There is an absolutely unmistakable white floral note in this that I haven't really seen anyone else mention which I find surprising. I bought this under the impression it would be a dupe for By the Fireplace but it’s not even close to my nose. And the combination of temperature differences, long travel AND a lack of maceration (or just not long enough) in Arab perfumes makes sure you *could* - here too there are happy exceptions - initially miss out on top notes (always first to be damaged), sweet base notes, or just get a cloud of alcohol and then little else. The vanilla is pretty synthetic at start, smells like vanilin sugar, but it does get more creamy with time.

Starts out like pure Oud almost too strong of an oud for me, like that Hugo Boss Damask Oud yet it is sweeter and the wood feels like it was burned with sugar so it is tolerable and very manly, then quickly moves to a smokey incense smell and then softens down to vanilla perhaps or is it tonka bean, these people are geniuses in the ability to create such an orchestration.If you had different expectations because you thought it's a dupe, that's nothing to do with the reality. It's important to note though that the excellent performance of the Intense Oud means it can only be 'topped' (layered) by another quality fragrance or said edp will get lost in the mix. It's a relatively lineair fragrance where the dry down barely differs from the opening, but in said dry down the leatheriness in this particular oud has disappeared (before that luckily, or it would lean too masculine for my taste), the smokiness is still there but less strong and the warm hug of the woody-oudy concoction - helped by the sugar - is what's mostly left. As the fragrance develops, you get more of the woody, smokey aspect without the noticeable use of cade oil or burning incense.

There is undoubtedly a strong chemical solvent smell that lingers after the opening, it’s something I enjoy to be fair but would easily be hated by some. It's at this stage that the fragrance is most similar to BtF, when both fragrances are in their far dry down.Full disclosure: Some here are quite opposed to the fairly pronounced herbal/medicinal essence overlaying the 15-minute open, or even its subsequently more reserved presence within the fragrance--while most will appreciate what it brings to the composition in creativity, aura and dimension. When you're lucky these types of Oudh give you a smoky wood, a tropical fruity fragrance or something that's closer to leather or Cedar.