The House of Oud — Crop 2023
Essence
Crop 2023 is the cannabis-and-Hindi-oud entry in The House of Oud’s annual Crop line: hemp accord, white pepper and black oud in a green, aromatic, slightly narcotic study. It is collectible and divisive, with many wearers finding it softer than the concept promises.
Scent Profile
The opening presents Hindi oud with white pepper, then a cannabis accord gradually wraps around it. The hemp reads green, aromatic and narcotic rather than loudly skunky, though some noses notice animalic or body-odor facets early. As it develops, the fragrance moves into bitter-green territory with fig-leaf, violet-leaf or rhubarb-like impressions depending on skin. The oud is present but often surprisingly faint for a Crop release. The drydown is woody-green, mildly sweet and fairly linear. The best reading is peppered hemp over light oud; the worst is thin green oddity with too little agarwood payoff.
Performance
Performance is a weak point. It can open with some force, then settles into a personal close-wearing scent with moderate longevity. Give it time past the difficult opening, but do not expect a huge oud trail.
Wearing Context
Crop 2023 is for collectors, oud-tolerant wearers and private cool-weather settings. The cannabis idea makes it risky for offices or conservative environments. It leans masculine and niche, more conversation piece than daily signature.
Comparisons & DNA
Encelade is a useful reference for the sweet rhubarb-like green facet, though Crop 2023 is less synthetic and more oud-framed. Roja Elysium Eau Intense is mentioned only for isolating a bright green aromatic facet, not as a true twin. Within the Crop line, many wearers prefer the mint, palo santo, coconut or coffee entries. Crop 2023’s DNA is green aromatic oud with hemp as the hook.
Reception
Reception is mixed-to-negative by the standards of a collector line. Criticism centers on weak performance, faint oud, the weed association and a body-odor opening. Defenders argue that patience reveals a pleasant spicy green oud. The blind-buy answer is no at luxury pricing. It is more interesting as a sample or collector artifact than as a broadly wearable scent.
Versions & Reformulation
Single composition, limited to 507 numbered bottles and now discontinued or hard to find. It is one annual Crop edition, not a reformulation of an earlier scent.
Acquisition Notes
Crop 2023 sits in luxury collector territory, with 75 ml numbered bottles and secondary-market scarcity. Decants are the practical route. Verify provenance and numbering if buying a bottle, especially outside official channels.
Notable Facts & Lore
- The Crop line pairs a yearly oud harvest with an unexpected material.
- Crop 2023 explores hemp as the irreverent partner material.
- The edition was presented as prized black oud meeting an intoxicating hemp accord.
- The cannabis concept drove much of the curiosity and many of the jokes around the release.