saint458
Oud Fan
I don't know ... I've spent $6000+ on ASAQ & hopelessly frustrated ... & abandoned.
Oud Reviews
- Thread starter Ouddict
- Start date
You have to be very careful what you buy with ASAQ. I’ve spent a fair bit with them and every oil purchased has been fantastic. Mind you, I only have the 80 year old Kalakhassi pre-2010, original Thaqeel and Mukhallat Malik Abdullah, all of which are superb.
hassam mac
True Ouddict
i bought oud mori which is quite good as it is concentrated oil but really good,u get that indian oud with mix of perfume ingredients which i like it.
This post summarises why many people do not buy from ASAQ and the like. It’s great that you enjoy Oud Mori with its mix of Indian oud and perfume (which I assume is synthetic), but it is this type of mix that is anathema to most people on the forum as they are after high quality pure Oud oils.
Rai Munir
Musk Man
If at all there is no synthetic elements, low grades wood is mixed with high grade wood. I am of this opinion that low grade wood is being used in abundance.
Synthetic elements are absolutely unacceptable, even if it is mentioned. Low grade wood is acceptable. After a long long time I saw somebody extracting/ distilling hundred per cent highest grade wood. Respected Tyson recently distilled Sandal. The wood in bulk, and all logs were of great quality. Otherwise, the oil would have not been viscous.
hassam mac
True Ouddict
yes obviously not pure and has synthetics i agree with u ,but should keep trying and exploring new stuff and for a change.if u would smell actually not that bad,smells like joop homme (the classic one) in my opinion
Uday Lalan
Junior Member
I recently tried ASO Hudhayl. It was like a rare Manipuri mixed with Asaq vintage kalakassi 80 year old oil. Manipuri vibe vanished and then it was like musky, creamy dry fruits. Its little difficult to place this oil in a particular region in the Assamese belt as it shows characteristics of different places. There is mild leathery barn too. In this belt I think Manipuri is the rarest to find.
Ashfaque
Jonoon al Oud
Mir Kannauji
This mellow, yet elegant attar starts off, as mentioned in the description, with the smell of soil and rain, coupled with a superbly controlled vetiver and a soft oud.
While all the smells of various precious oils (mimosa, and others) come and go, the oud stays there throughout, but in a very soft way. With the help of a slightly incensy and creamy sandalwood at the base, this takes the humble Mitti attar to another level, inducing a calming effect with its rounded aroma. It is an attar with its little fragrant bubble, so do not expect any large projection and silage. But that is point of it as smell of first rain after the dry season meant to be soft and uplifting.
Even if you are not familiar with the smell of rain, you can still appreciate this elegant smell of the earth that Zakir has created.
As for familiarity, you would be wrong to assume that such lovely smell does not exist in UK. I still remember I smelt something similar few years back (, albeit not the same). Compare to the subcontinent, the smell I experienced at that time in UK, had more greener elements – probably because (1) UK is lot greener and (2) the soil here rarely gets as parched as the ones from the subcontinent. I was walking across a green field when the rain started around summer in the afternoon. In this attar you get the smell of earth as raindrops hit the earth from Indian sub-continents that I am so familiar with, but with some surprisingly enjoyable twists.
Earlier, I mentioned ‘controlled’ intentionally. Unless it is being taken care of by a keen Nose/nose, any attar (or western perfume) with vetiver (especially that green beauty from Indian subcontinent) is a challenge to create as it eats up almost anything in its path. Zakir is one of our upcoming noses. I now regret for delaying and thus missing out on his Oud Gulfam. 🙁
[my novice impression/review]
This mellow, yet elegant attar starts off, as mentioned in the description, with the smell of soil and rain, coupled with a superbly controlled vetiver and a soft oud.
While all the smells of various precious oils (mimosa, and others) come and go, the oud stays there throughout, but in a very soft way. With the help of a slightly incensy and creamy sandalwood at the base, this takes the humble Mitti attar to another level, inducing a calming effect with its rounded aroma. It is an attar with its little fragrant bubble, so do not expect any large projection and silage. But that is point of it as smell of first rain after the dry season meant to be soft and uplifting.
Even if you are not familiar with the smell of rain, you can still appreciate this elegant smell of the earth that Zakir has created.
As for familiarity, you would be wrong to assume that such lovely smell does not exist in UK. I still remember I smelt something similar few years back (, albeit not the same). Compare to the subcontinent, the smell I experienced at that time in UK, had more greener elements – probably because (1) UK is lot greener and (2) the soil here rarely gets as parched as the ones from the subcontinent. I was walking across a green field when the rain started around summer in the afternoon. In this attar you get the smell of earth as raindrops hit the earth from Indian sub-continents that I am so familiar with, but with some surprisingly enjoyable twists.
Earlier, I mentioned ‘controlled’ intentionally. Unless it is being taken care of by a keen Nose/nose, any attar (or western perfume) with vetiver (especially that green beauty from Indian subcontinent) is a challenge to create as it eats up almost anything in its path. Zakir is one of our upcoming noses. I now regret for delaying and thus missing out on his Oud Gulfam. 🙁
Ashfaque
Jonoon al Oud
Kalakassi Aagaz
What an amazing oil! Starts of with a deep smell, not very loud. Think of it like Elgar's Cello Concerto, instead of his famous violin one - slowly revealing its uplifting and heart-throbbing beauties - creating an aura of walking into a village garden full of fruits in the winter whilst the wind picks up the wonderful smell of barn. This barn smell is not pungent at all - rather a very enjoyable one. If all oud oils from the subcontinent had similar smell, people wouldn't be having such difficult time with oils from this region. It reminds me of the time when my grandfather and grandmother were alive and when the whole family (many uncles and aunties) used get together for Eid al-Adha in our village. Smell, if ranked very high and defined by happy childhood memories, this oil has certainly did it for me!
There are smells of berries (as mentioned in the prod. description) and of forest pathways. I get whiffs of lemony smell at the start, but it's role is lot bigger in the dry down as it smells quite citrusy. I tried it on someone else and it smells divine. I'm so glad to acquire this beauty. I can't wait for Hastakshar Ghalib!
My Impression (well, sort of!)
What an amazing oil! Starts of with a deep smell, not very loud. Think of it like Elgar's Cello Concerto, instead of his famous violin one - slowly revealing its uplifting and heart-throbbing beauties - creating an aura of walking into a village garden full of fruits in the winter whilst the wind picks up the wonderful smell of barn. This barn smell is not pungent at all - rather a very enjoyable one. If all oud oils from the subcontinent had similar smell, people wouldn't be having such difficult time with oils from this region. It reminds me of the time when my grandfather and grandmother were alive and when the whole family (many uncles and aunties) used get together for Eid al-Adha in our village. Smell, if ranked very high and defined by happy childhood memories, this oil has certainly did it for me!
There are smells of berries (as mentioned in the prod. description) and of forest pathways. I get whiffs of lemony smell at the start, but it's role is lot bigger in the dry down as it smells quite citrusy. I tried it on someone else and it smells divine. I'm so glad to acquire this beauty. I can't wait for Hastakshar Ghalib!
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hassam mac
True Ouddict
hello dear brothers,has anyone tried ensar new guinea signature wood,and would like to comment about it.thank you
hassam mac
True Ouddict
hassam mac
True Ouddict
assalamualikum and hello to all,if any dear brother has tried or have feel oud velvet kyen, can u describe it and review briefly how it is,thanks for ur precious time.
Rai Munir
Musk Man
Velvet Kyen by FO, and a cultivated one. Well, not bad at all. Thai oud it is, so better say fruity it is. A nice oil for a new-comer. Not of high quality at all. But, a nice reference for a Thai oud. Its dry down is not impressive for me. But those who like fruity oils, and like that linear and monotonous dry down, they would like it.
Price value is almost nominal. Within this range, it is a bargain indeed. I wore it thrice, I think, when it was released and I acquired. But its being particularly monotonous, I avoid it now. BUT IT IS A NICE OIL TO LEARN. So, the one who is a newbie, it will be a good choice.
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hassam mac
True Ouddict
thanks a lot uncle munire,great review learned,very well explained.
Rasoul Salehi
Banned
quick impressions of two new ensar oud oils:
people's sultan:
ok. easy there ensar and team. you didnt have to go all the way. few started challenging you and your prices and then you do this? holly crap man. if one thinks JSL or green papua hit above their weight, this one, people's sultan is the strongest quality price ratio oil i have seen to date. period. game over. nothing comes close. i mean kanzen or harita from taha are to be mentioend but neither are below $200 even in 3gram size.
i wont get too much into the scent but here it goes. product description and other's notes already shared on this are bang on. I didn't expect as much vertical complexity but 30 min in and the oil shape shifted to show more papuan green and new guinea gyrinops. even hints of abdus selam incense-y notes are seen. after it settles on the skin, the scent is quite similar to medium to medium+ scent of new guinea signature incense grade chips on an electric heater. i also expected to get an oil with more similarities than differences to both yusuf and JSL, but this couldn't be further from it and i love it for that. the bitterness running thru it is just lovely and something i have only ever seen in much higher priced and higher pedigree oils. is almost aceh/sumatra like bitterness.
this oil will surely make critics swallow their words and be humbled. i don't suspect this is financially feasible and ensar and team like did this as a marketing tool and a PR message. so jump on it and take advantage everyone.
khmer xtreme:
objectively speaking yes it is a cross between cambodi (not the fruity or high terpy or the one's that are Vietnamese like) and hindi but due to my aversion to hindi i cant get passed those fermented fruit, leather, tobacco, cacao mass notes. is subtle, is integrated (mostly) and is delicate, but just not for me. for those seeking an oil with assam 05 level of subtlety, this is almost it. certainly more refined than the assam organic in the barn and fermented funk notes. i cant speak to the price or availability since i received this sample as a kind gift.
my 2 cents.
people's sultan:
ok. easy there ensar and team. you didnt have to go all the way. few started challenging you and your prices and then you do this? holly crap man. if one thinks JSL or green papua hit above their weight, this one, people's sultan is the strongest quality price ratio oil i have seen to date. period. game over. nothing comes close. i mean kanzen or harita from taha are to be mentioend but neither are below $200 even in 3gram size.
i wont get too much into the scent but here it goes. product description and other's notes already shared on this are bang on. I didn't expect as much vertical complexity but 30 min in and the oil shape shifted to show more papuan green and new guinea gyrinops. even hints of abdus selam incense-y notes are seen. after it settles on the skin, the scent is quite similar to medium to medium+ scent of new guinea signature incense grade chips on an electric heater. i also expected to get an oil with more similarities than differences to both yusuf and JSL, but this couldn't be further from it and i love it for that. the bitterness running thru it is just lovely and something i have only ever seen in much higher priced and higher pedigree oils. is almost aceh/sumatra like bitterness.
this oil will surely make critics swallow their words and be humbled. i don't suspect this is financially feasible and ensar and team like did this as a marketing tool and a PR message. so jump on it and take advantage everyone.
khmer xtreme:
objectively speaking yes it is a cross between cambodi (not the fruity or high terpy or the one's that are Vietnamese like) and hindi but due to my aversion to hindi i cant get passed those fermented fruit, leather, tobacco, cacao mass notes. is subtle, is integrated (mostly) and is delicate, but just not for me. for those seeking an oil with assam 05 level of subtlety, this is almost it. certainly more refined than the assam organic in the barn and fermented funk notes. i cant speak to the price or availability since i received this sample as a kind gift.
my 2 cents.
Khmer Xtreme is an awesome Cambodi,one of the best Cambodian oil ive tried from Ensar.Fruit,leather,tobacco and cacao is what I personally look for in a Cambodi and his Cambodi Boran is even better.
Oudamberlove
Member
LMK Thai Honey
If you like Thai Palaka, Plai Cheu, Almas S-18, and Saumanasa.......then you’re not too far from Thai Honey.
TH is an entry level Thai with a Cambodi border influence, a teaser barn, and a not-so-factory vibe.
You have to consider the price.....which makes this a more “entry level oil”.
Or if you just want to slather yourself silly with a sweet oud, be my guest
If you like Thai Palaka, Plai Cheu, Almas S-18, and Saumanasa.......then you’re not too far from Thai Honey.
TH is an entry level Thai with a Cambodi border influence, a teaser barn, and a not-so-factory vibe.
You have to consider the price.....which makes this a more “entry level oil”.
Or if you just want to slather yourself silly with a sweet oud, be my guest
Oudamberlove
Member
LMK Rose de Malaisie
Opens with chocolate, elements of rose, and the sweetness of neroli in an ethereal dance to get my attention, followed by an agarwoodiness and perfume that only Malaysian wood can offer, green stems, then it starts to get oudy. I’m getting a little tobacco, chocolate, musk, incense, and resin,,,as they join the perfume aspect through drydown.
Nice oil F4R!
Opens with chocolate, elements of rose, and the sweetness of neroli in an ethereal dance to get my attention, followed by an agarwoodiness and perfume that only Malaysian wood can offer, green stems, then it starts to get oudy. I’m getting a little tobacco, chocolate, musk, incense, and resin,,,as they join the perfume aspect through drydown.
Nice oil F4R!
