SOTD

[Kruger]

Hi all,

I thought we can use this thread to share which oud/s we like to wear when and how often. Share which oud is on your wrist today (actually, I am interested to even find out where others apply their oud) and which one you keep turning to most. I would love to hear your pick of the week, of the month, of the year.... of all time!

I guess we can share general reviews here as well, instead of having them as separate threads. What do guys think? Or maybe create a separate 'Reviews' thread?

 

[bhanny]

Great idea. I've been posting reviews as general posts here, but I think a separate 'Reviews' thread might be more appropriate. Great idea, go for it!

My oud of the day - Hainan 2005 - a truly special Chinese oud for me.

 

[Ensar Oud]

With the amount of oils I put on each day, I'd probably need a SOTH ('Scent of the Hour') thread

For now it's Taha's Lalitya..... Very different smelling kind of oil. You need to spend days with it just for it to start telling you anything. Once you get the 'hang' of it, you sort of start to understand where this is going. It's definitely as unique as they come, and Taha's signature "can't wrap your head around me" note is eminently present.

Take all the top notes of Assam 3000... remove the heart notes... then add some more top notes... then get rid of the base notes... then add more top notes to boot! Airy and elegant. There ARE base and heart notes, but to me they're just surrealist echoes of the top notes! I thought it was a highly fractionated oil because of that, yet Taha says it's full spectrum. Unbelievable!

The great thing about wearing Lalitya is it's like I'm in a foreign country, where I don't speak the language. I hear many people speaking all around me, but I don't know what they're saying. Sort of like waking up one day and you're in South Korea kinda thing. For me that's huge because I can wear this without it 'taxing' my internal workings and ruminations that I've got going on in languages I do speak! Fantastic way to calibrate my nose and chillax after a long day of... SMELLING

Something about the tone; it's very raw, zesty, twangy, like a minimalist, ultra modern piece of art. I don't know if I can suffice myself with a sample, or if I should see about securing five tolas....

 

[bhanny]

@Ensar - at least I'm not the only one, thought people think I'd be crazy for scent of left hand, right hand, left wrist, left forearm, left knee (okay joking here) - try his Chamkeila, very nice as well!

 

[5MeO]

Yes I like to apply to the top of my forefinger - this way I can sniff without looking (as) weird..

SOTD for me is Sultan Faith (EO) - it's like a more decadent big brother to Oud Sultan Murad - love both oils.. The dark rich wood scent on the drydown is awesome - it starts out with blue-green florals and sweetness, and then the scent of heated Port Moresby chips starts to emerge - it is amazing to me how closely the batch of Port Moresby chips from Ensar resemble the smell of these 2 ouds - I'd not be surprised at all if the material used to make SF and OSM is the same batch of chips as the ones he was selling - a lower grade I imagine, but the same tree..

 

[PEARL]

For now it's Taha's Lalitya..... Very different smelling kind of oil. You need to spend days with it just for it to start telling you anything. Once you get the 'hang' of it, you sort of start to understand where this is going. It's definitely as unique as they come, and Taha's signature "can't wrap your head around me" note is eminently present.

Ensar, you are very correct when you say that Taha's Lalitya is an oil you need to spend time with and I think I've honed in on Taha's "can't wrap your head around" note.
As I understand, Taha's 3rd generation distillation style is geared toward showcasing the intrinsic quality and fragrance of the wood. I've worn Lalitya for the past week or so trying to find that inherent scent of the wood. I used pinpoint applications as not to get olfactory fatigue all the way to very heavy applications, trying to wrap my head around it before I came to a realization. The wood and the wood when gently heated will invariably have the scent of wood in addition to the resin; the resin being what truly makes agarwood oud. With Lalitya I feel that Taha, whether intentionally or not, went a step further. He somehow removed even the scent of the wood and captured the scent of the resin itself. Ethereal, medicinal and heavenly

 

[bhanny]

Yes I like to apply to the top of my forefinger - this way I can sniff without looking (as) weird..

SOTD for me is Sultan Faith (EO) - it's like a more decadent big brother to Oud Sultan Murad - love both oils.. The dark rich wood scent on the drydown is awesome - it starts out with blue-green florals and sweetness, and then the scent of heated Port Moresby chips starts to emerge - it is amazing to me how closely the batch of Port Moresby chips from Ensar resemble the smell of these 2 ouds - I'd not be surprised at all if the material used to make SF and OSM is the same batch of chips as the ones he was selling - a lower grade I imagine, but the same tree..

Ha! Sounds like a good idea. Unfortunately, I am required, and frankly would want, to wash my hands 20-30 times a day. I'm quite sure people look at me like I'm bizarre with my nose constantly buried in one or both wrists.

@Ensar - When you get a chance, can you compare that wonderfully sweet, oceanic, deep, blue-green resin from my beloved Sultan Mustafa to what 5MeO gets here in Sultan Fatih (which honestly is making my mouth water 5MeO). And my apologies if you have both to compare 5MeO, please do so, if you don't mind.

 

[bhanny]

Ensar, you are very correct when you say that Taha's Lalitya is an oil you need to spend time with and I think I've honed in on Taha's "can't wrap your head around" note.
As I understand, Taha's 3rd generation distillation style is geared toward showcasing the intrinsic quality and fragrance of the wood. I've worn Lalitya for the past week or so trying to find that inherent scent of the wood. I used pinpoint applications as not to get olfactory fatigue all the way to very heavy applications, trying to wrap my head around it before I came to a realization. The wood and the wood when gently heated will invariably have the scent of wood in addition to the resin; the resin being what truly makes agarwood oud. With Lalitya I feel that Taha, whether intentionally or not, went a step further. He somehow removed even the scent of the wood and captured the scent of the resin itself. Ethereal, medicinal and heavenly

PEARL..I am finding some off the same things with Chamkeila..think I'm definitely a Gen 3 guy!!! And Ensar's point remains..Taha just has that something that makes you know he's the artist behind the oil. Ensar has that as well. It's really a cool thing. I need to go back to my Lalitya sample now again.

 

[Ensar Oud]

I'd not be surprised at all if the material used to make SF and OSM is the same batch of chips as the ones he was selling - a lower grade I imagine, but the same tree..

Yep, all of the Sultan Series oils that contain a New Guinea component were made from exactly the same trees as the chips we offered previously: Port Moresby Basic, Port Moresby Sinking and Port Moresby Extreme.

There's also the crème de la crème – the Port Moresby Privée.

can you compare that wonderfully sweet, oceanic, deep, blue-green resin from my beloved Sultan Mustafa to what 5MeO gets here in Sultan Fatih (which honestly is making my mouth water 5MeO).

Both oils were distilled using very similar parameters, the main difference being that there was a handsome Brunei component in the raw materials that went into Sultan Mustafa, whereas Sultan Fatih was 100% New Guinea. So there's going to be an underlying sweetness that almost verges on berries which is lent by the Brunei agarwood, whereas Fatih is going to be darker, more dark blue oceanic, and more incensey.

If you missed out on Sultan Fatih, your very best bet is Sultan Beyazit. High grade 100% New Guinea wood, distilled exactly the same way as Fatih, with one little difference: in a copper pot! This is going to lend some prettier notes to Beyazit than the masculine, ultra dark temperament of Fatih, which was begot by steel.

 

[5MeO]

Ah, good to know - my ouddict nose is becoming more refined it appears! And it's worth mentioning that those high-grade Port Moresby chips are among my favorites in the collection - these are deep, dark, woody smelling chips when heated - a very smooth and rich aroma - bottomless depth to the scent..

 

[Taherg]

Hands down, the PM chips have been the best oud burning experiences I have ever had. My Maroke sinking chips provide a distant memory of the olfactory rollercoster I had with them...*sigh*

 

[bhanny]

Both oils were distilled using very similar parameters, the main difference being that there was a handsome Brunei component in the raw materials that went into Sultan Mustafa, whereas Sultan Fatih was 100% New Guinea. So there's going to be an underlying sweetness that almost verges on berries which is lent by the Brunei agarwood, whereas Fatih is going to be darker, more dark blue oceanic, and more incensey.

If you missed out on Sultan Fatih, your very best bet is Sultan Beyazit. High grade 100% New Guinea wood, distilled exactly the same way as Fatih, with one little difference: in a copper pot! This is going to lend some prettier notes to Beyazit than the masculine, ultra dark temperament of Fatih, which was begot by steel.

Thank you sir, there is definitely a nice, yup, almost berrylicious sweetness going on here with Sultan Mustafa. Think I'm (finally ) starting to put together the various contributions here, thanks to your help! I'm wearing it now and it is awesome. And I did, indeed, miss out on Sultan Fatih, so will definitely take a look at Sultan Beyazit, sounds like it would definitely be right up my alley.

 

[bhanny]

Today I went with Sultan Abdul Hamit (EO). Makes me feel like I'm sitting seaside, fire crackling, but this one is burning some lovely resin rich agarwood.

 

[kesiro]

Today I have Ensar's Aroha Kyaku. This was an acquired taste for me initially but now I just love it! Starts off very strong: burning wood and smoke, but then becomes very multidimensional. It does an amazing dance of deep dark incense and bright, floral and fruit notes. This oil is very complex and I imagine it will only get better with time. For the price, this is the bargain of the year! Maybe decade!

 

[JohnH]

We've been walking around in a cloud of Adam's Hindi 100k today. Transferring some oil from a tola bottle to a 3g bottle always seems to leave some big swipes left in the syringe barrel and blunt tipped needle. What could we do but apply it all and wallow in the smooth, deep barniness of it, lovely. Not sure some of the other passengers on the local buses appreciated it as much as we do though!

 

[Taherg]

Hmm today I had some Assam Organic 2007 on my right arm and Assam Organic 2010 on my left. Very enjoyable...creamyness is the highlight of the 2007 and the berries stand out on the 2010.

 

[Ensar Oud]

I put on a dab of Taha's Sutera Ungu today..... Plums and violets and lilacs atop Taha's hallmark 'can't wrap your head around me' note which is here a bit more accessible – okay, after half a dozen wears. Smells fractionated due to Taha's signature 'airy' style, but I'm betting it's full spectrum.

Why do I feel like someone took the top note from Sultan Süleyman – removed the heart notes – added more top notes – removed the base notes – added more top notes to create a suave, ultra minimalist profile of Terengganu oud wood?

I think I would choose this over Berkilau..... unless, of course, I end up choosing Berkilau!

 

[bhanny]

For me today Kambodi 1976. So incredibly deep and rich. I only go with this one on certain days. My mind and body really tell me when I need it, today is one of those days. It is very introspective for me. You really need to try this one to wrap your head around it.

I need to revisit Sutera Ungu as well, Taha kindly included a sample in a purchase and I definitely recall some of those lovely purple topnotes you're finding Ensar. Maybe I'll take a little swipe later.

@Everyone - lets keep this going. This is fun. Thanks for taking the time to post.

 

[kesiro]

Ensar's Santal Royale is the SOTD for me. I have always loved the scent of sandalwood but never thought it was wearable as a single scent. Too linear and un-dynamic. Mainly good in blending. Well, Santal Royale changes that, and big time. It is a heady concoction of many dimensions. It is truly perfume like. This is a manly santal, yet sublime. It is calming and uplifting, classy yet animalic at the same time. It is a masterpiece IMO.

 

[bhanny]

Ensar's Santal Royale is the SOTD for me. I have always loved the scent of sandalwood but never thought it was wearable as a single scent. Too linear and un-dynamic. Mainly good in blending. Well, Santal Royale changes that, and big time. It is a heady concoction of many dimensions. It is truly perfume like. This is a manly santal, yet sublime. It is calming and uplifting, classy yet animalic at the same time. It is a masterpiece IMO.

It is definitely anything but linear, isn't it? One of my favorites. I actually liked it so much I bought a second bottle so I would never run out!

After a good morning/afternoon with Kambodi 1976, I had to shower up for a date with my wife, I went with Sultani for the evening/night. Talk about two powerhouses. Today was just a nasty weather day here on the southeast coast of the US with the hurricane bringing heavy rains and cooler temperatures all day. Both of those just seemed right for today.

I did just put a swipe of Taha's Chamkeila, nice stuff!