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Memo Luxor Oud ~ fragrance review

Posted by Kevin on 21 November 2012 11 Comments

At Luxor, Thebes, Upper Egypt

French niche line Memo just launched Luxor Oud* (Oud of the Pharaohs), an olfactory nod to “ancient Egypt and its monumental architecture;” Memo PR provides images of Luxor, the Nile, and crocodiles (ever smelled a crocodile?) Having recently seen the striking Tutankhamun exhibit here in Seattle, I was ready for a perfume snapshot of the New Kingdom. I wanted a spooky-quirky “mummification” perfume (ingredients used in preserving the body after death included beeswax, honey, juniper berries, cinnamon, lichen, palm wine, resins from evergreen trees, wet earth from the Nile riverbanks…even tar (used during the Greco-Roman period). I would also have been thrilled with a kyphi (incense) perfume, with aromas of herbs, wine, raisins, mastic, honey and storax.

Perhaps what I wanted from Luxor Oud was too “literal” and unimaginative? After spraying on Luxor Oud for the first time, I wondered: “Were there strawberries in ancient Egypt?” “Was Luxor the birthplace of fruity perfumes?”

Luxor Oud reminds me of a better-made, higher quality Estée Lauder Wood Mystique — a fruit-ful oud(ish) fragrance. Luxor Oud opens with a powerful fruit accord, accent not on citrus but on red fruits (not the ugly raspberry-scented toilet paper note of Wood Mystique but a smoky strawberry aroma). A mellow, low-impact rose note tinges the fruit — supplying a hint of flowers.

Luxor Oud’s “incense” accord arrives quickly and a pleasant smokiness settles over the ever-present, non-diminishing berries and rose: this earthy-smoky element seems comprised of cypriol (nagarmotha), ‘hot-ash’ storax (with underlying vanillic tones) and wood. As for the “oud”/agarwood in Luxor Oud — it’s in miniscule quantity. (For those who care, the cypriol and agarwood do not produce a “medicinal” vibe in Luxor Oud.)

On the days I wore Luxor Oud it also reminded me of Eau d’Italie Paestum Rose. I grabbed my bottle of Paestum Rose and made a side-by-side comparison; Paestum Rose smells more “modern”, streamlined, and bright. Luxor Oud’s fruity frankincense base made me think of Erik Kormann Eau de Fröhliche too.

Memo Luxor Oud advert

Luxor Oud doesn’t conjure ancient Egypt for me (King Tut may have had a different opinion), but it smells great and made me want to try other fragrances from the Memo line. Luxor Oud is a unisex fragrance and it has superb (unbelievable) lasting power and sillage. If a fruity (“happy”) incense perfume appeals to you, do try it.

*Memo Luxor Oud was developed by perfumer Aliénor Massenet; listed notes include tangerine, red fruits, rose, labdanum, nagarmotha, patchouli, storax, tonka bean and agarwood. It is available in in 75 ml Eau de Parfum.

Note: top image via Wikimedia Commons.

Included in...

Best Men’s Fragrances of 2011-2012-2013 (Better Late Than Never)

Possibly of interest

Imaginary Authors Whispered Myths ~ fragrance review
Eric Buterbaugh Floral Oud Orange Flower & Floral Oud Lily of the Valley ~ fragrance review with an aside on luxury
The Different Company Oud Shamash & Oud For Love ~ fragrance reviews & a quick oud poll

Filed Under: perfume talk
Tagged With: alienor massenet, memo, oud

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11 Comments

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  1. breathesgelatin says:
    21 November 2012 at 2:34 pm

    Kevin, thanks for being our designated NST oud guinea pig!

    I’m serious.

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    • Kevin says:
      21 November 2012 at 2:54 pm

      Breathes: ha! It’s true!

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  2. Janice says:
    21 November 2012 at 3:00 pm

    I was thinking I could skip this one, but I actually loved Erik Kormann Eau de Fröhliche (which seems like it just shouldn’t work at all, but does), and I own Paestum Rose, so now I may have to give this a try.

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    • Kevin says:
      21 November 2012 at 4:00 pm

      Janice: it’s really worth a sniff

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  3. Jaisalmer says:
    21 November 2012 at 5:13 pm

    I adore MEMO especially Quartier Latin and SHAMS..but this Luxor Oud is totally flat

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  4. Lavanya says:
    21 November 2012 at 7:17 pm

    this does sound good! I don’t seem to be able to get sick of oud..:)
    Also (an aside), have you sniffed Astier de Villate’s Jerusalem. I am soo impressed with Delhi (which I bought practically unsniffed after reading your review because we found a good deal), that I am tempted to buy Jerusalem unsniffed too. This is from the store I mentioned that has just a few of their candles but at a fabulous price that I cannot resist.

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    • nozknoz says:
      21 November 2012 at 11:48 pm

      Took a quick look at your blog – very interesting! Now I’m really curious, too – about both AdV Delhi and Jerusalem.

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    • Kevin says:
      22 November 2012 at 12:42 am

      Lavanya, Jerusalem is nice…not as strongly scented as Delhi.

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  5. nozknoz says:
    22 November 2012 at 12:03 am

    Strawberries, LOL! The perfume that reminds me of Egypt is the smokey tea scent of Etro Jamais Palais. Also, in Cairo’s Khan Al-Khalili (old souq) on Friday morning, there were men walking around with censors of the most beautiful clear incense (frankincense or myrrh or maybe both) who would purify each shop for a small fee. Of course, French perfume, too: I found an old Emeraude bottle in an antique shop…

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  6. jdyson says:
    22 November 2012 at 4:17 am

    I am fairly new to the perfume/fragrance industry, so am very intrigued with your descripton and am enticed enough to try
    “smoky strawberries”; however, the patchouli and tangerine combination also is intriquing

    Log in to Reply
    • Kevin says:
      22 November 2012 at 11:45 am

      Jdyson: wish someone would pick up the Memo line in the US

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