Oud as “Principle” Scent

Has Oud enhanced your perception and understanding of other scents?


  • Total voters
    8

Anthony

Active Member
#1
I am a relative newcomer to the Oud universe but my observations lead me to believe that it contains an extraordinary “principle” scent (a scent by/against which all other olfactory sensations, impressions, and memories may be more clearly and fully understood).
Has anyone else experienced this??
 
Last edited:

Oudamberlove

Well-Known Member
#2
Good point!
In my case, oud has definitely enhanced my perception and understanding of Incense, especially my collection of Japanese incense, and other artisan crafted agarwood incense.
I am pretty sure the same with other scents, but only to the extent where I exercise the ability.
 
A

Alkhadra

Guest
#3
Interesting view!

From my personal experiences...
I wouldn't call Oud a "principle" scent by any measure. Rather, I'd say that Oud as a scent can intrigue one enough that they find themselves sniffing and studying it more than they would with other scents. Oud is known to be psychoactive like many other things out there, which could cause this type of behavior. After that, the sniffing/studying that person divulged into will naturally enhance their ability to experience and discern other scents, and they may relate this to their relationship with Oud, as it was the gateway for them into experiencing scent on a deeper level, whilst they could have just as easily done it without Oud had they found another interest to trigger the sniffing/studying behavior.

But there might be a lot more to it than that, and it might have something to do with sensory receptors becoming more sensitive to certain molecules after continued exposure to Oud, which in turn enhances the users experiences with other aromas. This is just a thought, no evidence to back it as of yet. If it were true, then it very well could be called a "principle" scent as you've stated!
 

~A Coburn

Well-Known Member
#4
I am a relative newcomer to the Oud universe but my observations lead me to believe that it contains an extraordinary “principle” scent (a scent by/against which all other olfactory sensations, impressions, and memories may be more clearly and fully understood).
Has anyone else experienced this??
If what you mean by principle is a scent within which all other olfactory sensations, impressions, memories, and scent nuances are experienced, than yes!!!
 

Anthony

Active Member
#5
If what you mean by principle is a scent within which all other olfactory sensations, impressions, memories, and scent nuances are experienced, than yes!!!
Thank you, yes, “within” is better. I was also wrestling with the word “principle” (over “primer”, “archetype” or even “blueprint”). But these words also seem to fall short in describing this olfactory phenomenon.
 
Last edited:

~A Coburn

Well-Known Member
#6
Thank you, yes, “within” is better. I was also wrestling with the word “principle” (over “primer”, “archetype” or even “blueprint”). But these words also seem to fall short in describing this olfactory phenomenon.
You're most welcome,

What I think is going on is that it's more than just the scent itself, and is far beyond the semantics of words.

Many natural aromatics are grounding and have a way of connecting one to nature... but in addition to all that, oud stirs the soul.

It's an indescribable experience that's familiar yet estranged all at once.

It has a way of possessing one's thoughts, and evoking contemplation of origins, be it our own or of a different species all together.

I believe oud is a blueprint, but it's a blueprint of a supreme perfume, a shining example of a transformative process in which the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

And @Anthony , with experiential knowledge, words will always fall short.
 
#7
I just like to smell it, not much more to say than that, really. When I read about you lot posting note breakdowns, mind buzz, this, that the other, I generally don't get any of that and am far more 'surface' in my enjoyment of it.
Or maybe my sense of smell is just borked or something
 

~A Coburn

Well-Known Member
#8
I just like to smell it, not much more to say than that, really. When I read about you lot posting note breakdowns, mind buzz, this, that the other, I generally don't get any of that and am far more 'surface' in my enjoyment of it.
Or maybe my sense of smell is just borked or something
Haha, not to worry @Sproaty there's nothing wrong with just enjoying the scent of an oud, I think everyone has their own degree of appreciation.

Also many ouds out there, especially the plantation ouds that saturate the marketplace, are linear with little to no complexity, and no real scent evolution as I call it, meaning different stages or phases of development, i.e top, mid, and base-notes.

But are their nuances?!?! Of course, even simple aromatic oils like lavender have them, and some people are more sensitive to particular molecules than others. For example lavender is comprised of linalool, camphor, linalyle acetate, terpenine-4 etc... and for me I might pick up on the camphor element while you perceive the lanalyle acetate more, or maybe are completely anosmic to it given the molecular structure...

So note breakdowns are very real and if you were to abstain from all industrial aroma chemicals, including those in your detergent, soap, deodorant and dry-cleaning, I'd bet you'd become much more sensitive to the nuances within high quality ouds.

As for the 'mind buzz' part... if you try the Vietnam Kinam Ensar's sharing at the moment; you'll definitely know the kind of buzz referred to, that stuff's as waxy as mastic, and about as astringent and anesthetic as they come. I just touched the bag of the bag that it's in this morning, literally like 2 hours and 45 minutes ago, and my hand still smells like it!!! Whoa!

So that's the 'litmus' test @Sproaty put a piece of it on low heat, and another in your mouth, and if you're not 'buzzing' we'll know your nose is 'borked' as you say =)
 
#9
Hi Adam, thanks for the reply. I don't think it's a case of plantation oils that are saturating the marketplace as I have tried many premium and mid-range (many from Ensar).

For several months I did wear only oud oils and natural attars and didn't wear any EDT/EDP fragrances and became more sensitive to those but it didn't make a difference to picking up. I'm not saying that they're not real as everyone perceives scents differently but I pick up on perhaps 3-5 basic facets at most but don't seem to get an oil that smells like ambergris, for example. It could be very well that I'm still not well-versed in individual scents - I'm still learning to identify spices as such.

Regarding the Litmus test, then sure - send a touch of the Kinam my way and I'll report back :D