Oud Al Sultan.

Born in the bustling labs of Bangkok in 2023, Oud Al Sultan is Dmitry Bortnikov’s tribute to the regal aura of a sultan’s court. The name evokes the opulent corridors where incense and citrus once mingled, and the perfume aims to capture that intoxicating whirl described by the house: a cascade of flowers and tropical mandarin that engulfs the senses from the very first second. Leveraging Bortnikoff’s devotion to raw, unprocessed oud sourced from Laos, the composition balances the bright mandarin trio with a heart of jasmine, rose and saffron, before grounding the scent in cedar, guaiac and a clean Thai oud, all softened by vanilla.

The citrus trio, bergamot, green mandarin and red mandarin, provides a sharp, sun‑lit opening that instantly lifts the mood, while the floral heart adds a silk‑smooth texture that tempers the brightness. What truly sets the fragrance apart is the use of Thai oud, prized for its clear, resinous character, which sits beside cedar and guaiac to give a woody backbone that never feels heavy, and a whisper of vanilla that rounds the dry‑down with a subtle sweetness.

The first fifteen minutes explode with a zesty mandarin burst, the bergamot brightening the edge like a fresh peel. Within half an hour the floral core emerges; jasmine and rose weave together, while saffron injects a golden spice that feels like sunrise filtered through silk. As the heart fades, the base awakens: Thai oud steps forward, raw yet refined, echoing a quiet forest after rain. Cedarwood follows, recalling the scent of freshly cut lumber, and guaiac adds a smoky depth. Vanilla lingers at the tail, softening the dry‑down into a warm, lingering amber that can be sensed for eight to ten hours on skin, fading only as the day turns to night.

Since its 2023 debut, Oud Al Sultan has become a quiet favorite among collectors who prize its balanced citrus‑oud blend, often mentioned alongside the house’s earlier Mysterious Oud as a modern take on classic oriental richness. Its reception has sparked discussions in niche forums about the evolving role of citrus in oud compositions, and it now frequently appears in curated lists celebrating innovative fragrance architecture.