What is Maison Francis Kurkdjian OUD velvet mood?
Maison Francis Kurkdjian OUD velvet mood is a new extrait de parfum from the Paris house’s co-founder and perfumer, Francis Kurkdjian. It joins the OUD mood collection, where Kurkdjian uses fabric textures to express oud in different ways. OUD silk mood took its cue from raw silk, while OUD satin mood followed the fluid feel of satin. This time, he turns to velvet and its soft, carnal touch. The house places the scent in the woody-fruity family, and authorised Maison Francis Kurkdjian retailers have stocked it since 1 September 2026.
What inspired OUD velvet mood?
The idea took shape in the UAE desert. Kurkdjian spent time among the dunes of Liwa, where the endless horizons and shifting sand left a strong impression. During a night in the Dubai desert, he also marvelled at how sand can feel like velvet. It holds the warmth of the day’s sun and stays soft to the touch. As a result, he set out to capture that blend of vast space and intimacy in a new extrait. He wanted the fragrance to land on the skin like a caress.
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What does Maison Francis Kurkdjian OUD velvet mood smell like?
The fragrance centres on three textures: soft peach skin, supple suede and the deep warmth of oud wood. Peach counts as a silent note in perfumery. Nature yields no extract, so Kurkdjian rebuilds it as an accord that stays juicy, round and velvety. Osmanthus adds leathery, apricot-like facets, while a suede accord gives the scent a bare-skin effect. The official note list also names saffron and grandiflorum jasmine. The peach tames the raw side of oud without changing its nature, and Kurkdjian describes the result as a pared-back, modern composition.
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Why does Francis Kurkdjian keep returning to oud?
Kurkdjian began exploring oud in 2012. The material won him over with its range, from smoky and animalic to honeyed, floral and even fruity. A Parisian perfumer at heart, he set out to view this wood, which many Eastern cultures treat as a symbol, through fresh eyes. Its raw, faintly animal sensuality also fascinates him. Animalic notes such as castoreum and civet have all but vanished from modern perfumery, so oud lets him keep a facet that is growing rare. According to the house, oud now forms part of the French perfumery tradition, just as patchouli, sandalwood and vetiver once did. The house says its oud comes from fair and sustainable trade.
Why is OUD velvet mood an extrait de parfum?
For Kurkdjian, the extrait is the ultimate form a fragrance can take. It carries the richest concentration and lets him work with noble materials, both natural and synthetic. For that reason, he chose this format to translate the desert’s textures into scent.
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What does the OUD velvet mood bottle look like?
The house’s signature bottle takes its cue from a crystal flacon that once fitted inside a travel case. Its square silhouette has sharp facets that never feel aggressive. The double KK monogram sits within the glass like a seal, while a golden cap repeats it on top. The cap also contrasts with the dark tinted glass. According to the house, this play of light and radiance echoes the world of OUD velvet mood.
How much does Maison Francis Kurkdjian OUD velvet mood cost?
Maison Francis Kurkdjian has not published AED pricing for the UAE market, but its international online store offers the closest guide. There, the 70ml bottle costs EUR 360, while the 35ml bottle costs EUR 235. That 70ml price matches the extrait de parfum of OUD satin mood, which also starts at EUR 235. In short, the scent offers a softer, more textured way into oud.
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