Oud and cocoa is a combination nobody was asking for, and Nouveau Monde is the argument for why they should have been. The oud brings the smoke and the resin, the cocoa brings a dry bitterness rather than sweetness, and the two turn out to share a darkness that makes them fit together far better than the description suggests.
Why you will love this oud and cocoa perfume
The cocoa here is unsweetened, which is the key to the whole thing. It reads as bitter and dusty, closer to raw cacao than to chocolate, and that bitterness runs in the same direction as the oud instead of fighting it. What you get is a deep, dry, slightly gourmand oud that is genuinely unlike anything else on the shelf.
- Oud and cocoa in a pairing you will not find from another house
- Unsweetened cocoa, bitter and dusty rather than chocolatey
- Real oud depth underneath, smoky and resinous
- Nine hours and more on skin, and days on wool
- Built for winter evenings and cold weather
- The 200ml bottle, much better value per millilitre
The scent
It opens dark straight away, with cocoa and oud arriving almost together. The cocoa is dry and bitter, dusting the top of the fragrance rather than sweetening it. Underneath, the oud is smoky and resinous with a leathery edge. Amber warms the base through the second hour and softens the bitterness into something rounder and skin-close.
Who it is for
People who already own several ouds and want one that does something different. It suits winter, evening, and anyone who enjoys a fragrance that starts conversations. Fully unisex. The 200ml size is the sensible buy here, because this is a fragrance people become attached to.
How to use it
Two sprays. This is a dense composition and it builds rather than fades, so restraint is sensible in the morning. Apply to the chest and the back of the neck, and add one to a coat collar in winter.
Key details
- Fragrance family: gourmand, oud, woody
- Key notes: oud wood, bitter cocoa, amber
- Concentration: eau de parfum
- Perfumer: Jacques Cavallier Belletrud
- Bottle: refillable
- Suitable for men and women
- Sourced and sold by Jmaloo as an independent retailer. Jmaloo is not an authorised Louis Vuitton stockist.
Size
200 ml
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