Fragrant oud incense smoke rising from burning agarwood chips

Yes, without question. Oud has never been a men’s-only material, it is worn across the Gulf and South Asia by women every day, and plenty of the most acclaimed oud fragrances on the market are marketed as unisex or specifically for women.

How Women Tend to Wear It

The gendering of oud as “masculine” is really a Western marketing habit, borrowed from how designer houses positioned their first oud launches in the 2010s. In its home markets, oud is blended with rose, saffron, or sweet florals precisely to soften and lift it for women’s wear, alongside pure, deep oud oils worn just as they are. A rose-oud blend or a lighter oud attar can be every bit as elegant as any other perfume oil.

Where to Start

If you are new to it, start with a blended oud rather than a pure, intense oil. Our complete guide to oud explains the different styles, and the complete guide to perfume has more on choosing scents that suit you rather than a label. Our perfume oils for women range includes several oud-based blends worth trying.