Best Oud Wood you have ever burn

Ensar Oud

Well-Known Member
#22
I would presume so given that JK is listing it for sale as Agallocha Kyara. Do you feel it is in a Cedar family instead and have you smelled this same batch of material?
Haven't smelled this particular species before hence it aroused my curiosity....
 

~A Coburn

Well-Known Member
#23
Talking with JK about getting a small piece for myself - he sent me a couple photos that aren't on his instagram and a couple that are (for those who aren't on social media). Some big chunks!
That all seems very exciting and that fourth piece looks like nice oud. Despite this individual's moral stance and whether or not he himself is doing this, it brings up a good point to be aware of which is just because something looks impressive in a picture doesn't mean it is, and it's common place for hunters and distillers to show you one thing, and then do the old switcharoo.

Anther concern I have is the following. For example the top left picture clearly isn't edited and shows the actual colors, yet presto chango, with a bit of photo editing the log in the top left of the first photo becomes that resinous black piece in the bottom center, and the piece on the top right in the first picture, becomes that dark piece on the bottom right. Sure one could argue that it is to enhance the 'real colors' of the wood, and you could hedge your bets and buy one of the pieces, but I can guarantee you your eyes don't have the same filters as photoshop.

Filters are very useful to visually enhance images but they won't make plain old oud smell like Kyara.

For example have a look at this: Kyarabdb.jpg

Some pretty juicy looking Kyara, right?
 
#24
https://www.instagram.com/therisingphoenixperfumery/

He posted on instagram the last 2 days. 8 long videos showing the entirety of this collection without any filters. JK has been involved in the scene for a long time. No one in their right mind out entrust these kind of heirlooms to someone who wasn't an expert with agarwood.

Either way - I think it's odd to compare JK to an unscrupulous agarwood dealer who does bait and switch. He's another high quality vendor who has proven to be an honest business person (5 stars on Etsy with over 800 reviews - a marketplace where vendors don't have control over their reviews) bringing great products to market - there's room in the sandbox for a few ;)

Not saying we shouldn't question things like this - that's what's great about forums like this. They can help to promote transparency for buyers. But based on your post, it sounds like you think we should question the authenticity of this wood or JK's moral compass. I'm not butt hurt about it, but why not be positive about it? Lots of people have tried and reviewed the wood already - I'm sure JK would send you some to try. Maybe you'd love it.
 

~A Coburn

Well-Known Member
#25
I think it's odd to compare JK to an unscrupulous agarwood dealer who does bait and switch.
I can certainly see how you may have took that as such, but my point isn't about JK. For many the products he shares and the woods he sells are the most exotic things they've ever seen and he's allowed to market his wares as he wants, but I'm definitely not in the same sandbox. . . you can play there if you want to ;)

Actually the whole thing was pretty confusing for me, because at first I was under the impression that it was all supposedly Kyara, when obviously not. And the two vintage logs I questioned him about he mentioned that he doesn't actually have in his possession so that was the end of my interest, but then the videos were made referencing the sizes of other wood which I wasn't concerned about in the least. But it sure did shift the attention that direction. . .

@Asalkin1 just out of curiosity, have you ever smelled certified Kyara? And what's your take on the difference between the Japanese school of thought and the Chinese approach? And considering the history of agarwood, what century would you say the majority of Kyara has to originate from?

why not be positive about it?
Haha, you're probably right. All these years of experience behind the scenes of agarwood have left me leery.

Most the time when something looks too good to be true . . . it is.

Ooozing kyara
Kyarabdb.jpg

Actual wood
Nonkyarabdb.jpg

The above is Bois d' Iris wood, also known as Iris Kyara :rolleyes:

I thought in order to gauge Kynam/Kyara one has to use it smell it so on to really gauge and study the infection/fibers of the wood?
Absolutely. But the individual has to first have a reference as to what is actually Kyara.

Most that are new to the oud scene have never smelled high quality oud before, so call it Rainbow Kinam for all they care, and they'll be bragging to their friends.
 

~A Coburn

Well-Known Member
#26
@John absolutely, and I too have love and respect for those who dedicate themselves to their work, their mission, and who contribute to the advancement of an art or science, and conversely I believe it's equally important to preserve the art and tradition and not exploit newcomers and blind consumerism.

Again this isn't about any one individual, the topic however brought up a point that I feel is extremely important for everyone to understand.

I'm not worried about you at all, you're experienced with wood and know what you like, the concern I have is for the tradition when so many out there are drooling over fantastic pictures of oud made to look like 'kyara' and the overall preservation of the standards we go by.

Just as so many now call 'natural oud,' the mono-toned agarwood oil produced in plantations, artisanal oud oil, it seems we're heading in the direction to call what was once just regular oud, 'kyara.'

I know that's the general direction of society, fast food is now a standard people live by, musk is white, ambergris is ambar, and so for people with those standards oud might as well be kyara.

You and everyone else are free to do as you like, but for me, my food is homemade, musk granules are black and from a sac with an orifice near the testicles of the deer, ambergris is the floating chunk of whale excretion, oud remains oud, Kyara, Kyara and Kinam Kinam.

While I'm also glad to hear of your enjoyment of Ceram '96, I'm not fishing for compliments for Ensar Oud, I'm raising awareness in hopes to uphold the standards.
 

Rasoul S

Well-Known Member
#29
Was going to keep this buy on the down lo but I can’t. Guallam antique wood ensar put up for a day the other week is the real deal. This wood is nothing short of darkest sickest heaviest oldest pieces ever. And the scent is otherworldly. Very chinese. Whispers of the core note in yunnnan wood and old hainan stock is here but the make up on top is different. Darker. very kinamic. Profound. Strongly recommended. Leaves one speechless.
P.s it performs very well across temp ranges. Sweet spot i thought would be medium + to medium but it turned out to be med-
 

Simla House

Well-Known Member
#30
Was going to keep this buy on the down lo but I can’t. Guallam antique wood ensar put up for a day the other week is the real deal. This wood is nothing short of darkest sickest heaviest oldest pieces ever. And the scent is otherworldly. Very chinese. Whispers of the core note in yunnnan wood and old hainan stock is here but the make up on top is different. Darker. very kinamic. Profound. Strongly recommended. Leaves one speechless.
P.s it performs very well across temp ranges. Sweet spot i thought would be medium + to medium but it turned out to be med-
I concur. This was an eye opener for me. Only the experiences of heating the different colours of kyara and chewing kinam have surpassed it. Not to mention just holding this dense piece of Agarwood was an experience in itself. A bit of experimentation temperature wise eventually gave way to the magic moment where you just shake your head in wonder.
 

Rasoul S

Well-Known Member
#31
A bit more of the guallam antique again. Each burn is better than the one before. Just spectacular. It is this grade of wood that is gone and done for. Simple wood is everywhere. Is pleasant. Is pretty. Some are even very good. BUT Solid slab of resin with a whole cosmos of scents and energy in it is what agarwood is all about. Nothing short of a miracle.
 

Jeff

New Member
#32
I too have one of the Gullam Antique pieces - it is truly an amazing wood, more dense than any others I’ve come across in the various Agar marketplaces. The beauty when burned Monkoh on low/mid heat reveals a subtle melon/cucumber smell that is absolutely to die for. This is the signature smell that can be found in authentic, antique Vietnamese woods and this is a benchmark piece. I have a few pieces in my collection of similar quality - yet find myself grabbing this piece more often than the others. It goes very nicely with Nha Trang LTD - makes for a great session when we’re here stuck at home! Finding new ways to make the best of it!!