Oud Reviews

[jensz]

@Rai Munir, lovely first impressions and mouth watering pics!

 

[AbasFrag]

The HOM- Brunei

This one is so lovely and a must try for anyone who like Borneo, papua and Sri lanka profile but still want to try something new. It's unique but still reminds me of something else.

Notes: earth, mud, sweet woody. Some jungle. In the opening I also get some sweet incense note mixed with something salty. When you focus you can absolutely get some classical Borneo traits but still with a unique twist.

I really liked it and I recommend it to anyone who like the profiles I mentioned before or to someone who often thinks that Borneo ouds are "boring"...

I don't know what price this one will be sold for but if I know HOM good enough I'm sure it will be a shockingly fair price for the quality, like always.

 

[Uday Lalan]

I tried Rajah Laos (which means King Laos) from Agarwood Assam. Its mildly sweet and smoky. It has a musky old furniture vibe. There are no off putting notes of any kind and surprisingly reminds me of a smooth Borneo. Its so different from the other Laos I have tried and progress is smooth on the skin. It has a faint gourmandis vibe too.

 

[Rai Munir]

Well, just a couple of days before I received the package from IO that includes a complimentary sample of newly released VIET ZEPHYR.
View and review, even if done with a true hermit like meditation, cannot grasp the very essence of this OUD OIL. ZEPHYR is there, and truly subtle wave of solemn and sober mature OUD-WOOD fragrance emitting from the clump of aged and aged trees greets with open arms. Is it floral, or mellowed pulp of subcontinental fruit? Is it earthy, or watery? Well, NO! Nameless, but it let every name (fragrance) emerge out of it.
First time ever I felt myself fully liberated from monotonous complex, heavy, chocolaty, musky, etc tones. It is a paradigm shift like Oud Oil. Its being sacerdotal is very much intrinsic attribute that it kept echoing for hours "WHICH OF THE FAVOURS OF YOUR LORD WILL YOU DENY?"
Quintessentially as pure as zephyr. And YES, ZEPHYR is epitome of Zenith Ouds.
I am sure, this Oil would definitely prove itself like "Came, Saw, and Conquered".
Thanks and thanks, Faheem bhai, and Faizal Saheb😛!

 

[Nikhil S]

Oud Laos 1995 (Raja) by Bengal Roots/Agarwood Assam

Pure Oud Bliss ! Well I wasn't really expecting it to blow me away afterall I thought Zak bhai is more dedicated to Hindi Ouds. But I forgot one thing - he is also an Oud lover like me and in constant lookout for mystical oils. He was pretty keen on making me test it. So when I came back after a hectic workday & settled down, I decided to take a swipe and this is what happened....

A blast of green mentholic balsam of Indonesian resin hit me. Some green spices and I was really confused. No animalic musk. No salty butter effect. I really was pretty convinced that this was just a regular affair. But boy I was wrong. Within an hour I started getting sweet hints of Kinam which every loved of old wood craves. It started getting more intense with time till the 2nd hour mark where it showed be some green bitterness and pulses of sweet oud bliss kept flirting with my nose causing multiple waves of Oud Zen. At this point I was awestruck and I messaged him at 230am just to give my dua to him and his Abba. This is the same Oud Zen, the fourth dimension which makes my gurus like Ensar bhai stand apart from most distillers. I wont say hats off I will say again God be with you my friend. Zak bhai you are a man of your words. Much respect. I immediately booked 2 tolas of it. But mind you it needs the right temp preferrably cold weather. And yes longevity 7 to 10 hours with soft presence.

 

[Nikhil S]

A package arrived, what gravitated me the most is "Aira Sandal"! Organic Burmese Funk Master's opening spell is nice, what would be the end note. ....yet pending. Velvety Keyn Organic is velvety. I put aside my intrinsic love for rough tough and dynamic pull sort of oil and wore Velvety Keyn. Din Dan Wild has got potential.
I was aspired to wear every organic from FO to study the differences in different distillations. Therefore, I got all organics. Soon I will share my findings.

Sandal Aira deserves a big big round of applause. Soon I will wear it, and share how it unveils itself. Yet its first impression I have had after opening its cap is quite strong. But Mysore has blanketed my whole being till now. Impartiality would make me see and smell better.View attachment 1156 View attachment 1157

Sir if those are his cambodi farm wood chips. I got some too. So beautiful to burn. Small pieces give long lasting sweet sour incense to clothes. Unbelievable for price.

 

[Rai Munir]

Sir if those are his cambodi farm wood chips. I got some too. So beautiful to burn. Small pieces give long lasting sweet sour incense to clothes. Unbelievable for price.

Yes, respected most Nikhil, that is cultivated Cambodi. The moment a chip is put on a ruby like ember, so soft and sweet aroma coupled with sober smokey tinges never let me stop inhaling deep. Though not fully or that much resin-ated, fragrance is worth-loving. By the way, I like the patterns on chips🙂

 

[Nikhil S]

Yes, respected most Nikhil, that is cultivated Cambodi. The moment a chip is put on an ruby like ember, so soft and sweet aroma coupled with sober smokey tinges never let me stop inhaling deep. Though not fully or that much resin-ated, fragrance is worth-loving. By the way, I like the patterns on chips🙂

Marvellous sir. You described it so beautifully. So much to learn from you.

 

[Rai Munir]

Marvellous sir. You described it so beautifully. So much to learn from you.

O no no, my respected most Nikhil, you have got so refined a nose that detects minutest details quite easily, and you have got words to express those nuances. You are a blessed one. Since the last day till today, I have watched your up-loaded videos, and now I feel myself rather improved oud learner. Look, I have learnt a lot from you, master.

 

[Nikhil S]

O no no, my respected most Nikhil, you have got so refined a nose that detects minutest details quite easily, and you have got words to express those nuances. You are a blessed one. Since the last day till today, I have watched your up-loaded videos, and now I feel myself rather improved oud learner. Look, I have learnt a lot from you, master.

That is a blessing sir. To have wonderful people watch my videos. I am trying my best to introduce traditional perfumery to local and international lovers. My goal is to learn as much as possible and share with all. It also gives me much pleasure to share my scents, ouds and attars with fellow enthusiasts. Having a great time here. Please call me friend sir. Master is one watching us all and giving us these beautiful gifts in nature. I am just a student in his class. My best wishes sir.

 

[Nikhil S]

Sotn Hainan 2005. I haven't sniffed an Oud like this. It has an enormous complexity and comprises of ateast 3 different regional signatures plus that special signature drydown. It is epic. This is EO Magnum Opus for me. And only brother Ensar can create such abstract painting. The opening is the most refined and authentic china incense dark ashtray moss with burmi green accords and the old school hindi leather dna. Haha. Awestruck. The first sniff sends chills down my spine. Feel like kissing hands of Ensar bhai. Drydown is strictly rosewood with a touch of bittergreen kyen to my nose. If I may, I also get the sweet bitter herbaliness of ruh gulab from the lush rose harvest of Hasayan (the most expensive smelling rose people usually think as Kannauj rose) That happens only once a year. So you travel through different timezones through one oil. Wow. A worthy specimen of unlimited value. It's priceless to my humble nose. A dream purchase for me and I will have it someday. This is artisanal Oud.

 

[Nikhil S]

Laos 99 by Agarwood Assam/Bengal roots. I have no words for this magical elixir. Clearly an underrated oud with a legend's capability. My first tryst with this oil came with tiny sample from a friend. I was quite focused at that point in time so I was literally jumping in my head when I sniffed it. A kinami shapeshifter. So I immediately contacted brother Zak and enquired about it but I could clearly see his inclination towards 95. No doubt 95 is splendid and complex. Anyway second trial and I was sitting alone under the stars fully focused this time watching my champaca tree against the night sky and the wind was blowing in full mood. And with every whiff that I caught of this beauty I was getting bitter kinaminess but mixed with the rosewood smell of Hainan.....wow. The opening was such a contrast with a full blown old school incense balsam green aroma with hints of Hindi leather almost like a wild sinensis. And at the offered price, I am afraid it is simply charity. The first complete inhale will numb your brain. What s stunner. The 95 in contrast has a sweeter drydown. 99 is spiritual. Just needs focus.....more focus.... Sorry if I am sounding weird but gentlemen please listen to the whole spectrum on my request. It is rather unbelievable. I have never found an old school Oud which has actually been complimented by my better half. She was caught off guard by its magic too ....I think I can feel blissful now without having to worry about anyone aroundme.....anymore....and that too on a daily basis....

 

[Mandeel AlMandeel]

Laos 99 by Agarwood Assam/Bengal roots. I have no words for this magical elixir. Clearly an underrated oud with a legend's capability. My first tryst with this oil came with tiny sample from a friend. I was quite focused at that point in time so I was literally jumping in my head when I sniffed it. A kinami shapeshifter. So I immediately contacted brother Zak and enquired about it but I could clearly see his inclination towards 95. No doubt 95 is splendid and complex. Anyway second trial and I was sitting alone under the stars fully focused this time watching my champaca tree against the night sky and the wind was blowing in full mood. And with every whiff that I caught of this beauty I was getting bitter kinaminess but mixed with the rosewood smell of Hainan.....wow. The opening was such a contrast with a full blown old school incense balsam green aroma with hints of Hindi leather almost like a wild sinensis. And at the offered price, I am afraid it is simply charity. The first complete inhale will numb your brain. What s stunner. The 95 in contrast has a sweeter drydown. 99 is spiritual. Just needs focus.....more focus.... Sorry if I am sounding weird but gentlemen please listen to the whole spectrum on my request. It is rather unbelievable. I have never found an old school Oud which has actually been complimented by my better half. She was caught off guard by its magic too ....I think I can feel blissful now without having to worry about anyone aroundme.....anymore....and that too on a daily basis....

Thanks for wonderful review I enjoyed every single word...

 

[oudlover]

I tried Laos 99 sample . Really nice oil. It reminds me of Assam 3000 by Ensar Oud.

 

[Nikhil S]

Thanks for wonderful review I enjoyed every single word...

Thank you very much sir 🙂

 

[Nikhil S]

I tried Laos 99 sample . Really nice oil. It reminds me of Assam 3000 by Ensar Oud.

Interesting. I will wear Assam 3000 today. Thank you sir

 

[oudlover]

Thank you as well Nikhil. Always like reading your reviews

 

[Rai Munir]

IO's Celebes Sulawesi
Well, truly the nexus and nucleus of eastern fragrances and the western aromas is CELEBES. Oud oil it is, but The Oud that is a classical Raga Darbari- the king of ragas- that has various notes and notations, and those notes are neither superimposed nor injected, but inherently present there. Celebes does emanate such notes that reflect Japanese fine incense, Indian sandal and Oud laden air, Western floral symphony, and Arabian desert night scent. While writing now, the un-capped bottle is on the table, and the 15 by 20 study of mine is an Atlantic of Oud scent. I'm not innately floral oriented, but Celebes' aura at its periphery is Oudy floral, and it is savagely beautiful. Though I haven't studied its dry down notes, but WHO CARES now when opening has stretched afar. I couldn't resist tasting it now 🙂.
I love Celebes Sulawesi! IT IS 'THE LIVING LEGEND' , not a 'gone' one.
Faheem bhai, I'm thankful to you that you introduced me Celebes when it was an 'unheard' oil! You know, this oil has satiated, to some extent, my thirst for Musk as well. A trail is definitely there.
God be with you evermore.

 

[Nikhil S]

@Rai Munir what a fine review sir. Amazing job. Will look frd to Sulawesi.

 

[Al Shareef Oudh]

IO's Celebes Sulawesi
Well, truly the nexus and nucleus of eastern fragrances and the western aromas is CELEBES. Oud oil it is, but The Oud that is a classical Raga Darbari- the king of ragas- that has various notes and notations, and those notes are neither superimposed or injected, but inherently present there. Celebes does emanate such notes that reflect Japanese fine incense, Indian sandal and Oud laden air, Western floral symphony, and Arabian desert night scent. While writing now, the un-capped bottle is on the table, and the 15 by 20 study of mine is an Atlantic of Oud scent. I'm not innately floral oriented, but Celebes' aura at its periphery is Oudy floral, and it is savagely beautiful. Though I haven't studied its dry down notes, but WHO CARES now when opening has stretched afar. I couldn't resist tasting it now 🙂.
I love Celebes Sulawesi! IT IS 'THE LIVING LEGEND' , not a 'gone' one.
Faheem bhai, I'm thankful to you that you introduced me Celebes when it was an 'unheard' oil! You know, this oil has satiated, to some extent, my thirst for Musk as well. A trail is definitely there.
God be with you evermore.

MashaAllah a sincere review, from the heart, I could feel your joy and emotions in your words.