Some perfumes are fleeting, designed to sparkle for a season before fading from the shelves. Oud Zarian, the newest release from The House of Creed, feels like the opposite, an olfactory heirloom crafted with a sense of permanence and legacy. At its heart lies a material almost mythic in its rarity: oud aged for eight decades, sourced from the lush Sylhet forests of South Asia and entrusted solely to Creed’s master perfumers.
The Story Behind the Oud
Known as Oud Choron, this extraordinary material is harvested by Jalali Agarwood, a family-run operation in Sylhet with generations of expertise in agarwood cultivation and traditional distillation techniques. The trees themselves often exceed 150 years in age, and only a tiny fraction naturally develop the dark, resin-rich heartwood that makes oud so precious.
The process is slow, almost meditative: the wood is carefully carved by hand, the resin aged naturally for decades-sometimes as long as 80 years—before being distilled into oil using methods passed down through centuries. Unlike commercial ouds, which are often chemically induced or harvested too young, Sylhet’s oud is prized for its smooth, velvety depth, more floral and resinous, with a warmth that unfolds gradually on the skin.
Sustainability is also central to Jalali’s philosophy: for every tree harvested, many more are planted, ensuring this craft endures. All of this makes Creed’s exclusive access to this oud not just rare but culturally significant and a partnership rooted in trust, tradition, and respect for the land.
The Fragrance
The composition opens with a brilliant freshness of bergamot, uplifted by frankincense, ginger, and a warming spice accord—a bright, flickering introduction before the drama begins. At its centre blooms rose centifolia, rich and romantic, while the base gathers depth and complexity: oud, patchouli, sandalwood, myrrh, liquorice root, and tonka bean create a tapestry of wood, resin, and soft sweetness. The result? A fragrance that feels both noble and intimate an amber-woody signature that lingers like a low ember glow.
For those who believe scent can carry history, mystery, and emotion in a single breath, Oud Zarian is not to be missed.
Oud Zarian launches exclusively in the UK at Harrods, Creed boutiques, and creedfragrances.co.uk
Available in 50ml (£350) and 100ml (£495), each bottle is as much a collector’s piece as it is a fragrance.
