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 =)