Borntostandout Black Karak Extrait

Description

Black Karak takes karak (the strong, spiced tea-and-coffee ritual of Middle Eastern gathering culture) and turns it into something nocturnal and possessive. Perfumers Véronique Nyberg and Maxime Exler open it like a steaming cup: karak tea, cardamom, and coffee, sweetened with milk. Then the mood flips: black tea, cypriol, and saffron infusion give way to a base of amberwood, tonka bean, and gaiacwood, and a dark, animalic oud bursts through the creaminess like smoke filling the room. Built as an Extrait Extrême at 55–62% concentration and aged in traditional Korean onggi, this is Borntostandout's comfort ritual rewritten as obsession.

Scent Character

• Oud & Smoky: 30%
• Warm Spicy (Cardamom, Saffron): 25%
• Sweet (Milk, Tonka Bean): 20%
• Woody (Gaiacwood, Amberwood, Cypriol): 20%
• Aromatic (Karak Tea, Coffee): 5%

Translation: a spiced, milky karak-tea opening that turns dark and smoky as a genuine oud note takes over the drydown.

Fragrance Pyramid

Top: Karak Tea, Cardamom, Coffee

Heart: Black Tea, Cypriol, Saffron, Oud

Base: Amberwood, Tonka Bean, Gaiacwood

Performance

At extrait extreme concentration, Black Karak wears long: expect 8-plus hours as the oud and woods take hold. Sillage starts strong on the spiced tea opening, then settles into a warm, smoky skin scent with moderate-to-strong projection. This is a fragrance that fills a room early and lingers close later.

Best Occasions & Season

Fall and winter, and squarely a night-out or date-night scent. The kind of density and smoke that suits low light and cold air over daytime or summer wear.

Concentration & Provenance

Concentration: Extrait de Parfum (Extrait Extrême, 55–62% oil, aged in Korean onggi earthenware)

Perfumer: Véronique Nyberg and Maxime Exler

House: Borntostandout

Launched: 2025

Try Before You Commit

Given the intensity of the oud drydown, sampling first is worth it. Decants run from $9.99 for a 1 mL vial to $68.99 for a 10 mL pour, with a 5 mL option at $40.99, before committing to the 50 mL bottle.

100% Authentic

Every Borntostandout fragrance at Venba is 100% genuine. We've filled 200,000+ orders and hold a 4.9-star rating on Trustpilot. Orders over $100 ship free within the US, and if something isn't right, our returns process is hassle-free.

FAQ

Does Black Karak actually smell like oud?
Yes. A genuine agarwood (oud) note develops through the heart and base, going dark and smoky as it settles, alongside the karak tea and spice opening.

Is this the same as regular karak tea fragrances?
No. The tea-and-spice opening nods to the ritual, but the drydown turns considerably darker and more animalic than a straightforward gourmand chai scent.

How long does it last?
Expect 8-plus hours at extrait extreme strength, with strong initial sillage that settles into a close, smoky trail.

Is this authentic Borntostandout product?
Yes. Verified for authenticity.