Oud Oil Reviews - MAIN THREAD

[Youssef]

IO Fragrant Harbour Supreme (apologies if you already saw this review on Ouddict)

At first, I didn’t understand this oil. I thought it was a bit too vegetal and zesty. However, to be honest I don’t think I gave this oil enough of my patience. Now, this is an oil that I wake up wanting to smell, and every time I pop the cap open it’s soothing aroma wafts around me. It first start’s out vegetal, zesty and bitter, with an aged raw puer note. Give it about a minute and it turns into this beautifully vibrant, bitter sweet oil, but with plenty of complexity, and still hasn’t lost it’s beautiful puer note. I am getting notes of stone fruits, and woodiness, covered in this amazingly smooth cloth. Though it might be vibrant it is very balanced and very smooth. This oil as well, is very active on my wrist. Sometimes I will get the regular notes from it, but sometimes it turns and gives me a waft of vanilla, or a little bit more vegetal, or a hint more bitter, it almost seems like it is constantly changing! I put this oil on at Morning prayer, and it lasted with me until sunset. One of my favorites by far.

 

[kooolaid79]

EO Assam Organic Meghalaya

I smell the chocolate.
I smell the agarwood.
I smell the deg.
I smell the smoke/incense.
I smell the fruits.
I smell the maturity.
The barn has just enough hay, tobacco, and leather.
A little whipped cream on top.
Not overly resinous.
And just enough oudiness to go ooomph!


EO Sultan Abdüs Selam

This oil is like taking a ride on a jet plane.
First you taxi around the opening notes which is like a zip file containg a preview of all the notes compressed into one pro'file'. I need more time to come to terms with it. Then you start to take flight into an ethereal realm where the blue-green ocean is in the clouds, and the shores are of jungle river rocks. There's a hint of Sayang Kinam, and there's a background of candied fruits. Drydown, it's like Port Moresby's Caribbean cousin.

I can't go any further, I'm just too Blissed-Out

Hmmm how do you expect other people to comment on Assam Organic after that kind of review. Wow what a awesome nose you have and the detection of all those different notes? Simply mind blowing Curt!!

 

[Simla House]

EO Sultan Abdüs Selam

This oil is like taking a ride on a jet plane.
First you taxi around the opening notes which is like a zip file containg a preview of all the notes compressed into one pro'file'. I need more time to come to terms with it. Then you start to take flight into an ethereal realm where the blue-green ocean is in the clouds, and the shores are of jungle river rocks. There's a hint of Sayang Kinam, and there's a background of candied fruits. Drydown, it's like Port Moresby's Caribbean cousin.

I can't go any further, I'm just too Blissed-Out

@Oudamberlove, what region is this oud from?
Is it Sri Lankan?
I haven't heard of this one before.
When you wrote "blue-green ocean", my eyes lit up
The whole thing sounds amazing.

 

[kesiro]

@Oudamberlove, what region is this oud from?
Is it Sri Lankan?
I haven't heard of this one before.
When you wrote "blue-green ocean", my eyes lit up
The whole thing sounds amazing.

@Simla House You beat me to the question! Spill the beans Curt!!

 

[Oudamberlove]

Hmmm how do you expect other people to comment on Assam Organic after that kind of review. Wow what a awesome nose you have and the detection of all those different notes? Simply mind blowing Curt!!

Kool, after I spend more time with AOMeg, I will definitely share it's nuances.

@Simla House @kesiro,
I am not very comfortable spilling the beans, so please pardon me Ensar....

Sultan Abdüs Selam is distilled from New Guinea and Sumba (Aquilaria Cumingiana) agarwood. Ensar mentioned that the synergy is more from uniformity, than contrast. It sure resonates me sky high
I haven't even swiped a second time yet, but all I can say for now is that I am VERY happy with this oil.

 

[Simla House]

oh ok @Oudamberlove , didn't mean to oud you into a corner.
I'll PM next time.
Feel free to delete.
I think I may have gotten people into trouble before.
Whoops.

 

[Oudamberlove]

oh ok @Oudamberlove , didn't mean to oud you into a corner.
I'll PM next time.
Feel free to delete.
I think I may have gotten people into trouble before.
Whoops.

No problem Simla House.
I may not be comfortable, but it is in no way wrong to do so. After all, Ensar shared it with me, and I share it with you guys
I got the "tip" from Mr. Coburn though

 

[RobertOne]

FO: Hainan Arabi.

Initial Application:

It goes on like a splash of honey rubbed with mentholated pipe tobacco of sound quality. Bitter chocolate.

A minute later some of Adam's signature note, the bluegreen mint can be detected, the Oud lift of some delicious resin is certainly present in large amount.

A few minutes later some red plumbs come forth with a very subtle kind of barnyard indeed, it's a muted, distant version of EO Oud Mostafa No°5 with a little EO Assam Organic for good measure but without the definition of both. It's certainly what I believe to be Chinese in nature.

Ten Minutes.

Some cloves now, a lashing of woody honey sweet and sour with menthol aquamarine with the barn now curiously to the rear. The whole mixture is certainly perfumy with an incense character.

One hour.

The bitter chocolate accord is certainly gone now as has some of the overall strength of all the notes, it's still a good aroma but curiously faded. The essential character has still remained though, minus barn.

Two hours.

The perfume-ness abides but the strength and projection now barely hovers above my skin and faintly at that, it's really one for septum application.

In terms of longevity this reminds me of EO Assam 3000, it was a joy but only a fleeting one for me. It might be that my skin chemistry is limiting this.

Four hours.

As above, it's almost completely gone. Sad as it's enjoyable but it feels underpowered.

 

[Oudamberlove]

FO: Hainan Arabi.

Initial Application:

It goes on like a splash of honey rubbed with mentholated pipe tobacco of sound quality. Bitter chocolate.

A minute later some of Adam's signature note, the bluegreen mint can be detected, the Oud lift of some delicious resin is certainly present in large amount.

A few minutes later some red plumbs come forth with a very subtle kind of barnyard indeed, it's a muted, distant version of EO Oud Mostafa No°5 with a little EO Assam Organic for good measure but without the definition of both. It's certainly what I believe to be Chinese in nature.

Ten Minutes.

Some cloves now, a lashing of woody honey sweet and sour with menthol aquamarine with the barn now curiously to the rear. The whole mixture is certainly perfumy with an incense character.

One hour.

The bitter chocolate accord is certainly gone now as has some of the overall strength of all the notes, it's still a good aroma but curiously faded. The essential character has still remained though, minus barn.

Two hours.

The perfume-ness abides but the strength and projection now barely hovers above my skin and faintly at that, it's really one for septum application.

In terms of longevity this reminds me of EO Assam 3000, it was a joy but only a fleeting one for me. It might be that my skin chemistry is limiting this.

Four hours.

As above, it's almost completely gone. Sad as it's enjoyable but it feels underpowered.

H Arabi....the Oud Acrobat

 

[Adam]

Oud Acrobat hahah… i love this analogy.
Yes thats the type of OUD we like.
When it is not necessarily an indicator of the top quality OUD it is definitely the type I am personally most exited about.
I like moody scent profile haha… well not anarchy type but perfect flow and far distance between top/mid/base notes...

 

[Oudamberlove]

Oud Acrobat hahah… i love this analogy.
Yes thats the type of OUD we like.
When it is not necessarily an indicator of the top quality OUD it is definitely the type I am personally most exited about.
I like moody scent profile haha… well not anarchy type but perfect flow and far distance between top/mid/base notes...

H Arabi, a lovely acrobat indeed

It's amazing how Chinese oud can morph into so many things, yet, in the extract Sinensis of IO, it's Rock Steady

 

[Oudamberlove]

AA Ayu... is now reunited with her long lost brother...the brawny Inderapura Encens.

She's a lovely Malaysian, but you have to get used to Agarofurans...it runs in the family

 

[RobertOne]

R.B.O Banderban, Bangladesh.

It's a Hindi style Oud, much more in the direction of Dr. Hindi than Assam Organic, however.

The scent is fairly constant but lovely nonetheless.

It applied with aromas of black cherry tabac but the sweet briar cherry variety, christmas pud (!) and a delicious underlying sweet-sour-bitterness that provides a refreshing sharpness, like yuzu dressing on carpacchio of beef.

It's hard to imagine this as a feminine scent, the ambience this little beauty conjours is that of a gentleman's club smoking room where a glass of the lushest port wine is being wafted into the air.

This Oud is really all about tobacco aromas, it's very good indeed. Longevity and projection are far above average.

 

[kesiro]

AA Ayu... is now reunited with her long lost brother...the brawny Inderapura Encens.

She's a lovely Malaysian, but you have to get used to Agarofurans...it runs in the family

Huge fan of Inderapura, and Malaysian Oud for that matter. I can hear Ayu calling!

 

[Tuff]

Review - Nhek 1976

There is one oil in my collection that I don't wear anymore, and will give it a few years to mellow out, because it is just tooooooo much. That oil is Kambodi X. It is crazzzzzy strong, and not in a barny way. The only way I can describe it, is it resembles a leather tannery, like a Dhaka Bangladesh type tannery. No refined leather here, just biker bar leather. No wimps allowed. If you want some cute jammy thing, this ain't it. If you drive a Harley, then anything with Nhek's well water is your bag. Most on here with any of Nhek's oils will tell you they will never part with it. I sold one, and immediately regretted it afterwards. First and last time I ever part with an oil. Nhek 1976 is even more unique than Kambodi X in my not so humble opinion. It goes on the same as Kambodi X, you are transported to Dhaka almost immediately. However, unlike Kambodi X that doesn't chill out into anything mildly jammy until many many hours later, Nhek gives off a very addicting caramelized jammy note within a half hour. This could only come from the secret weapon in this oil, the 5-10% of the 1976 original Nhek monster in this oil. It makes this oil have a much more refined character, and adds depth not available any other way. You won't have to wait years for this oil to chill out, the 1976 blended in already did that for you. The tenacity of this oil is out of control, similar to Kambodi X. You will smell it on your flannel shirt five days later. I'm not sure how many other Nhek's well water offerings are going to be released in the future, but i'm guessing the number is close to zero. If you enjoy being KO'd Ronda Rousey style by your oils, then I suggest you stock up on some Nhek well water oils. Very unique, and no other vendor will ever get this profile. Guaranteed no other vendor cares that much about you to lug one specific well water thousands of kilometers to get a unique profile either.

 

[Shabby]

Ayu: This is easily the most crowd-friendly oud I have ever smelled, which is another means of saying it is drop-dead beautiful. Diffusive in a way that I would previously never have thought possible in an oil; sparkling in a way that would normally imply alcohol aided evaporation off the skin. It is green in an unmistakably Malay expression of the colour, with a predominant lime note - but lime like the lime-flavoured gummy bear as opposed to the fruit. Nevertheless there are zesty citrus overtones, but these are by the way, and don't impact on the depth of the scent, which is relayed through the 'oudiness' that holds the entire structure of the scent together. What starts off as this incredible western perfume gathers itself ever more into its West Malaysian heart and the dry down is pure sumptuous 'oudiness'. This is not a comfort scent for me, it is a scintillating declaration of the perfume-like heights that oud can attain to. The very best thing about it is the crystal-cut top notes that is the singular triumph of Agar Aura oils. Imagine kola-green notes that seem to glint in the light when you smell them. With the middle and base notes that they sit on top of, the combination is magical. For all that this oil is not lightweight at all, it has a deeply grounded heart which is the background for the all the dancing notes. One of my all time favourites from Agar Aura which is really saying something, especially given the price. Would love to hear more thoughts about this incredible oil.

@kesiro you will absolutely love this oil my friend.

 

[kesiro]

@Shabby Thank you for the review! Beautifully done! DHL actually showed my Ayu arriving yesterday, but that was just a tease. Hopefully today the eagle will land with my oil. Given your affinity for AA oils, your review of Ayu is quite saying something. Awesome!!

 

[kesiro]

Mr. Barn, from Agarwood Assam. I am not exactly sure what region the wood is from of this bad boy. This oils is a turbid, very thick consistency, very similar to OM5. The opening is a chocolate milk/malt animalic funkiness, but somehow without being offensive in any way. There is some hay as well. This fades after about 10 minutes and the scent begins to transform. There is smoke, as you would detect from somewhere in the distance. Smoked meat with some savory spices. As the drydown continues, you get a simply awesome white pepper note which tingles your nostrils ever so slightly. Blend in some lemon zest, but much less prominent that you would see in a Bengal oil. And that note, with the spicy smoked meat and wood smoke interplay for the rest of the time. This is a Hindi with definite vertical note development.
The Mr. Barn name to me is a little misleading. Maybe appropriate for the first 10 minutes or so, but afterwards, it is Sir Barn, lol. Quite a sophisticated Hindi. It is definitely the best offering from Zak i have tried. To say this oil speaks to me is an understatement. A tremendous value. Longevity is huge. An oil that is very grounding. It is a HIGH on the Hindi Oud satisfaction scale.
@PEARL- HRE Double VANOS, this one is calling you!!

 

[PEARL]

@kesiro Zakir makes a fine oil, I have his Hastakshar Kalakassi which is reminiscent of some of my favorite pugilist. It has the braggadocio of a young “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather Jr. before he became “Money May”; the angular, quick footwork of Vasyl “The Matrix/Hi Tech” Lomachenko; the timelessness of Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins; the high quality form of Guillermo “El Chacal” Rigondeaux; the mean streak of Terrence “Bud” Crawford and the thudding power of a young “Iron” Mike Tyson.

GGG beat Canelo and got a poor decision by the way. If anybody thinks otherwise, YDKSAB.

 

[kooolaid79]

@kesiro Zakir makes a fine oil, I have his Hastakshar Kalakassi which is reminiscent of some of my favorite pugilist. It has the braggadocio of a young “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather Jr. before he became “Money May”; the angular, quick footwork of Vasyl “The Matrix/Hi Tech” Lomachenko; the timelessness of Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins; the high quality form of Guillermo “El Chacal” Rigondeaux; the mean streak of Terrence “Bud” Crawford and the thudding power of a young “Iron” Mike Tyson.

GGG beat Canelo and got a poor decision by the way. If anybody thinks otherwise, YDKSAB.

Wow how do you come up with that stuff? Seriously its awesome to read your posts each time Sidi Anwar!!