The Belle Fleur Imperial Oudh candle is an incense scent that tries to stay soft. Below is the brand’s description, a reviewer’s comparison with other dark candles and the full list of notes.
If Imperial Oudh were a man, he’d be tall, dark and handsome, but totally in touch with his feminine side. A study in contrast, it is inspired by the gentleman’s private library. The exotic wood paneling, the scent of a crackling fireplace, row upon row of leather-bound books, the worn Chesterfield leather sofa, the hint of pipe tobacco in the air…and in the midst of all this masculinity, a sumptuous bouquet of delicate roses, adding balance and just the right touch of femininity to make it a perfect world.
Belle Fleur describes this scent as elegant and mysterious. I love those labels for this scent and I adore the description they provide. It isn’t as much of a leather bound library/wood paneled den for me as their Kyara Clove fragrance, but it is definitely masculine and curious.
Imperial Oudh is more of a incense fragrance – the type when customers declare “Smells like church!”. It doesn’t have the sweetness of Opium Den, but the incense, smoke and spices remind me of it. Cire Trudon Spiritus Sancti, Tobi Tobin Signature and many of the Alexa Rodulfo fragrances fall into this category. Worn wood, incense and a cold quality of dark empty halls in a damp castle.
What the Belle Fleur Imperial Oudh candle brings to the table is a feminine touch that the others don’t. Notes of rose, violet and amber bring a softness to the scent. There are curtains on the walls and pillows on the couch but the fireplace is still unlit.
- Top Notes: Violet, Tobacco Leaf
- Middle Notes: Moroccan Rose Absolute, Oudh, Tolu
- Base Notes: Spice, Amber, Smoke, Leather, Labdanum
Burn quality 4/5. Fragrance intensity 3/5.
What kind of scent is the Belle Fleur Imperial Oudh candle?
Belle Fleur imagines a gentleman’s private library, with wood paneling, leather books and a hint of pipe tobacco. The reviewer finds it less of a den than Kyara Clove, but still masculine and curious. She places it in the incense family, the type where customers say it smells like church.
Oud is a resinous wood used in perfumery and incense, and you can find background on Wikipedia. Her comparisons are Modern Alchemy Opium Den, Cire Trudon Spiritus Sancti, Tobi Tobin Signature and several Alexa Rodulfo candles.
That church comparison is helpful. Incense candles smell of smoke, resin and spice, and many people find them calming for the same reason that others find them heavy. The Belle Fleur Imperial Oudh candle sits closer to the calm end, thanks to the rose, violet and amber.
The reviewer also describes cold, dark empty halls in a damp castle as the mood of the category. That is a poetic way to say that these candles feel quiet and serious, and it helps you picture where the Belle Fleur Imperial Oudh candle belongs.
If you are curious about the Belle Fleur Imperial Oudh candle, think of it as a dark, calm scent with a softer side. It is not a fruity or sugary candle, so do not expect sweetness.
The feminine touch in an incense candle
What sets this one apart, she says, is rose, violet and amber, which soften the smoke. In her picture, there are curtains on the walls and pillows on the couch, but the fireplace is still unlit.
The notes read like that scene. Violet and tobacco leaf lead, Moroccan rose absolute, oudh and tolu form the middle, and spice, amber, smoke, leather and labdanum sit underneath. For another dark, leathery pick, see our post on NEST Cashmere Suede.
Labdanum and tolu are resins, and both appear in perfumery for warmth. Smoke and leather sit with them, so the base feels dry and deep. This is a good example of why reading the base notes of the Belle Fleur Imperial Oudh candle tells you more about the long burn than the top notes do.
Taken together, the notes explain why the Belle Fleur Imperial Oudh candle feels both smoky and gentle at once.
When to burn it
With burn quality of 4 out of 5 and fragrance intensity of 3 out of 5, it is a candle for a study, a reading chair or a dining room after dinner. The intensity is moderate, so it should not take over a whole house.
If incense candles are new to you, burn one in a room with some airflow and see how you feel after an hour. For a lighter use of rose from the same brand, read our review of Belle Fleur Velvet Santal.
A few words on safety: smoky candles can feel stronger in small spaces, so give them space. Keep the wick trimmed to avoid extra soot, and place the candle where no draft will bend the flame.
The reviewer scores it 4 out of 5 for burn quality and 3 out of 5 for fragrance intensity, which suits an evening in one room. If you want a hint of the library mood without overwhelming everyone, the Belle Fleur Imperial Oudh candle is a fair choice.
In the end, the Belle Fleur Imperial Oudh candle suits people who want a serious, quiet scent in a room used for reading or talking.
