Local Oud Perfume Trends in the UK: What’s Popular in 2025?

There’s something timeless about fragrance. It’s personal, emotional, and quietly powerful. In the UK, where perfume is not just an accessory but part of one’s daily identity, Oud-based fragrances are making a strong statement in 2025. Once seen as an exotic import, oud has gradually become a staple in many British households, and today, it sits proudly on vanity shelves from London to Leeds.

As preferences evolve, so too does the role of oud in British perfumery. In this article, we’ll explore the current oud trends in the UK for 2025, looking at what’s popular, how the market has shifted, and what people are actually wearing and loving right now.

The Rise of Oud in Everyday Scents

Agarwood, or Oud, is a traditional, exclusive, and luxurious product. It is considered to have a rich and woody nature that is very popular in the Middle East but less commercialized in the UK where it was first marketed in specialty markets. By 2020, there was an increasing number of British shoppers who were coming to like its depth and complexity. Fast forward to 2025, and oud has become an integral part of the newest perfume trends in the UK.

Among the evident transformations is the fact that oud is currently combined with lighter and fresher notes. Where it was formerly introduced in all its smokiness, Perfumers are now smoothing out its edges by adding terms such as rose, bergamot and vanilla. This has made oud easier to wear in everyday contexts and look more desirable to the young consumers of fragrances.

Oud for Him, Oud for Her—and Everyone in Between

It was common to sell oud in virile masculine odors. But gendered marketing is eventually dying in the world of fragrances. Later in 2025, we witness the increase of unisex oud perfumes, which is an indication of trends in identity and self-expression in the society in general.

Products like Jo Malone London and Penhaligon oud scents are becoming made and these products do not seem either too masculine and even flowery. Rather, they are multilayered, multidimensional, and flexible. Smell may be different and this is utterly different according to each individual and this is the aspect which modern consumers appreciate most.

Affordable Luxury: Local Brands Embracing Oud

The most promising part of oud trends in the UK of 2025 is that local perfume houses begin to introduce oud to the high street. Some of these British brands have been spawned by Instagram and by Etsy and are making oud blends of high quality without the exorbitant budget.

The urban perfumers, located in Birmingham, Bradford and Manchester are smaller companies with ties to their South Asian and Middle Eastern roots. Most become motivated by the classic attars but have a contemporary angle on the representation and perfume mixes. To take an example, oud is actually being combined with notes of apple, lavender or even green tea to provide it a more modern bend, but without taking its essence away.

The compatibility of these perfumes is causing the appeal to new market segments who might have previously found the traditional oud perfumes to be overbearing and unaffordable.

Layering: The Fragrance Trend Everyone is Trying

One of the latest perfume trends UK of the year lies in scent layering and oud is contributing to the trend quite enormously. Consumers in Britain are becoming increasingly comfortable in spraying various perfumes together in a bid to come up with a more personal fragrance. Oud is a great foundation layer owing to its lasting effects and deep textures.

Human beings are combining oud with lighter floral/citrus fragrance in an effort to strike that middle ground between profound and fresh. Some perfume lovers even apply oud oils on the skin and then spray over them with a lighter perfume. The approach assists in ensuring a longer-lasting fragrance, which is not too strong and not overpowering at the same time.

This is a trend that beauty retailers have stopped to consider. The stores have now introduced workshops and samples that make people interested in the art of layering and there are numerous new sets of perfs being sold in duos specifically with the aim of experimenting with layering.

Cultural Influence and Oud’s Popularity in Diverse Communities

The popularity of oud can be explained by one of the reasons: its cultural significance. It has always been a tradition to play the oud in cities that are heavily populated with South Asian population as well as Middle Eastern population. In such places as Leicester, Luton and the East End of London, oud is a common smell that accompanies celebrations and weddings and even the day to day living.

What’s Selling in 2025?

Here’s a look at what’s popular this year when it comes to oud trends in the UK 2025:

Oud & Rose: Another classic that has remained in vogue. The sweetness of the flowers offers the right amount of contrast to the richness of the oud and it is good during the day as it is wearable in the evening too.

Oud and Amber: The medium-toned warmer mixture, suitable to autumn and winter seasons. It is warm, comforting, and gorgeous on the skin.

New Oud Accords: These contain oud combined with citrus, mint or cucumber, with a cleaner, more contemporary note, which is liked by younger perfume customers.

Oud Oils: The growing popularity of more people going back to the use of traditional forms of fragrances such as concentrated oils. It is usually non-alcoholic and has a longer life than sprays which are more preferable.

Oud Candles and Home Scents: Oud has also entered into the home fragrance scene and established its place in home perfume products other than personal. It produces a cozy, rich fragrance which is suitable for living room and a bedroom.

Oud Sourcing and Sustainability

As oud becomes more mainstream, questions about its sourcing are increasing. Oud is a product of agarwood which is produced when trees of the genre Aquilaria become infected with a specific kind of mould. Due to over harvesting, these trees are now being regarded as endangered in certain parts of the globe.

Many British perfume companies are dealing with it by collaborating with environmentally friendly farms and synthetic scents of oud in 2025 that perfectly replicate the smell but will not harm the earth. Consumers too are getting more conscious and inquiring about the source of their perfumes besides its scent.

Scent is no longer the only thing that matters when selecting a perfume, as transparency and especially sustainability are receiving a lot of attention. A few of the local brands are open about their sourcing information and this transparency finds a favorable response among an increasing number of enlightened consumers.

The Future of Oud in the UK

Looking ahead, it’s clear that oud is more than just a passing trend. It’s becoming part of British fragrance culture in a real, lasting way. As tastes evolve and more people explore the world of scent, oud will continue to be reinterpreted and rediscovered.

It’s no longer just reserved for special occasions or high-end boutiques. Oud in 2025 is about variety, personality, and everyday wear. Whether you prefer a bold statement fragrance or a subtle touch of warmth, there’s likely an oud blend waiting to match your style.