I was looking for the "Oud Mood | Lattafa / لطافة" perfume online since I do not find these Arabic fragrances in Italian shops. Four variations appeared when I typed Oud Mood into the search field, all available at a ridiculous price for a 100ml EDP. All of this tempted me. I couldn't resist, and I blindly bought them all. Oud Mood's packaging and bottle are elegant and well-crafted in every detail, just like the rest of the collection. For Oud Mood original, the box is a white-coloured cylindrical tube similar to fine whiskeys, with a golden ribbon that anchors the cap. And a white braided ribbon bandages the thick glass bottle. Not to mention the heavy metal gold cap. Incredible how a perfume paid for around €15 can provide such expensive packaging. But what surprised me the most was the perfume enclosed in the bottle, which I will try to describe.
Musk Mood is a clean and soapy aldehyde-musky scent. The muskiness is dual, which means it shows the two facets of musk — the soft, powdery, and creamy side in the opening and the animalistic, damp, and deer moss side in the dry-down. The scent opens with an explosion of sparkling aldehydes with a synthetic, slightly fruity, and soapy accord. I don't get any hairspray vibe, but somewhat floral. It is an authentic perfume based on white musk. The aldehydes are pungent and floral, with a subtlety of the lily of the valley. Instead, there is already a dry white musk, shimmering, smoothed by that "feeling of cleanliness," a sort of Muscone or, better still, Helvetolide, more rounded and flowery. Delicate, powdery, and smooth, it spreads tender freshness and harmony and shows the fundamental mood of the perfume. The top note spreads citrus, clean and fruity notes without overpowering.
I let the perfume get familiar with my skin and lose the alcohol part, and it doesn't take long to guess that the aroma has the same profile and yield as
Acqua di Parisis Essenza Intensa - Musk Sultan. I don't know what designer or niche scent inspired them, but they are identical. The evolution is parallel and specular on my skin. You immediately perceive a powdery accord, more similar to violet than iris, with a robust floral component. The heart note blends floral scents, white musk, and vanilla. Now the perfume releases a creamy musky, the poison lily is still in the background, while a rose blends with the musk. From afar, the sweet floral and dewy edge prevails; instead, close to the skin, the mouldy and semi-earthy edge of the musk wins. The sense of cleanliness continues.
Then it dries, transforming into a clean cloud, powdery and soft, with salty and musky tones. The base rounds off the scent with earthy musk and creamy sandalwood. Now the moss is wild and animal. The dark side emerges; it's funky and skanky with a masculine bent. There is a thick, dark, musty, damp smell as if there were a hint of oakmoss. And a rather salty and mineral amber blends with a more vanilla undertone. A lot has changed since the opening.
Although belonging to the Lattafa Mood collection, Musk Mood differs from the other flankers. This is a scent centred around musk and without the slightest trace of oud. I find it very versatile, even if it is not the typical white musk scent. It is suitable for almost all seasons, although spring and autumn are the most appropriate occasions, preferably during the day. The performance is unfortunately not very impressive. It lasts a decent amount of time with a prominent mossiness and projects well for the first hour. Then it becomes a perfume on the skin that can still be felt for several hours. However, the scent is light and very suitable for everyday use. When its drops stick to your body, they will completely refresh you giving you that sense of cleanliness. Safe, non-offensive, and non-intrusive.
I'm basing my review and opinions on a bottle I've owned since January 2023.
-Elysium
Top Notes 
Heart Notes 
Base Notes 
Polarrfox
