903 Oud IlamWoody Musky Extrait de Parfum

903 Oud Ilam by Bon Parfumeur is a niche woody, spicy and musky perfume extract, unisex, created by perfumer Serge de Oliveira. This perfume was previously called 903 Baies du Népal - Safran - Oud.

A house where the number indicates the olfactory family

Bon Parfumeur is a Parisian house founded in 2017 by Ludovic Bonneton, a passionate collector who became artistic director. The project was born from two things: his return from Colombia, where he lived surrounded by the scents of cocoa, coffee and tropical flowers, and his meeting with the great perfumer Raymond Chaillan, who showed him that perfume could be described through the five senses rather than through words. Its distinctive feature is its numbering system, which is far from arbitrary: the first digit indicates the olfactory family, the next two indicate the perfume's rank within that family — with the 900 series reserved for those that defy classification. The creations are designed from the outset to be mixed and layered — the Mix & Match principle. Everything is made in France. The extracts are distinguished by their gold cap.

An opening of coriander seed, Timur berries and saffron

Timur berries open with a spicy and zesty character, with their distinctive grapefruit facet — and already something animalic. The coriander seed brings freshness and the saffron its warm, leathery heat. The contrast is immediate.

A heart of iris and patchouli

Iris creates a cool and elegant powderiness, while Indonesian patchouli provides its dark earthiness. Only two materials: the heart serves as a transition between the lively spices and the animalic base.

A base of musks, sandalwood and oud

Oud unfolds its dark and animalic nuances, supported by creamy sandalwood and a Tonkin musk accord. The trail is ample, deep and very long-lasting.

The house's signature

Ilam is not a decorative word: it is a region in Nepal. This is where the Timur berries that open the perfume come from — a material that has recently entered perfumers' palettes, prized for its spicy, citrusy and animalic facets. The perfume's name therefore brings together oud and the exact origin of its top note. As for the brief, it was unusual, and the perfumer himself points it out: "I loved the idea of recreating the scents of period objects. As a perfumer, artistic direction often revolves around landscapes or destinations. Ludovic preferred to work with places, objects and materials. The concrete and the solid resulted in the poetry of the perfume." Bonneton had set the scene: "The magic of an afternoon browsing among antique dealers. Identifying with the different styles of the pieces. Rare ingredients, like the objects on display."

For whom, for what occasions?

Woody, spicy and musky, this perfume extract is for those who love oud and are looking for an unapologetic animalic character. It gives its best from autumn to winter, in the evening, and is worn equally well by women and men.

With 903 Oud Ilam Bon Parfumeur, Serge de Oliveira captures an afternoon among antique dealers in a bottle.