Oud Reviews

[bhanny]

King Kong Koh by Agar Aura. Really brilliant Cambodi. Deep, dark red fruits. Slightly medicinal. Lasts forever. Decent projection. Well worth the $750/3g price IMO.


His Lao One is amazing as well. Does have some Chinese feel to it.

 

[bhanny]

Kynam Rouge by Ensar Oud. Deep, rich and red. Great longevity and good projection. Does have some Cambodian profile as well. I'm not a true expert in kinam but do think it weaves its way in and out throughout. I think it was Pearl who mentioned this one is great now and will be amazing aged. I agree.


Purple Kinam by Ensar Oud. Starts with an amazing kinam/citrus/purple rose accord that just knocks me out. Kinam is present throughout. I can't keep my nose off my skin here. This thing lasts and lasts and lasts. I've never smelled a Malaysian like this before. Outstanding.

 

[bhanny]

Ridhwan by Al Shareef. A blend of I believe at least 4 oils, please correct me if I'm wrong. This one takes you for one heck of a ride. The wonderful aged Hindi drives the train, on my skin at least. And it is lovely, smooth but intense. The others work to round it off nicely. I can't say I can pick the others out specifically, but this is for sure a VERY unique and lovely oud. Only caution would be its intensity, which isn't a bad thing at all, just something to be aware of on first application!

 

[joel]

My first impressions of Hainan 05...


HAINAN 05


symphonic explosion of subtle complexities


buzzing frankincense pine


raw animalic depths


sweet feral ambergris pungency


touch of minty spice and berries


high note of fine musky coolness


sticky sweet and sour honey


green apple and honeydew


fresh cut grass, sweet hay


light and sweet citrus floral


from sharp & pungent to sweet & round


a complete perfume journey


with moments of fierceness, mystery, ecstasy and beauty


This is the kind of oil I have been looking for since I first smelled Chinese Exclusive a few years ago...


I am copying an experience of Chinese Exclusive from a few months ago (before I smelled Hainan05, Yunan Exclusive and Yunan03)


Chinese Exclusive


Dark Forest Musk


Sweet Primal Animalic


Green Medicinal Spice


Fecal Pine Aliveness


Mossy Spring Dusk


Passionate Sweaty Sex


Ancient Bedouin Princes


Sweet and Spicy Buzz


Cinnamon Nutmeg Spice Cake


Cool Musty Black Earth


Warm Barn Sweet Funk


I also have a small sample of JK's Yunan Cha that I will look into and post an update.


I really love these green animalic pungent Chinese Oils.

 

[littlecrowgirl]

Joel, do your words come to you as images first, or scent (that you then identify)? And do the words combinations arrive in your head along with the scent/ imagery? Maybe a combination?


I very much look forward to hearing your impressions of Yunnan Cha... as I plan to order a wee vial of that next month. I don't think I've experienced a Chinese oil yet, and I am quite excited to do so.

 

[bhanny]

JK included a sample of the Yunnan Cha and I was not a fan. I had loved a couple I bought from him the Thai 190 year old tree and a nice Malaysian. This one fell far short IMO. My Yunnan 2003 blows it out of the water.


Joel, I also love how you describe these oils. And I love these raw Chinese oils as well. I'm waiting until Tuesday for my Hainan 2005. How does it compare to the other Chinese offerings from Ensar?


Thanks!


-Brian

 

[joel]

I just took some notes on Yunan Cha...


Earlier today I experienced Our Royal 85 for the 1st time - i have swiped 4 or 5 times and i am enjoying the complexity


Yunan Cha


elaborate, delicate and well rounded


powdery green spiciness


sweet floral honey


mahogany plum with a hint of tobacco


light smoky, woody sweetness


earthy, musky, floral


a flirtatious perfume with depth


a rich fruity woodiness


warm smokiness


round pine berry sweetness


ambergris camphor spiciness


I experience these green spicy, musky-floral chinese ouds (like Chinese Exclusive and Hainan 05) as very different from the deeper, darker, barnier oils like Yunan Exclusive and Yunan 03. I have yet to take notes on these two. I will get to it soon. I hope to revisit Chinese Exclusive again tonight.

 

[joel]

I just took some notes on JK's Yunan Cha...


Earlier today I experienced Our Royal 85 for the 1st time - i have swiped 4 or 5 times and i am enjoying the complexity


Yunan Cha


elaborate, delicate and well rounded


powdery green spiciness


sweet floral honey


mahogany plum with a hint of tobacco


light smoky, woody sweetness


earthy, musky, floral


a flirtatious perfume with depth


a rich fruity woodiness


warm smokiness


round pine berry sweetness


ambergris camphor spiciness


I experience these green spicy, musky-floral chinese ouds (like Chinese Exclusive and Hainan 05) as very different from the deeper, darker, barnier oils like Yunan Exclusive and Yunan 03. I have yet to take notes on these two. I will get to it soon. I hope to revisit Chinese Exclusive again tonight.

 

[joel]

Joel, do your words come to you as images first, or scent (that you then identify)? And do the words combinations arrive in your head along with the scent/ imagery? Maybe a combination?
I very much look forward to hearing your impressions of Yunnan Cha... as I plan to order a wee vial of that next month. I don't think I've experienced a Chinese oil yet, and I am quite excited to do so.

I empty my mind and enter into the expansiveness of the heart and listen deeply. it usually arises as subtle impressions or chords. i consider these likes reveries, or poetic impressions of chords of scent arising from the formless and leading me beyond my habitual linear and verbal experience, back into the mystery and sublime beauty of existence... i grew up playing orchestral music (contrabasse) and later moved into free jazz and experimental soundscaping. I also trained in improvisational movement - butoh, contact improvisation, group improvisation. I find that the language of dance and music really helps to express some of the primal scent experiences

 

[bhanny]

Hainan 2005 by Ensar. Amazing Chinese. I love Chinese ouds. Very raw and animalic, though less in the typical Hindi barn fashion. More sweet, ambergris, bitter orange blossom. Definitely medicinal. Joel hit the nail on the head up there in a much more poetic way. Similar to his Yunnan 2003, but definitely differs enough to justify both. Especially if you like Chinese ouds. This is outstanding!


So I've spent some serious time with this one and there is definitely an amazing kinam note in the drydown. Just spectacular.

 

[bhanny]

Kynam No 1 by Ensar. I'm not sure I have the words to properly describe this. There is definitely a divine minty, green, ever so bittersweet kynam note. And it is smooth and lovely and I'm quite certain I've never experienced anything quite like this before. And I'm also quite certain I will have a hard time not using it all the time. Its otherworldly to be honest and I'm grateful to own it.

 

[Mandeel AlMandeel]

Good morning all , i try tow hindis and i really recommended that tow oils to every Hindi fans first one are


Hind by AlShareefOudh this oil are very classic and really wonderful oil with beautiful animalic not bad note


Semkhor by ImperialOud : modern way oil and very sweet dark chocolate with beautiful spicy note

 

[Shabby]

Greetings all! I'm very glad that this forum exists after the disappointment of Basenotes. Thank you to whoever decided to do this and to the moderators as well. It's really gladdening to see the regular posters and vendors here, thank God.


Mandeel, could you go into more detail about Hind please? Maybe you could describe the notes?

 

[Mandeel AlMandeel]

Greetings all! I'm very glad that this forum exists after the disappointment of Basenotes. Thank you to whoever decided to do this and to the moderators as well. It's really gladdening to see the regular posters and vendors here, thank God.
Mandeel, could you go into more detail about Hind please? Maybe you could describe the notes?

Good evening and welcome Shabby I'm not that much with big description but I think Joel will give you the answer soon just wait thanks...

 

[Shabby]

Greetings all! I'm very glad that this forum exists after the disappointment of Basenotes. Thank you to whoever decided to do this and to the moderators as well. It's really gladdening to see the regular posters and vendors here, thank God.
Mandeel, could you go into more detail about Hind please? Maybe you could describe the notes?

Haha alright thanks. I am enjoying his poetry.

 

[jalil]

Cant wait to try Semkhor

 

[jalil]

Hainan 2005 by Ensar. Amazing Chinese. I love Chinese ouds. Very raw and animalic, though less in the typical Hindi barn fashion. More sweet, ambergris, bitter orange blossom. Definitely medicinal. Joel hit the nail on the head up there in a much more poetic way. Similar to his Yunnan 2003, but definitely differs enough to justify both. Especially if you like Chinese ouds. This is outstanding!
So I've spent some serious time with this one and there is definitely an amazing kinam note in the drydown. Just spectacular.

Is theire any fur scent in Hainan05? someone find some in yunnan03

 

[bhanny]

Hainan 2005 by Ensar. Amazing Chinese. I love Chinese ouds. Very raw and animalic, though less in the typical Hindi barn fashion. More sweet, ambergris, bitter orange blossom. Definitely medicinal. Joel hit the nail on the head up there in a much more poetic way. Similar to his Yunnan 2003, but definitely differs enough to justify both. Especially if you like Chinese ouds. This is outstanding!
So I've spent some serious time with this one and there is definitely an amazing kinam note in the drydown. Just spectacular.

Hey jalil. I get some ambergris and musky stuff. Can't say I get fur, but I personally don't get fur in Yunnan03 either.

 

[jensz]

Hainan 2005 by Ensar. Amazing Chinese. I love Chinese ouds. Very raw and animalic, though less in the typical Hindi barn fashion. More sweet, ambergris, bitter orange blossom. Definitely medicinal. Joel hit the nail on the head up there in a much more poetic way. Similar to his Yunnan 2003, but definitely differs enough to justify both. Especially if you like Chinese ouds. This is outstanding!
So I've spent some serious time with this one and there is definitely an amazing kinam note in the drydown. Just spectacular.

Jalil, I was one who found a "fur"-like note in Yunnan03. For what it's worth, it was fleeting and not at all off-putting, as I recall. And honestly I don't detect it every time; Yu'03 also wears differently from time to time, it's a chameleon, so I am not sure even I would stand by my early impression of a fur-note.


I tried Hainan once so far, I didn't pick up the same fur-like note from Yu'03. If I detect it next time I wear Hainan, I'll for sure follow up. 🙂


As for what Hainan is like, I haven't picked up all the notes that Joel has (nicely done, Joel!) . . . all I can say at the moment is that Hainan makes me think of being on top of a cold, windswept, high-altitude mountain, seeing a vast open landscape of greys, blues, and some green trees, some ice and snow, a little wind and low sun. I get kind of a memory of animalic notes, like maybe there were animals present in the warmer season. I know that's vague and impressionistic, but sometimes that's what first emerges with thiese strange and beautiful aromas.

 

[bhanny]

Hainan 2005 by Ensar. Amazing Chinese. I love Chinese ouds. Very raw and animalic, though less in the typical Hindi barn fashion. More sweet, ambergris, bitter orange blossom. Definitely medicinal. Joel hit the nail on the head up there in a much more poetic way. Similar to his Yunnan 2003, but definitely differs enough to justify both. Especially if you like Chinese ouds. This is outstanding!
So I've spent some serious time with this one and there is definitely an amazing kinam note in the drydown. Just spectacular.

Nice jensz, I like it! And agree fully about Yunnan03, I get something different each time.