Impressions of French Avenue Azzure Aoud Eau de Toilette by Fragrance World Perfumes

Everyone has their own path to perfumery. Some never find it.

Despite the fact that I have constantly encountered perfumes in my life, it has never aroused any particular interest in me and its use was purely utilitarian.

My interest arose after I returned to shaving with classic safety razors, and through them to homemade soaps, lotions and balms.

One day, I decided to buy a copy of Chopard's Oud Malaki on OZON. The bottle arrived broken, spilling its contents into the box. To say I was stunned by the scent would be an understatement. Even though the contents were of unknown origin, likely Chinese or created in a Russian basement somewhere, I loved the scent so much that it sparked a strong interest in perfumes.

And off it went :-)

In starting these articles about perfumery, I aim to introduce those who, like me, were unaware of the vast world of perfumery, the raging passions and quiet high that a person gets from inhaling their own or someone else's scent.

It's clear that the majority of the world's population perceives aromas as simply smells: primarily as pleasant or unpleasant, and then simply as sweet or something else entirely. Few will analyze the aroma they smell into a complex set of aromas. Everyone will have their own associations with smells based on their life experiences. For example, some might detect something beautiful in the scent of oud, while others might smell the scent of undried felt boots.

What emerges in the brain: the aroma of tobacco leaves hanging to dry on plantations or the smell of bread frying on a hotplate in the industrial zone of a prison colony – is not decided by the person – but by their life experience, and that is what makes modern perfumery interesting.

Scientific advances allow us to create fragrances literally from molecules, and modern, high-quality perfumes will not only play with different aromas, but also do so for a long time.

Perfumes from the United Arab Emirates deserve special attention, as production has reached European standards, while prices are affordable and presentation is superior to that of elite niche products.

I won't describe my impressions in the order of my perfume purchases, but I'll start with a scent that left a lasting impression. In this case, it's French Avenu Azzur Aoud by Fragrance World Perfumes.

The eau de toilette comes in a wonderful, sturdy box with a lid that opens like a book cover.

The perfume was released after the French Avenue Liquid Brun eau de toilette, which created a sensation among perfume lovers and was created by the famous perfumer Quentin Bisch.

Fragrance World Perfumes decided to create French Avenue Azzure Aoud in-house.

On the bottom of the box, in addition to the warnings, is the list of ingredients for the eau de toilette. Along with the fragrance itself, water, and alcohol, there are also skin-care ingredients.

In addition, there's a genuine scratch code with a protective layer that can be used to determine the authenticity of the perfume—this is very convenient and relevant, as the Chinese are counterfeiting and selling counterfeit Arabic perfumes faster than the Arabs can produce them.

I consider it naive to determine authenticity simply by a QR code on the box, a hologram sticker, or the Honest Sign, as there's nothing stopping the Chinese from producing a 1:1 print of the original. The Chinese learned how to make hologram stickers several decades ago, and the Honest Sign doesn't guarantee that the bottle doesn't contain, for example, kerosene.

On one side of the box there is a real fragrance pyramid.

Main notes: Passion fruit, Saffron, Rose.

Middle notes: Oud, Patchouli, Benzoin.

Base notes: Leather, Cistus, Vanilla, Amber.

Cistus oil is used in aromatherapy as a warming, antiseptic, and soothing agent. Its aroma relieves bladder inflammation and regulates circulation. Cistus oil is also used in cosmetics for its beneficial effects on hair and dandruff.

As I already wrote, the presentation alone is worth the price for which this eau de toilette is sold.

The bottle's design will amaze many, but some will find it tasteless.

On the front of the bottle there is an imitation stone, the same as on the box, on the back there is a raised inscription FRENCH AVENUE.

There is also a stone framed on top of the lid.

There are no serial numbers on the lid.

There are no numbers on the bottle itself either. There's a sticker with the logo on the bottom.

In most cases, Arabian perfumes need to be stored in a dark place after shipment to settle for at least a couple of weeks; however, this eau de toilette demonstrated its amazing properties immediately upon receipt.

My impressions upon receipt, without letting it sit: a passionfruit-like scent of paint thinner, orange peel, and plastic. I can't imagine how a female could wear this. And you wouldn't take it to a factory—no one would be surprised by the smell of paint thinner and vinyl cable insulation. I can't imagine wearing it under anything, either a suit or casual wear. The medicinal smell will give rise to questions like, "Are you okay?"

Then the passion fruit disappears within an hour and the familiar scent of leather, musk and oud remains.

Amazing staying power. After six hours, I changed my T-shirt, and the scent permeated the second one. The scent lingered the next morning. It smelled like stale sweat. I don't even need this kind of perfume—just go a couple of days without washing.

Even if you spray it on a piece of paper and take that piece of paper in your hands, your hands will still have that scent even after washing your hands.

It is unclear why the same amazing durability cannot be achieved with neutral fragrances.

Of course, I read angry reviews from customers, but I decided to take a chance, but I didn’t realize how right they would be.

There have been cases where, after letting it settle, the aroma changed, and the user went from dislike to a passionate love. Also, people who have eaten a lot of passion fruit won't have such a strong association with a car repair shop.

On international platforms this toilet water is given 10 points out of 10.

This incident once again confirms that fragrances should be experienced either in the store or through a 10-milliliter decant, which is more appropriate. I can't imagine how anyone could wear a fragrance or draw conclusions from less than 10 milliliters of perfume.

A sample bottle (decanter), with delivery throughout Russia and Belarus, of this fragrance can be ordered here by sending me a private message.