healthy and happy eating Paleo, but I cannot in good conscience support any diet that does not allow Nerds.) It was a pretty ridiculous assumption, but I have this bottle of very fancy hairspray that proudly declares itself gluten-free. You know, just in case you were thinking of EATING YOUR HAIRSPRAY. Paleo perfume can’t be far behind.
So what does Oud Palao smell like, if not virtuous carb-free sadness? Warm, ambery resins and an appealingly raw-feeling oud note. After the oud assault we’ve had over the past few years, a resinous oud is hardly revolutionary, but Oud Palao is actually the first fragrance I’ve come across that bears a decent resemblance to Roja Dove Amber Aoud. Amber Aoud is one of the best-smelling things on the planet, and I’ve often wondered why more brands haven’t tried to copy it. Oud Palao’s much gentler price point ($145/75 ml vs. Amber Aoud’s $750/100 ml) makes it a damn good option for those of us who would like to smell relatively close to Amber Oud without selling off any organs.
Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored and does not contain affiliate links. I tested Oud Palao at my local Neiman Marcus.
SCENTS OF SELF 
Thanks for making me laugh 🙂
And thank you for your sweet comment, S!
I’ve often wondered if “nerdy perfume blog,” actually referred to candy 🙂
In five years, that alternate meaning has never once occurred to me. NERD INCEPTION. (NERDCEPTION.)
What a weird and wonderful review Ari…the funniest I’ve read for a long time! Now. Oud Palao is my latest perfume (gift for Christmas) and I absolutely love it! Warm, fuzzy, cosy, sexy, I fell in love at first sniff. Even better, if is similar to an out of my reach perfume (I love to smell expensive, snob that I am). You are clever!
I’m so, so thrilled you enjoyed the review, Annette! Oud Palao must have been an absolutely lovely Christmas present. I see a matching candle on the Diptyque website, too- if they really smell alike, I’m sorely tempted…
I didn’t like this perfume when I smelled it at a store but after reading your review (thank you for the laugh! 🙂 ) I’ll go and test it again.
Thank you for sharing. I’d like to try it. Hope to hear more from you.