Brother Nadeem. Even if you dont believe it I really feel the pain of those who have been cheated in the name of Oud. I am really not in a position to give a rational opinion as I belong to post BN Oud Era. I am also a latecomer to these amazing forums. I have no idea about what was going on at basenotes either or these forums. I learnt all that in my last involvement which I now regret.

But I feel we cannot have those sour feeeling on both sides destroy the community. Just that. You guys have are seniors in the biz you will know the best way to deal with it. I am sure many like me are joining both forums on a daily basis. I keep talking about both forums in my videos. Because there is so much to learn here.

But when such topics are raised and vendors are shamed associations are bound to rise. Because some like me got introduced to artisanal oud through Russian Adam or Ensar Oud or Sultan Pasha. SP is a very good friend of mine. He introduced me to these guys. Then by God s grace I met so many other vendors. Similarly many must have met ASO or IO first. So they will also have a sense of respect for these guys. I do too.

So basically when these vendors fight its us who lose trust. We are not lucky to have met our distillers. We are mere observers. Infact brother Zak is the only artisan of Oud I have met and had a proper Oud mehfil with.

When we know each other much better most misconceptions will go. But really in my humble belief (no diplomacy) I think the situation is still repairable. Its the sawaal of Oud. Everything comes after. Consider my request to reconcile. I am not posting there because more readers and participants are here. And as always snapshots will be shared. So cool with it.

Peace and blessings. Man is made of circumstances and experiences. I strongly believe everything is repairable. Just my thought.


Respected doctor, thanks for your excellent comments. No one wants strife, but when constant attacks come from a certain quarter, you can maintain patient for a while, but its human nature to respond at some point. The question is what should the community do about a single vendor who has a history of attacks and slander despite being advised by those close to him - including me previously.
 
🙁 What else can express the state of mind better than this emoji! Nothing.

Oleoresin. Auxiliary/ Accessory notes. Oleorisin & Oil. Price & Pricing. Well, all are to be discussed, and they have been discussed. Majority came up with solid arguments. But 'All's well that ends well'. And 'end' is yet awaited.

One thing for sure: when two clashing viewpoints emerge about a single reality; one is definitely faulty. Both cannot be correct. If frame of reference is to be included, then both are 'half truths' that is rather damaging than an incorrect view-point. It doesn't mean whose view is wrong is to be punished. One's endeavour to see the truth and say true is to be valued. So do I respect all participants. In Islamic Jurisprudence, if two 'faqeeh= jurits' have two opposite views, both are respected and honoured, but one whose decree is logical is to be followed. I simply apply this universally acknowledged parameter of Islamic Jurisprudence whenever I face some perplexing opposite views about Oud here. All are respected, but one is to be followed. Moreover, a folk lore I was narrated that goes so at the end: If some one has positive views about all is either a skin saver or is having poor judgement.

Oleoresin and Auxiliary notes have been defined in a best possible way by respected Jawed. Had respected Shabby expressed diametrically opposite viewpoint than that of Jawed? I don't think so. What I get from the posts is no more than the difference in the definition of the terms under discussion.

Resin & Oud: It is yet a riddle. @F4R1d0uX: My dear and respected most brother, you posted some snap-shots to prove that it is impossible. I do agree with you. But if I would like not to agree, it will be rather appropriate. Reason? I don't know who that master is, if he is. Why master under cover? Suppose, I am in favour of Mr. Ensar's statement, I would have left those snap-shots unread as 'invisible masters' in reality don't inspire. PLEASE NEVER MIND. I KNOW YOU HAVE AN AMPLE HEART. I JUST PIN POINTED WHAT I FELT. Your sincerity, purity and gentility and JOVIALITY is ideal. But here, the point under discussion was too too sensitive. So I didn't find myself making views on some unknown and unseen masters. Please never mind.

Distillation & Price & Pricing: I have been saying since the first day of my joining this Home-like Forum, OUD IS A LUXURY, NOT A NECESSITY. So price cannot be questioned. BUT THERE IS A VERY IMPORTANT THING: trying to befool buyers and using tactics to emotionally black-mail and creating UNNECESSARY HYPE is to be questioned. I am against high prices, but I know it is I who am responsible for all this. I remember a couple of years before, The Saudi government initiated a boycott-campaign against the vendors selling tomatoes at an abnormal price. Within a week, those big guns turned to be dwarfs. Anyway, it is a digression. My point is why that much hype.

So far as distillation goes, it is obvious. We are no chickens at all. I am sure, there are such vendors who don't claim they do so. Don't they deserve doff off. Yes, they do. I know there are vendors who are partially distillers. And I am sure there are certain vendors who really distill on their own. And there are definitely such vendors who don't distill, but they say so. BUT FOR ME THE MOST INTERESTING SPECIES IS THOSE WHO CAN'T DISTILL, BUT THEY CLAIM SO. And last, there are who really distill on their own, and they say so. AND THERE ARE WHO REALLY DISTILL BUT THEY MUST STOP DISTILLING, FOR GOD'S SAKE:Roflmao::Roflmao::Roflmao:!

@Nikhil S: I am a great admirer of your flare. Just pay heed to my view, I beseech, about price. Who are responsible? Marketing: Godamm it. You know, now I feel Oud is being sold like a 'lather cream' that is actually for men, but in advertisement, that is launched by Kim Kardasian. And Me poor, even with beard, run for that. Poor me. Again, how many of us are here to be daring enough to decide on solid grounds. I don't blame vendors, I blame my own poor coward and skin-saving self.

Zak brother's oils, IO's Oils (brothers Faheem and Faizal),: These two are more than visible. Again digression: I suggested brother Faheem to raise prices of his offerings, and he, as usual, with an innocent smile just said: IT IS ENOUGH. :Cry::Cry::Cry:! I am sure, brother Zakir is not earning that much. Though Faheem's is😛😛😛! I must quote a saying that is much popular in our village: The man murdered is equally responsible for his murder, as why he came within the range of the murderer. Dear Nikhil, if we are murdered, we are responsible. Last, I have been reading about BAIT SAMPLING. (It doesn't include Tokens of Love). If sampling for wangling reviews is being made, who are responsible. Definitely, I am. I mean the wearers. I don't know who gets samples, but when it is highlighted, it shows YES IT EXISTS. Oud Terrorism is getting hold day by day. It is to be shunned.

To conclude, my respected most @Ouddict posted a picture of some Oud, and a statement of that very vendor about barn note. Of course, that shows there is some problem. That can be a mistake, or an error, or a trickery, or a try to create difference, etc. God knows better. But that picture and that statement show some sort of gap. Oils speak. What about this picture and statement? They do speak as well. There is a fault line somewhere, and that somewhere is not hidden. But it doesn't mean that that very vendor's oils are not good. His oils are beyond and beyond, more than excellent. But I have stopped buying because I have found 'a fault line' there. Yet I love his oils. And I appreciate his unique efforts. My not buying won't damage any vendor. I am sure. But I am not a skin saver. Whatever is to be decided, that needs hell dynamic flare.

The only thing that is highly interesting is when vendors and certain experts (not kidding, nor sarcasm) share views, even getting bitter, certain persons come up with such roles that is played by 'EXTRAS' in Bollywood movies. In Urdu there is a proverb: 'Tou koun, maen khaah-makhaah- Who are you , Mr,? Oh, I'm, hmm, umm, Intruder'. Again, not vendors, but wearers are responsible.

Peace and Love to all. This is the beauty of this Forum that dear Nikhil and I can post any thing, bitter or sweet. Who dare to do so on the other Forum😉😉😉? We would have been History.

PS: By the way I learn this expression from the other Forum: Someone is History. And by the way, history repeats, and history avenges.

May God bless us all.
Dear Rai, great post you nailed again as usual:thumbsup:
 
Respected doctor, thanks for your excellent comments. No one wants strife, but when constant attacks come from a certain quarter, you can maintain patient for a while, but its human nature to respond at some point. The question is what should the community do about a single vendor who has a history of attacks and slander despite being advised by those close to him - including me previously.
That is surely one area seniors can work upon. Well, I have decided today to really stay away from such posts. Really dont want to participate in such discussions. I am sure you know Ensar bhai better than me. You guys were close friends at one time I believe. I have lost some friends on the way as well. I completely understand your perspective. But you know I really pray for you guys. May God give us all sense of understanding and meaning to life. But this was a nice discussion I believe irrespective of our tones and demeanours. Next time hopefully we will see more meaningful discourses full of oud information. Afterall thats what all of us want. If I have hurt someone with my questions and tough stance I apologise. The intention was to have a solid and direct discussion and it was an enjoyable moment. Lets hope one day an equilibrium is achieved. Disagreements and misunderstandings are part of everyday life. But if good things come out of it good enough. I am enjoying my Mr Barn at the moment. Sensibility has set in.

Cheers to all the Oudy people.
 
🙁 What else can express the state of mind better than this emoji! Nothing.

Oleoresin. Auxiliary/ Accessory notes. Oleorisin & Oil. Price & Pricing. Well, all are to be discussed, and they have been discussed. Majority came up with solid arguments. But 'All's well that ends well'. And 'end' is yet awaited.

One thing for sure: when two clashing viewpoints emerge about a single reality; one is definitely faulty. Both cannot be correct. If frame of reference is to be included, then both are 'half truths' that is rather damaging than an incorrect view-point. It doesn't mean whose view is wrong is to be punished. One's endeavour to see the truth and say true is to be valued. So do I respect all participants. In Islamic Jurisprudence, if two 'faqeeh= jurits' have two opposite views, both are respected and honoured, but one whose decree is logical is to be followed. I simply apply this universally acknowledged parameter of Islamic Jurisprudence whenever I face some perplexing opposite views about Oud here. All are respected, but one is to be followed. Moreover, a folk lore I was narrated that goes so at the end: If some one has positive views about all is either a skin saver or is having poor judgement.

Oleoresin and Auxiliary notes have been defined in a best possible way by respected Jawed. Had respected Shabby expressed diametrically opposite viewpoint than that of Jawed? I don't think so. What I get from the posts is no more than the difference in the definition of the terms under discussion.

Resin & Oud: It is yet a riddle. @F4R1d0uX: My dear and respected most brother, you posted some snap-shots to prove that it is impossible. I do agree with you. But if I would like not to agree, it will be rather appropriate. Reason? I don't know who that master is, if he is. Why master under cover? Suppose, I am in favour of Mr. Ensar's statement, I would have left those snap-shots unread as 'invisible masters' in reality don't inspire. PLEASE NEVER MIND. I KNOW YOU HAVE AN AMPLE HEART. I JUST PIN POINTED WHAT I FELT. Your sincerity, purity and gentility and JOVIALITY is ideal. But here, the point under discussion was too too sensitive. So I didn't find myself making views on some unknown and unseen masters. Please never mind.

Distillation & Price & Pricing: I have been saying since the first day of my joining this Home-like Forum, OUD IS A LUXURY, NOT A NECESSITY. So price cannot be questioned. BUT THERE IS A VERY IMPORTANT THING: trying to befool buyers and using tactics to emotionally black-mail and creating UNNECESSARY HYPE is to be questioned. I am against high prices, but I know it is I who am responsible for all this. I remember a couple of years before, The Saudi government initiated a boycott-campaign against the vendors selling tomatoes at an abnormal price. Within a week, those big guns turned to be dwarfs. Anyway, it is a digression. My point is why that much hype.

So far as distillation goes, it is obvious. We are no chickens at all. I am sure, there are such vendors who don't claim they do so. Don't they deserve doff off. Yes, they do. I know there are vendors who are partially distillers. And I am sure there are certain vendors who really distill on their own. And there are definitely such vendors who don't distill, but they say so. BUT FOR ME THE MOST INTERESTING SPECIES IS THOSE WHO CAN'T DISTILL, BUT THEY CLAIM SO. And last, there are who really distill on their own, and they say so. AND THERE ARE WHO REALLY DISTILL BUT THEY MUST STOP DISTILLING, FOR GOD'S SAKE:Roflmao::Roflmao::Roflmao:!

@Nikhil S: I am a great admirer of your flare. Just pay heed to my view, I beseech, about price. Who are responsible? Marketing: Godamm it. You know, now I feel Oud is being sold like a 'lather cream' that is actually for men, but in advertisement, that is launched by Kim Kardasian. And Me poor, even with beard, run for that. Poor me. Again, how many of us are here to be daring enough to decide on solid grounds. I don't blame vendors, I blame my own poor coward and skin-saving self.

Zak brother's oils, IO's Oils (brothers Faheem and Faizal),: These two are more than visible. Again digression: I suggested brother Faheem to raise prices of his offerings, and he, as usual, with an innocent smile just said: IT IS ENOUGH. :Cry::Cry::Cry:! I am sure, brother Zakir is not earning that much. Though Faheem's is😛😛😛! I must quote a saying that is much popular in our village: The man murdered is equally responsible for his murder, as why he came within the range of the murderer. Dear Nikhil, if we are murdered, we are responsible. Last, I have been reading about BAIT SAMPLING. (It doesn't include Tokens of Love). If sampling for wangling reviews is being made, who are responsible. Definitely, I am. I mean the wearers. I don't know who gets samples, but when it is highlighted, it shows YES IT EXISTS. Oud Terrorism is getting hold day by day. It is to be shunned.

To conclude, my respected most @Ouddict posted a picture of some Oud, and a statement of that very vendor about barn note. Of course, that shows there is some problem. That can be a mistake, or an error, or a trickery, or a try to create difference, etc. God knows better. But that picture and that statement show some sort of gap. Oils speak. What about this picture and statement? They do speak as well. There is a fault line somewhere, and that somewhere is not hidden. But it doesn't mean that that very vendor's oils are not good. His oils are beyond and beyond, more than excellent. But I have stopped buying because I have found 'a fault line' there. Yet I love his oils. And I appreciate his unique efforts. My not buying won't damage any vendor. I am sure. But I am not a skin saver. Whatever is to be decided, that needs hell dynamic flare.

The only thing that is highly interesting is when vendors and certain experts (not kidding, nor sarcasm) share views, even getting bitter, certain persons come up with such roles that is played by 'EXTRAS' in Bollywood movies. In Urdu there is a proverb: 'Tou koun, maen khaah-makhaah- Who are you , Mr,? Oh, I'm, hmm, umm, Intruder'. Again, not vendors, but wearers are responsible.

Peace and Love to all. This is the beauty of this Forum that dear Nikhil and I can post any thing, bitter or sweet. Who dare to do so on the other Forum😉😉😉? We would have been History.

PS: By the way I learn this expression from the other Forum: Someone is History. And by the way, history repeats, and history avenges.

May God bless us all.

we have an oud section in ouddict.com called "oud library" that is been empty since the beginning.......................................😀
i propose to the administration that some of the posts of our respected member Rai Munir deserve to be moved there.
 
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Thank you for taking your time and effort. But this was really not necessary.

This is a fact and all real distillers know it. But the discussions like theese are never about right or wrong. People discuss just to discuss and argument. So even if you prove it, they won't stop. I've seen this in all discussions before.

Brother if people even didn't give in when someone got freaking metal(!!!!!) In his oud. But they found an explanation for that too.. vietnam war bullets etc hahahaha.
I think you get what I mean.

Anyhow I thank all serious people who are making their best and that are teaching ouddicts all over the world like myself
Dear Abasfrag, i think you got this a bit wrong.
actually the metal was planted and painted
vietnam war bullets created the vietnam kyara.
 
Talking about distillations, codes of conduct, japanese masters and how the Ouddict forum would all be doomed. If the masters knew you were selling wood laced with metal and you told them your vietnamese bullets story i bet you they wouldnt stop laughing for the rest of time. Lets not even go into all the other wonderland tales. Talking of morals can someone also screenshot this and show Sidi Ensar thanks

[Ouddict.com] Oud Distillation
 
Talking about distillations, codes of conduct, japanese masters and how the Ouddict forum would all be doomed. If the masters knew you were selling wood laced with metal and you told them your vietnamese bullets story i bet you they wouldnt stop laughing for the rest of time. Lets not even go into all the other wonderland tales. Talking of morals can someone also screenshot this and show Sidi Ensar thanks

View attachment 1868
it is nothing more but an true act of charity!!!!!!!
 
Talking about distillations, codes of conduct, japanese masters and how the Ouddict forum would all be doomed. If the masters knew you were selling wood laced with metal and you told them your vietnamese bullets story i bet you they wouldnt stop laughing for the rest of time. Lets not even go into all the other wonderland tales. Talking of morals can someone also screenshot this and show Sidi Ensar thanks

View attachment 1868
Ouch..... when was this oud sold??
 
I hope that everyone who was on Basenotes continues to contribute regularly in either of the two forums. I know of some that don't anymore:Cry:

Mandeel, promise me you'll stay:Cooler::Thumbsup:

So I take it that Gaharu has this aire of mystery, we don't know exactly who Luigi is. Maybe he is CIA😱
Well, as far as I'm concerned, he better be an Oud Lover, or else😡

Back to distillation.....

I have some agarwood powder from Incense House Taiwan. 300 gram bags, ShinZuo(Taiwan)$18-Kalimentan$21-HoiAn(Vietnam)$33.
They have decent aroma, but now that I learned (thanks to this thread) that some resin remains in the post-distillation biomatter, could those powders I got be post-distillation?? The aroma doesn't last very long when heated, but I supposed that it was due to the powdered form. Has anyone else tried heating agarwood in a fine powdered form? How long does the aroma stay?:Thumbsdown:
 
Talking about distillations, codes of conduct, japanese masters and how the Ouddict forum would all be doomed. If the masters knew you were selling wood laced with metal and you told them your vietnamese bullets story i bet you they wouldnt stop laughing for the rest of time. Lets not even go into all the other wonderland tales. Talking of morals can someone also screenshot this and show Sidi Ensar thanks

View attachment 1868

It's because you re an ignorant jaleous !

Sidi has just the ability to transform resin in iron !

Why can't you accept such an evidence ?

I know : you want to "kill" the old philosopher who has olfactory corrupted your senses !

You will have to bring a solid chemist to prove the contrary ! I won't believe you until you bring Mandeleiev on Ouddict : the hard place to be !

Good luck hombre...
 
It's because you re an ignorant jaleous !

Sidi has just the ability to transform resin in iron !

Why can't you accept such an evidence ?

I know : you want to "kill" the old philosopher who has olfactory corrupted your senses !

You will have to bring a solid chemist to prove the contrary ! I won't believe you until you bring Mandeleiev on Ouddict : the hard place to be !

Good luck hombre...


Very interesting indeed. But you got it wrong.

Metal makes kinam. Forget all the theories that the japanese and Chinese masters have. M16 bullets + napalm = kinam. Someone confirmed it
 
I hope that everyone who was on Basenotes continues to contribute regularly in either of the two forums. I know of some that don't anymore:Cry:

Mandeel, promise me you'll stay:Cooler::Thumbsup:

So I take it that Gaharu has this aire of mystery, we don't know exactly who Luigi is. Maybe he is CIA😱
Well, as far as I'm concerned, he better be an Oud Lover, or else😡

Back to distillation.....

I have some agarwood powder from Incense House Taiwan. 300 gram bags, ShinZuo(Taiwan)$18-Kalimentan$21-HoiAn(Vietnam)$33.
They have decent aroma, but now that I learned (thanks to this thread) that some resin remains in the post-distillation biomatter, could those powders I got be post-distillation?? The aroma doesn't last very long when heated, but I supposed that it was due to the powdered form. Has anyone else tried heating agarwood in a fine powdered form? How long does the aroma stay?:Thumbsdown:

I actually burn lots of Aggarwood powder. And yes it does seems like it goes fast on the burner but nuances are there , definitely burns faster cause powder form , now for sandalwood bros it's another world , I find more soft detectable notes that smell amazing , now how I get the powder
When I cut wood into pieces with Japanese Hand Saw ( Have to give thanks to JK from Rising Phoenix, he told me to get a Japanese Hand saw to cut hardwood , I was using a Swiss army hand saw , with The Japanese saw its like cutting butter ) I get powder left over , hence I burn it on the electric burner cause more enjoyable, powder on the coal will burn to fast for sure.
 

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May I respectfully and humbly request the mods to clean up the thread or for that matter the entire forum of non oudh discussion posts? All the personal stacks snide remarks sarcastic jokes are really offputting to new members and future prospects. I come to oud for happy time. For a buffer to help deal with life's real difficulties and challenges. For coping with seeing ones father dying at a very young age with early onset of Alzheimer's and if that wasn't enough stage 4 metastisiEd cancer. We come here to escape harsh realities except to see more of its instead!

Pls folks. How do I reason and reach your purer more holy and innocent side. If we want this community to flourish we need new members. We can't get new members if we keep this up. Not this forum or that forum or any forum. Change has to happen from within us.

I used to get most excited by those notification emails of activity on a thread. Now I dread it and delete th email and skim past the posts.

Let oudh take us closer to our creator to our fellow brothers and sisters and let it help us meditate and grow closer to one another. Let it be a source of happiness. A well giving us the most delicious thirst (soul) quenching water.

I volunteer to help with clean up if I am to be trusted with the task.
 
There are some 650+ fungal isolates found in agarwood. Singh et al. (2008) ,Mandeel (2005) and Rashad et al (2017). Each one of these fungal isolates have their own unique properties, including smell and taste. Then there are also natural occurring mycotoxigenic fungi in agarwood such as
Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillium. The behaviour of Mycotoxins are not very well understood, as the existences of them in the fungal kingdom is somewhat self destructive as they can kill the host on which the fungus is growing, nevertheless they are a product or by product of the fungal existence.

From the fungal isolates that exist in agarwood one that is rapid in its growth is the family Aspergillus. This particular family of fungus grows very on agarwood even when in storage, if the temperature and moisture levels are right. Keeping agarwood dry is the best remedy for killing off fungus that is floating along after harvest.

What is interesting in agarwood is that a good majority of the fungal isolates that are present in it, actually fight off the bad fungus. For example bacteria such as
Bacillus altitudinis- helps prevent bacterial blight, Bacillus arbutinivorans- promote plant growth, Bacillus cereus- inhibits plant disease, Bacillus megaterium- produces proteins, acts as agent in biocontrol of plant diseases, Bacillus subtilis-thought to be an important contributor to the carbon and nitrogen cycle used on plants as a fungicide and Pantoea agglomerans- fights plant diseases.

In agarwood the natural state is the good fungi neutralises the bad fungi. When agarwood is stored correctly, this balance remains. Even soaking conducted in the right manner continues to maintain this balance.

One may then ask, what about the maggots? When something like maggots is witnessed one has to pause and ask some basic questions regarding the source of the wood, quality, storage, soaking, cooking environment etc. Any agarwood from medium quality up will not produce maggots in such a short time, unless the water was contaminated to begin with, or the agarwood had become contaminated in the storage process.

As for Spent agarwood and spent water i.e agarwood that has already been cooked, then they are like dead corpse, they have none of the defence properties of the agarwood left in them. That however is not an accurate representation of agarwood because most if not all spent matter from a distillation pot will go off very quickly. Whether agarwood or any other plant as the core structure of the biomatter get destroyed in the distillation process. My experience and analytical mind tell me there are too many unanswered questions with the maggots 😀

In my many years in this business i have not witnessed maggots or anything of that type in our two facilities, however i have heard about it once from another distiller. He faced this problem due to bad water from a bad well and lost a lot of stock as a result. It isn't always the wood 🙂
 
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JZK @Ashfaque too kind bro.

@Habz786 in places like Vietnam, Thailand etc the larger distilleries have complete handling process for the spent matter. They are fan force dried, grounded into powder then made into cheap agar-sticks.

Distilling the spent matter for a second time is not really a good practice. Again some larger facilities that have a commercial model do solvent extraction of the spent matter to get solid agarwood resin.
 
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