Oud of the Day

[Alkhadra]

Ladies and gents
Are you here to tell me Ensar Oud gets a fair handshake on this forum as other vendors? If so I chuckle much like I chuckle if someone said other vendors get the same love on Gaharu.

Both forums are skewed. Big time.

That’s my point. This forum had a chance (maybe still has, but each day that passes my faith gets reduced) to be neutral, to be a true transparent place...

Rasoul, I have to second @Habz786 opinion. Everyone was invited to this forum. You publicly wrote that one of our oils, Kanz, wasn't something you fancied, and that's fine! People have different tastes. Nobody said you were bashing, everyone joined the discussion and shared their opinions. There are many great reviews on this forum regarding Green Papua, negative reviews are as welcomed as positive reviews, whether the product belongs to a vendor who is present or not.

To count for vendor bashing, there has to be a constant trend from a person or group of people, directed towards a specific vendor.

Also, even if one person did constantly bash a specific vendor, they aren't representative of this community as a whole.

 

[Al Hashimi]

Ladies and gents
Are you here to tell me Ensar Oud gets a fair handshake on this forum as other vendors? If so I chuckle much like I chuckle if someone said other vendors get the same love on Gaharu.

Both forums are skewed. Big time.

That’s my point. This forum had a chance (maybe still has, but each day that passes my faith gets reduced) to be neutral, to be a true transparent place...

Hmmmm... how many vendors are on this forum and how many on Gaharu? Reflect on that. How many of the Gaharu members from 2011-13 are still around and how many of the later intake of 2016-18? Hardly any and maybe you should ask them why! I can literally count them on one hand.

The fact that you can post your views like this, but have chosen not to do so on Gaharu speaks volumes. You’re welcome on this forum regardless of your preferences and views. The point is that all voices are given a hearing here without censure or censorship and this is a forum for oud enthusiasts and vendors - in that order. That’s the big difference between us and Gaharu.

While vendors form a very important part of the community, this forum champions Oud enthusiasts first and foremost. Ask the all vendors and the admins if you don’t believe me. There have been plenty of blatant sneaky comments against vendors on this forum that we ignore and at times, I persuade them to hold off from responding as we know exactly where it comes from. And on that note, if anyone wants to sow discord here, they aren’t welcome and as @Habz786 said, they should find a home elsewhere.

 

[Al Hashimi]

@Rasoul Salehi to be fair, I had not seen any vendor bashing or thought thereof recently until you introduced it. Opinion toward oil or vendor, even if biased is still just an opinion, it doesn't and shouldn't add to or detract from anyone else's assessment, the vendor, or the oil; just opinions that align or not. A cursory glance over the past few pages indicates that all vendor and types of oils get love here. As @Alkhadra pointed out, you didn't find Kanz to your taste and even found an oil faulty during discussion of the blind test, all without ever trying it, neither case did anybody scream bias or bash. Just opinion, don't take it to heart. And if you've read @Ammar you'd know he doesn't give a rat's arse whose oil it is, he's going to say what he feels.

Furthermore, I get nothing damp about Syed's Ascent.

Syed's Ascent is a wonderful oil! Perfect for the Maroke lover... only problem is as I pointed out to Taha is that Ensar's Maroke 2004 smells exactly the same (to my nose) for less than half the price, although that is no longer available. I think I mentioned this to @Shabby who kindly brought samples of his collection of Agar Aura oils for me and Habib to review last year - I did the comparison side-by-side with my vial of Maroke 2004.

Oh and on another note, @Alkhadra and @AbasFrag actually regard me as a massive Ensar Oud fan - just ask them... you couldn't make it up

I was well known for my spirited and robust defence of Oriscent and Ensar on Basenotes and for those who are interested, just Google "floraopia" and "Gaharu" to see my posts on Gaharu from the past, until I was unfairly booted out without warning or explanation... apparently starting Ouddict was seen as a crime.

Anyway, everyone chill, sniff some oil, burn some agarwood and relax...

 

[Oudamberlove]

“This” is bashing:

For reals though, passion is in the blood of most ouddicts. Sometimes it displays itself in.........
hmmmmmmmm.....unique ways.
This forum grew from the ashes of worse, and has withstood many storms. I consider most seasoned members as family. No problems here....and may I add to what brother Nadeem recommends (everyone chill, sniff some oil, burn some agarwood and relax), light a stick of incense, have good posture, and contemplate existence

 

[Al Hashimi]

@Nadeem no explanation of your love for Ensar Ouds necessary as I've gotten to sample, a dear healthy sample of an oil like Ensar's Kyara LTD by your hand, along with others free of charge, Jazak Allah Khayr.

I've never tried Maroke 2004 but you do have to consider prices of 2004 vs prices of 2017/2018 when assessing it and Syed's Ascent pricing.

You're welcome re the oil samples. I've shared with others similarly out of sheer passion for Oud and want them to experience the joy that I do.

True about Maroke 2004 and that is Ensar's good fortune to be there before others, as others were there before him and in the case of the Maroke 2004, he passed on the savings to customers, as the true current price of such an oil would be double as we have seen.

 

[Al Hashimi]

“This” is bashing:
View attachment 6518

That is me when Ouddict goes down or there is a technical issue that needs resolution.

 

[Shabby]

Yes, to me the two oils are very different @Nadeem and @PEARL . Maroke 2004 is damp, cool, minty smooth and deep, towards the aged liqeur vibe of some of the other vintage Marokes but differentiated by its green menthol. Syed's Ascent is one of the driest Marokes I've smelled, and smells distinctly blue and galactic. 'Cosmos plasmatic' as an esteemed member has said.

 

[Al Hashimi]

Yes, to me the two oils are very different @Nadeem and @PEARL . Maroke 2004 is damp, cool, minty smooth and deep, towards the aged liqeur vibe of some of the other vintage Marokes but differentiated by its green menthol. Syed's Ascent is one of the driest Marokes I've smelled, and smells distinctly blue and galactic. 'Cosmos plasmatic' as an esteemed member has said.

That's the strange thing about Oud... people perceive them differently. I didn't spend much time with them side-by-side - my comparison was cursory at best so there may be elements unique to both that I missed.

 

[AZsmell]

Ladies and gents
Are you here to tell me Ensar Oud gets a fair handshake on this forum as other vendors? If so I chuckle much like I chuckle if someone said other vendors get the same love on Gaharu.

Both forums are skewed. Big time.

That’s my point. This forum had a chance (maybe still has, but each day that passes my faith gets reduced) to be neutral, to be a true transparent place...

I have been a member on Basenotes since 2004. I have observed Ensar's actions and behaviors since his early days. First he got banned from Basenotes and joined (started?) Gaharu. No one doubts the quality of his oils. All of us were his fans at some point in time.
All I can say is there are many reasons for the vitriol against Ensar. I haven't seen any other vendors behave the way he does. I tried to give him another chance this year when I joined Gaharu but we all know what happened there.
I joined this forum and made a comment that I didn't like an Ensar oil and got bashed by Ammar claiming I have little experience with oud.
Oud forums are a strange place.
I choose to stay pretty quiet and enjoy oud from vendors who I find to be genuine in character.

 

[Arsalan]

Òrale compadres! Chill out! This is the SOTD thread...😉

Fair shake or not...no discussion of artisanal oud is complete without EO...so...let bygones be bygones...coz we all are here for the OUD...!

So...SOTD is...

 

[riviera274]

Can we please keep this thread on topic,that is Oud Of The Day.

 

[Rasoul Salehi]

In my language: as mohabet kharha gol mishavad. Or loosely: with kindness thorns will turn to flowers.

Everyone is welcome to their opinion I chose to not beleive soemkne working with this beautiful gift of nature can be as many have painted them to be. There is always two sides to a story. I can’t and won’t share what I have come to know via sources I find trustworthy. All I say is live and let live. continue in act of kindness and accept that any vendor lead forum will always have by its very nature have hidden agenda. Fair or not. Deserved or not. Lead by example. If your god says I forgive all, who are we not to.

Count me as the minority. Count me as solo. Bash me. Say what u want. I will continue now and always to be kind fair and again as neutral as I can be. I am not perfect. I am not without mistakes. I just can’t reconcile the two sides. I can’t. Simply can’t.

My sincerest apologies for this and detailing the thread. Mods pls feel free to delete move or do as you see fit.

 

[Joe King]

@Rasoul Salehi to be fair, I had not seen any vendor bashing or thought thereof recently until you introduced it. Opinion toward oil or vendor, even if biased is still just an opinion, it doesn't and shouldn't add to or detract from anyone else's assessment, the vendor, or the oil; just opinions that align or not. A cursory glance over the past few pages indicates that all vendor and types of oils get love here. As @Alkhadra pointed out, you didn't find Kanz to your taste and even found an oil faulty during discussion of the blind test, all without ever trying it, neither case did anybody scream bias or bash. Just opinion, don't take it to heart. And if you've read @Ammar you'd know he doesn't give a rat's arse whose oil it is, he's going to say what he feels.

Furthermore, I get nothing damp about Syed's Ascent.

I think it is more the earthy ish but not in a damp way note that I find in both Jannah and Syeds Ascent maybe that's not the right way to describe it but the note that I find similar in both oils is one I like a lot, hence my full bottle should be here in a few days😀
I don't find GP similar, I have a bottle of this and my opinion of ensar doesn't apply to his oils as well, I have the intellectual capacity to separate the two.

 

[Rasoul Salehi]

I think it is more the earthy ish but not in a damp way note that I find in both Jannah and Syeds Ascent maybe that's not the right way to describe it but the note that I find similar in both oils is one I like a lot, hence my full bottle should be here in a few days😀
I don't find GP similar, I have a bottle of this and my opinion of ensar doesn't apply to his oils as well, I have the intellectual capacity to separate the two.

I apologize if my message came across as directed to yourself. Far from it. My message was a general one that came from all the pent up... back to the oil in hand yes it is true that Syed ascent is one of the driest of maroke, yet to my nose it is still filaria and any and all filaria to date have had a humid island dampness for me. I have jannah on me and swiped it few minutes ago. I fail to see a resemblance. As it has been said and I have come to see, we all have slightly different perceptions.

 

[Rasoul Salehi]

Yes, to me the two oils are very different @Nadeem and @PEARL . Maroke 2004 is damp, cool, minty smooth and deep, towards the aged liqeur vibe of some of the other vintage Marokes but differentiated by its green menthol. Syed's Ascent is one of the driest Marokes I've smelled, and smells distinctly blue and galactic. 'Cosmos plasmatic' as an esteemed member has said.

Agreed. Yet it is distinctly maroke. It is in the drier side yet I see zero resemblance to Papuan oils like Port Papua Green Papua and jannah.

 

[Rai Munir]

I have a hard time with this one. Syed ascent is distinctly a maroke. A damp forest floor note. Yet ASO themselves saying (Jan actually) that the reason they didn’t distil any papua to date was for this very same reason: damp.

The day I tried Syed Ascent, or any other Maruke Oud oil, it reminded me of 'shoe factory' smell. Dampness is there that sometimes seems to be depth. I wholeheartedly consider the new lot of oils by AA monotonous, replete with the same notes with different ratio. This is just an opinion of mine about OILS, not about AA or Mr. Taha.

Respected Rasoul, do you think it is bashing Mr Taha or AA what I wrote above?

Prior to getting your post, it is not bashing. An oil is not equal to a person. The forum is to review oils as per one's own olfactory. Nothing more, nothing less. Syed Ascent is loved by a lot of members. The same is true to GP or any other oils from EO. Please make those positive reviews your frame of reference. You know, I like GP a lot. But at the same time I consider that a perfume-y oil. Something stunning in Canada is not necessarily spectacular in Pakistan or the US.

 

[Rai Munir]

we all have slightly different perceptions.

Not slightly, but enormously.

 

[Joe King]

Viet Zephyr by Imperiale Oud I just keep liking this one more

 

[Joe King]

Not slightly, but enormously.

Indeed, your shoe factory is my favorite oud 🙄 and your rose is my kryptonite, but we do agree on musk 😉

 

[Rai Munir]

and your rose is my kryptonite, but we do agree on musk 😉

Dearest Joe, so far as Rose goes, either be with us, or take me to your camp. I can't see you 'home alone'.