Memoirs Of A Perfume Collector Abu Dhabi Extrait
Description
Abu Dhabi, from perfumer Jean Claude Delville, is built around a single image: standing in a quiet desert at night under a clear sky, with Middle Eastern cities after sunset — mysterious, warm, luxurious. Ylang-ylang, pink pepper, cardamom, marigold, and orris open it, then a genuinely oud-heavy heart takes over — Assam oud, Indian jasmine, narcissus, Taif rose, tuberose, and rose oil — before a base that layers Vietnamese oud on top of Assam, alongside Tahitian vanilla, pistachio, cedarwood, vetiver, coffee, myrrh, and honey. Few fragrances in the line carry this much actual agarwood; the sweet-smoky-creamy-floral character the house describes comes through clearly on skin, with floral and sweet leading and oud, spice, and wood close behind.
Scent Character
- Floral — 38%
- Sweet — 25%
- Oud — 12%
- Spicy — 12%
- Woody — 12%
Genuine oud runs through both the heart (Assam oud) and base (Vietnamese oud) — two distinct oud sources layered together, not a single trace note.
Translation: A rich floral-amber with real, layered oud (Assam and Vietnamese) sweetened by vanilla and honey — closer to a floral-oud than a woody-oud.
Fragrance Pyramid
Top: Ylang-Ylang, Pink Pepper, Cardamom, Marigold, Orris
Heart: Assam Oud, Indian Jasmine, Narcissus, Taif Rose, Tuberose, Rose Oil
Base: Vietnamese Oud, Tahitian Vanilla, Pistachio, Cedarwood, Vetiver, Coffee, Myrrh, Honey
Performance
- Longevity: Long-lasting — roughly 7-9 hours on skin.
- Sillage: Moderate-to-strong for the first hour or two, then settles to an arm's-length trail.
Best Occasions & Season
- Season: Spring, Fall
- Occasions: Evening, Special Occasion
- Gender: Unisex
Concentration & Provenance
Concentration: Extrait de Parfum
Perfumer: Jean Claude Delville
House: British niche house Memoirs Of A Perfume Collector, London
Year: 2025
Try Before You Commit
Not ready to commit to the full bottle? Sample sizes are poured from the same batch as the retail bottle:
- 1mL Sample — $7.99
100% Authentic
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FAQ
Is Abu Dhabi a heavy oud fragrance?
It has real oud from two named sources (Assam in the heart, Vietnamese in the base), but the floral and sweet accords lead overall — think floral-oud rather than a pure woody-oud style.
How does it perform?
Long-lasting, roughly 7-9 hours, with moderate-to-strong projection early on before it settles closer to the skin.
What's the best season for it?
Spring and Fall per the house's own guidance — evening and special-occasion wear given the richness of the composition.
Is it unisex?
Yes — the rose and jasmine are balanced by coffee, cedarwood, and two layers of oud, keeping it gender-neutral.