Three bottles arrived from House of Moksha! A perfume house that’s doing something rather revolutionary in India. While everyone else is importing their soul from China, these clever people are staying true to their roots, using genuine Indian ingredients and decades of the family’s legacy in natural essential oils that speak with European elegance and Arabic gravitas. They’re crafting fragrances for everyone: men, women, and those deliciously ambiguous unisex numbers that make life more interesting.

TheGlitz received their calling cards: Leather, Saffron, and Vetiver Oud. So, pull up a chair, and let’s draw back the curtain on these distinct, gentle, unisex personalities.

Leather Oud Eau De Parfum: For the Boardroom Maverick

There’s something undeniably masculine about Leather Oud that announces itself before you’ve even lifted your wrist. The cardamom opening strikes with the confidence of a man who knows his worth: spicy, immediate, and unapologetic. As it settles, the leather emerges not as the harsh, raw note one might fear, but as something more akin to a hand-crafted wallet, softened by jasmine sambac that whispers rather than shouts its floral intentions.

The dry-down reveals House of Moksha’s sophistication. Patchouli, amber, and moss create a foundation that’s earthy without being heavy and sensual without crossing into the overtly seductive. This is a fragrance for the man who commands a room not through volume but presence. While it’s a beautiful scent, you might wish for a little more of a journey from the start to the finish – it stays pretty much the same from here on, lacking the intrigue you find in some other scents. But for a special evening or a moment when you want to feel truly confident, Leather Oud delivers with quiet authority.

Here’s the thing:

…it’s almost too straightforward. You get the opening, the middle, and the end – boom, boom, boom. A little more mystery wouldn’t hurt. Still, if you’re the sort who likes his intention clear and his presence felt, Leather Oud will serve you beautifully. Just don’t expect it to surprise you on the third wearing.

Saffron Oud: For the Traveller in You

If Leather Oud is the corporate executive, Saffron Oud is the worldly collector of experiences. That precious saffron opening – House of Moksha wisely restrains it from becoming a parody of luxury and unfolds like silk against skin, immediately transporting one to distant markets and whispered denials. The clove offers warmth without the medicinal bite, unlike the other lesser interpretations, creating a middle act that feels both exotic and wearable.

The base trio of oud, amber, and vanilla should, by rights, feel heavy and heady. Instead, House of Moksha demonstrates their blending prowess by creating something that settles into the skin like a second nature. The vanilla stays refined, never veering into sweetness, while the oud remains elegant and free of the usual earthy distractions that often plague this precious ingredient.

Where Saffron Oud occasionally stumbles is in its projection; while the longevity impresses, there are moments when one wishes for a touch more presence. Perfect for workdays, but it doesn’t quite hit when you need a scent that speaks louder. Nevertheless, this is a fragrance that grows more appealing with familiarity, revealing subtle facets that reward the patient wearer.

My only complaint?

…sometimes I wish it would speak up. The longevity is admirable. It’ll stay with you through the evening and beyond, but there are moments when I want a little more presence. Sophistication rarely shouts. And this fragrance has sophistication in spades.

Vetiver Oud: The Gentleman’s Daily Armour

The most versatile of the trio, Vetiver Oud opens with a burst of optimism: bergamot and orange blossom that suggest summer mornings and steam-pressed polos. This is House of Moksha at their most accessible, crafting something that bridges the gap between special occasion and daily wear with remarkable grace. The jasmine and rose heart walk the delicate line between masculine and feminine territory, landing firmly in that contemporary unisex space where the most interesting fragrances now reside.

The sandalwood base provides creamy depth without heaviness, while the oud remains a supporting player rather than the star; a wise choice that allows the composition to breathe. This moderation, however, might also be its limitation. While undeniably pleasant and well-crafted, Vetiver Oud occasionally feels too polite, too concerned with causing no offence. The rough edges that might give it character have been smoothed away, leaving something undeniably pleasant but perhaps lacking the memorable quirks that separate the good from the great.

Here’s my confession

For the man seeking a daily signature that whispers sophistication without shouting for attention, Vetiver Oud succeeds admirably. It’s almost too agreeable. Quietly confident in its understated excellence.