Smells like Tom Ford Oud Wood: Oud Timber body butter

Tom Ford Oud Wood smells of oud, sandalwood, rosewood, cardamom, vetiver, vanilla and amber. Oud Timber is our take on that profile, with oud, sandalwood and vanilla, in a pheromone-infused body butter at $34 a jar.

What is Oud Wood?

It is part of the Tom Ford Private Blend line, launched in 2007, and the perfumer was Richard Herpin. Tom Ford describes it as a composition of oud notes, exotic woods and warm amber, and the note list backs that up: three kinds of wood (oud, sandalwood and rosewood), a green note in vetiver, spice from cardamom, and vanilla and amber for sweetness.

Is Oud Timber a lighter way into oud?

We think so. The original has seven notes, and the cardamom and vetiver give it a dry, spiced edge. Oud Timber has three: oud, sandalwood and vanilla. That keeps the creamy, woody core and leaves out the spice, so expect wood with a sweet finish and not a sharp one.

If oud has put you off before, this is a gentler place to try it. If a bottle of Oud Wood feels too precious for a weeknight, a jar is easier to use freely. Ours is a shea butter and cocoa butter formula of its own, so treat the original as inspiration and not as a promise of an identical smell.

When is the right time to wear it?

Cold weather and evenings. Autumn and winter nights, a long dinner, a coat. In our view it is one of the two louder scents in our range, with Rogue 540 the other, and warm woods hold their own when the air is cool. It also suits a winter wedding or a holiday dinner, where the room is warm and the clothes are heavy.

In summer heat we would swap it for Savanna. Oud Timber for the cold months and Savanna for the warm ones makes a two-jar wardrobe for the whole year.

How do you wear it?

Use less than you think you need, and give the butter a moment to settle before you dress. A single application on the chest after a shower is enough for most evenings, because blends like this are easy to overdo. Expect 12+ hours on most skin, a little longer on damp skin.

If you own Oud Wood, put the butter on first and spray over it. We have no controlled test showing the pair lasts longer, so treat it as an experiment. As with any fragrance product, patch test first if your skin is sensitive.

What does it cost next to a bottle?

A bottle of Oud Wood costs about $280. A jar of Oud Timber is $34, about $246 less, or 2 for $59 and 3 for $78.99. If the scent is not right, there is a free scent swap within 14 days.

Bale is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Tom Ford.

Quick answers

• Is Oud Timber identical to Oud Wood? No. It follows the profile in a different formula and base, with fewer notes than the original lists.
• Is it a winter scent? In our view, yes, though it suits any cool evening.
• What goes with it? A fresh daytime scent such as Bleu Hour makes a sensible partner.
• Is it too sweet? Vanilla is one of our three notes, so it has some sweetness. If you want a dry scent, look at Bleu Hour.
• Who is it for? A man who likes wood and vanilla, and wants something with depth for the evening.

Look at Oud Timber body butter, or take the scent quiz to see where it sits among the six.