The Other Side of Oud
The Other Side of Oud is less about heavy oud and more about a polished blend of spice, coffee and vanilla over soft woods. Cardamom, cinnamon and ginger lead the opening, while the heart and base feel smoother, warmer and slightly creamy as it dries. It will likely appeal to anyone after a refined cold-weather scent with a mature, unisex profile. Sample.
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Performance Metrics
2,232 VOTESOpen Performance Breakdown 1 TAKE
Wear is usually good to very good, with many people finding it long lasting and present without becoming overwhelming. Projection tends to sit around moderate to strong, though there are enough mixed reports to make skin chemistry worth considering before a full bottle.
Notes Pyramid
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Expect a warm spicy profile led by cardamom, cinnamon and ginger, then a smoother heart where coffee, soft oud and geranium start to shape the fragrance. The base leans creamy and gently sweet with roasted coffee and vanilla, while the overall feel stays woody, polished and more refined than dense.
Main Accords
12 MAPPEDThe warm spicy accord drives the scent early, giving it lift and texture, while the coffee accord adds depth and a slightly creamy roasted tone. The oud usually behaves as a clean woody backbone rather than an intense statement, and the vanilla rounds the edges without turning the fragrance fully gourmand.
Community Data
775 TOTAL VOTESCOMMUNITY SENTIMENT
OWNERSHIP STATS
GENDER APPEAL
REVIEW SENTIMENT
When to Wear
TAP TO VOTETIME OF DAY · TAP TO VOTE
OCCASIONS · TAP TO VOTE
It looks easiest to wear in winter and spring.
Pros & Cons
Quick take before you sampleWHY PEOPLE MAY LIKE IT
Smooth spicy coffee profile
More approachable than many oud fragrances
Refined dry-down with vanilla and woods
Works well in cool weather
Comforting evening scent
Unisex, with a slightly masculine tilt
Often long lasting on skin
Coffee note gives it character
Feels dressed up without being too formal
Balanced sweetness for a gourmand-leaning scent
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR
Oud may feel too quiet for oud lovers
Opening can read sharp or medicinal
Performance seems inconsistent across wearers
Not especially original in its genre
Can feel overpriced at full retail
More mature than playful
Coffee and geranium may not suit everyone
Less suited to hot weather
May lean too soft if you want a louder scent
Name can create the wrong expectation
Fragranxe Review
EDITORIAL“Atkinsons The Other Side of Oud Review”
The Other Side of Oud is an oud fragrance mostly in name and structure rather than in full traditional effect. On skin, it tends to read as a warm spicy coffee scent first, with the oud acting as a polished woody accent rather than a dark, barnyard or smoky centrepiece. That makes it more approachable than many oud releases, but it also means some oud fans may feel it undersells its own title.
The opening is built around cardamom, cinnamon and ginger, and this stage seems to divide opinion. At its best, it feels rich, cosy and gently ambery, with a smooth spice profile that immediately suggests cooler weather. Some reviewers especially enjoy the cinnamon and ginger lift, describing the first phase as vivid and inviting. Others find the opening sharp, camphoric or slightly unnatural before it settles. This is not unusual with spicy coffee fragrances, and here the first fifteen to thirty minutes appear to matter a lot.
Once it calms down, the fragrance usually becomes more appealing. Coffee is one of the most distinctive themes in wear, and several reviews point to a luxurious coffeehouse impression with wood, spice and a creamy sweetness underneath. Vanilla comes through more clearly in the dry-down, while geranium adds freshness and keeps the sweetness from turning too thick. The result is often smooth, comforting and a little dressed up, more tailored than playful. Even when it leans gourmand, it usually stays on the refined side rather than smelling edible.
The oud note is the main point of debate. Some wearers get a mild, clean oud woven through the middle and base. Others barely detect it at all. If you are shopping for a deep resinous oud with strong medicinal, leathery or animalic facets, this probably is not that fragrance. If you want a softer westernised oud style that supports spice and coffee without dominating them, this approach may suit you much better.
Performance looks broadly solid, with long lasting wear the most common pattern and sillage sitting in the moderate to strong range. Still, it does not behave the same way for everyone. A few users report muted projection or disappointing longevity, while others describe very good staying power and strong wear in cooler conditions. That makes it sensible to test on skin rather than assume universal performance.
In terms of style, The Other Side of Oud feels mature, calm and best suited to autumn, winter and evening use. It can work for dinners, nights out and formal settings, especially if you enjoy fragrances that feel warm and composed rather than flashy. Value is less clear cut. Some people think it becomes worthwhile at a discount, but at full retail it may face stiff competition from other spicy woody scents with a similar mood.
Overall, this is a likeable niche-leaning spicy coffee fragrance with a clean oud backdrop, not a bold oud showcase. Its best qualities are the cosy coffee accord, the polished dry-down and the balanced sweetness. Its main risk is expectation mismatch. Buyers chasing rich coffee, spice and soft woods may find a lot to enjoy here. Buyers chasing real oud drama should sample first.
FAQs
What does The Other Side of Oud smell like?+
It smells mainly of warm spices, roasted coffee, soft woods and vanilla. The oud is usually more of a background texture than the star.
Is The Other Side of Oud a strong oud fragrance?+
Usually no. Many wearers describe the oud as mild, clean and supportive, so it may disappoint if you want a heavy, traditional oud profile.
Does the coffee note stand out?+
Yes, for many people the coffee is one of the most noticeable parts, especially once the spicy opening settles. It often gives the scent a cosy, slightly creamy feel.
Is it sweet?+
Moderately. The vanilla and roasted coffee add sweetness, but the spices, geranium and woody facets usually stop it from feeling fully dessert-like.
How does it open?+
The opening is typically led by cardamom, cinnamon and ginger. Some find it rich and inviting, while others find the first few minutes sharp or slightly medicinal.
What happens in the dry-down?+
The dry-down usually turns smoother and softer, with vanilla, coffee and a mild woody earthiness becoming more prominent. Several reviews suggest it improves after the opening.
How long does The Other Side of Oud last?+
It often comes across as long lasting, though not to everyone. Most wear reports suggest solid wear, but there are also a few complaints about weak performance on some skin.
What is the projection like?+
Projection usually reads moderate to moderately strong rather than room-filling. It tends to wear with presence, but not always with the impact some oud buyers may expect.
Is it more masculine or truly unisex?+
It is marketed as unisex and can be worn by anyone, but it often leans slightly masculine in character because of the spices, woods and restrained sweetness.
What season suits it best?+
Cooler weather suits it best. It makes the most sense in autumn and winter, especially evenings, dinners and dressier settings.
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Dupes & Alternatives
COMMUNITY DUPESCOREA few wearers compare parts of it to Boss Bottled Elixir, Davidoff Leather Blend, Megalium and Shaghaf Oud Azraq, mainly because of the spicy opening or the woody sweet dry-down. Those comparisons are useful as rough mood markers, not confirmed dupes. If you want louder oud, look elsewhere. If you want a softer coffee-spice style with some polish, this sits in that lane.
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