I've purchased Real Oud made by David F for a large number of years now. The first communication was when he released his first round of naturals, and some of the old legends of perfume review inspired a purchase (particularly "deadidol"). This was my first exposure to oud sourced in naturals and in context to touches that David added. Love::immediately. I have purchased through those years nearly every iteration, as well as further perfumes, and David's flower perfumes are some of my favorites (Sammarco, and then there was the recent tuberose based one). I have been a lover of his Far NW perfume, and I have purchased variations of Real Oud Feral. I've even gotten some of the more modern offerings with strong and energetic incense or rose presences among good aroma chemicals, and even those--while not my favorites--have shown me that David is maturing. When David starting really playing with more musk in the Real Oud variations, I started sensing a very professional ability to make space within the combined array of notes. This means easier professional wear, and a deftness that transcends just simply amazing source materials. Anyway, the Real Out musk series (last round) was close to what I would keep if I had to get rid of everything else. But now Real Oud 24 dropped in and it is glorious. It is easily the top perfume in my now narrowed down collection (I am only playing now between David's stuff and some of the older oud perfumes I already had and of course straight oud). When Real Oud musk came out, I thought this is pretty close to what I would've loved if Masque Montecristo would have been better produced at a craft level (not identical smell, just that very distinguished, rough edged and elegant effect). Close. But this Real Old 24 is exactly what I've wanted all the other creations (David and others) to achieve: powerful oud and musk presence, not dense as a wall, but with space within that is easy to wear and play with all day, and masculine. It is an absolute treasure, and a real testament to David's getting deeper and understanding his own vision. Must buy.
