Worth It: Maison Francis Kurkdjian Oud Satin Mood Limited-Edition Engraved Bottle
Personalize the powerfully sophisticated scent.
Welcome back to Worth It, a bi-weekly breakdown of the new beauty products we’ve tested and adored: We're talking that drain-it-to-the-bottom-and-tell-my-friends-I’ve-found-The-One kind of love. If it's featured here, consider this our permission to splurge. Read on for the product you don’t want to live without.
The Promise
Consult any fragrance aficionado and they're bound to mention Maison Francis Kurkdjian. He’s the nose behind Jean Paul Gaultier’s Le Male and Kenzo World eau de parfum. And, more recently, Dior tapped him as the new creative director of perfume. Kurkdjian is most commonly known for crafting the cult-favorite (and Rihanna’s favorite) Baccarat Rouge 540, but his fragrance wardrobe is truly long standing and doesn’t seem to be letting up. In short, the French businessman knows his stuff.
In 2016, Kurkdjian debuted OUD Satin Mood, a mashup of ambery, woody, and rose notes. The fragrance itself isn’t new, but if you’re looking to upgrade your perfume tray, you’re in luck. This summer, Maison Francis Kurkdjian added to the OUD satin mood collection with the launch of a limited edition, hand-engraved version that can be yours for $1,250. Personalized out of a Parisian workshop, engravers spend eight hours artfully carving each side of the bottle. It’s a shining example of understated luxury from a niche brand.
Why I’m Obsessed
If you aren't aware, Oud is the result of a combination of Phialophora parasitica fungus with the wood of the Tropical Agar (Aquilaria) tree. Oud is the dark resin from the tree that smells very, very woody and earthy.
Personally, I’m not a fan of wearing oud in June or July; I like citrus scents for the summer. To be fair, it’s not that I don’t like any oud—which is also known as agarwood—I just don’t fancy Eastern ouds that are usually richer and fuller bodied. However, Western ouds offer a much lighter, milder, and sweeter scent that’s more palatable.
I was proud to live in my truth until I encountered OUD Satin Mood last month. There’s something seductive and inviting about wearing an oud mixed with rose oil and violet. It’s refreshing, yet complex—perfect for cooler summer evenings. There's also a touch of powdery vanilla in the base note that adds warmth and hint of femininity.
Scent aside, there was one distinction about this masterpiece: having my name etched on the side deepened my connection to the overall experience. It’s almost as if the fragrance is now a close friend who knows my inner secrets. A bestie whose mysteriousness keeps me coming back. And the longevity—both with the actual fragrance (it was still identifiable after seven hours) and the keepsake bottle—is a perfume connoisseur's dream.
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Sure, I admit that $1,250 for 6.8 ounces elicits sticker shock. It averages to $184 per ounce and that’s a tough pill to swallow, but having a personalized bottle that conveys oud’s unique intensity and sensuality makes it worth every penny.
OUD Satin Mood Limited-Edition Engraved Bottle is exclusively available at Neiman Marcus.
Deena Campbell is the Beauty Director of Marie Claire where she oversees all beauty and health content on all platforms. Deena is a leader who is passionate about driving conversations on beauty topics, and is particularly dedicated to ensuring BIPOC feel seen and that their stories are told. Deena joined Marie Claire after a decade-long career as an editor in print and digital media. Before joining the brand, she managed editorial content for L’Oréal owned Makeup.com and Skincare.com where she led and developed a team of beauty editors and edited their contributions. She also crafted and successfully executed comprehensive brand strategies that resulted in brand growth and differentiation, a skill she currently brings to Marie Claire.
In 2015, she launched Essence.com’s hair channel where she received Time Inc.'s Henry R. Luce Award, shortly before joining Allure.com’s staff as Senior Beauty Editor. Along with her editorial positions, she also consulted on content and marketing strategies for beauty companies including DevaCurl and Dove, and has appeared at various speaking events and live television segments. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, Byrdie, SELF, Refinery29, Teen Vogue, and a host of others. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Pittsburgh and lives in New Jersey with her husband and two children. You can find her on Instagram at @deenacampbell.
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