To start discussions off... my recommendations are:
Al Shareef Oudh: Al Shareef I
For the Wild Oud of the month, my recommendation is Alshareef I. I had the honour of smelling it from a sample vial and was dumbstruck. Oud is not meant to smell like this. It challenges the possibilities of what Oud could or should be and is hands down on a higher plane that some of the best Oud "Legends" I own.
I think the key differential between Ouds labelled "Legends" and Ouds that really are legendary is the skill and heritage of the distiller. The Alshareef I is clearly crafted by someone who is steeped in the art of Oud distillation, having been brought up in a family who has been perfecting their art for generations.
Given its price point, an honourable mention must go to Kedah Thaqeel by Imperial Oud. I was kindly sent a free sample by Faisal and it has a note that I have not personally come across before. Smooth, suave and sophisticated, its a bargain at $289. I am surprised it is not part of their top Zenith Range. I honestly think that this Oud could easily sit at a $550 - $800 range if sold through other vendors.
Imperial Oud: Fragrant Harbour
My Organic Oud of the month is Fragrant Harbour. WOW is all I can say!!! I own Kyara LTD, Kyara Koutan and other fantastic Ouds from Ensar Oud. Up to this date, I had never come across any other vendor who could produce an Oud with the same "Kinamic" green top note. Of course, as the Kyara expert KZ mentioned, none of these have real kinam in them, but they sure do smell superb. Fragrant Harbour has joined that pantheon for me.
It isn't that the other vendors can't match the notes I am talking about here, but I have not come across them... until now. If you missed out on the Ouds of yesteryear, you will not be disappointed with Fragrant Harbour. Does it smell the same? The top note from the dipstick certainly does. Where it is let down, is the drydown where the freshness of the oil is evident.
However, at $195, it is a "no-brainer" and this is an Oud that will improve dramatically with age.