SOTD

[m.arif]

Here's what Taha said from the "Sinking grade wood" thread.

Yep, I'm in Sri Lanka right now. So far so good. Just have to finish cleaning/seasoning/neutralizing the pots with sandalwood first (sandalwood has excellent cleansing properties). Funny, this very same topic was being discussed here @ Gaharu just recently. My position is that, yes, it needs to be done. Running a virgin pot distillation is a bad idea, the oil will smell quite off.
However, I do believe in thoroughly cleaning out pots after every distillation (without abrasives or detergents though). I think Ensar and Adam may have a different view on this, because I know they're more adventurous than I (after the recent Impasug-ong excursion, I'm even less adventurous!).

 

[kesiro]

SOTD is Lilitya. I just love this oil. Such a different style than the EO oils but no less spectacular. Perfume like and airy, great to start the week.

 

[Ensar Oud]

@ensar Is it a lack of skill and experience on their technical staff's side? Or perhaps the new pots? Is there a "break-in" period for distillation equipment?

I'd have to say it's ultimately both, however the 'newness' of the apparatus cannot be underestimated. You have pots that have a super strong – even a nasty 'manufactured' smell. Think what an unused toaster smells like fresh out of the box. No matter how expensive, a new appliance smells of the factory, the chemicals and materials that went into its construction. Think of all the plastic tubes that connect the collection vessels. Unused, they all smell of the synthetic scent of rubber/plastic. You need time just for the bad smell to leave these things. Since distillation is going to be happening during that time – guess where all that funk is going to end up? – Right in the oil!

Conditioning is a whole other consideration. The pots and apparatus are doused in oud oil during distillation. While it is possible to completely 'clean' the pots after every run, some element of the oud is going to be absorbed and retained in the system, almost like a 'sealant' or a 'greasing agent' that can't be removed altogether once it is applied.

In the case of wild, highly sought after raw materials, you want to do everything you can to clean the pot completely so that a previous run doesn't affect a high grade wild distillation. The converse is not always the case. After distilling very high grade wild raw materials, the last thing you want to do is clean the system of the residue so you can have as 'original' and 'authentic' smelling a cultivated distillation.... Such wild batches being done at a distillery are the feast days of distillers. They can take high quality cultivated wood and run it directly after an expensive wild oil, taking the complexity of the scent notches higher than it would have been otherwise.

That's what was done with Maroke Kyen, which was distilled after Oud Royale III. That's why Jing Shen Lu is redolent of certain Sultan oils....

 

[bhanny]

Awesome Ensar, thanks! Can't wait for Jing Shen Lu!

For tonight I'm going with Chamkeila. Super nice no barn Hindi from Taha.

 

[m.arif]

A wealth of information right there Ensar. Much appreciated. So a few 'mock distillations' need to be done prior using it for real projects? Taha is implying that distilling Sandalwood is one way. Are there others that you may share here? Perhaps distill low grade wood just to cleanse it.

@Taha , I remember that in one of your videos (I think it was at Pasir Panjang , with Yusof), you showed one of the vintage cambodian pots there. Although the outer part looks old, you mentioned that the inside was cleaned with acid wash, and the inside was like a mirror. Is it correct to assume there are exceptions to what you said about using abrasives/detergents to clean the pot?

@bhanny oooh chamkeila. a very nice zero barn hindi indeed. I get a strong reminder of patchouli in the opening. Never thought that Hindis could smell like that.

 

[Ensar Oud]

Cultivated oud wood can cost far less than true wild sandalwood, so it depends on how you look at it

 

[bhanny]

Borneo 3000 today. IMO the best Borneo around. Honeyed vanilla. Sweet berries and pears. Ethereal woodiness. Just amazing.

 

[Oud Learner]

I was transferring my oils to the v vials. So as not to waste any residual oils, I just applied all of them on my fingers and wrist.

Feel Oud: Old Vietnam
Agar Aura: Sutera Ungu
Imperial Oud: Rajakiya
Imperial Oud: Mamberamo

I am overloading my olfactory senses now! Hehe sort of reminded me the Singapore Oud Fest when I was having an Oud galore trying out Ensar oils!

 

[bhanny]

Tonight is the amazing Kinam Rouge. Truly one of my favorites. Deep red fruits, medicinal kinam, what's not to like here?

 

[kesiro]

Tonight is the amazing Kinam Rouge. Truly one of my favorites. Deep red fruits, medicinal kinam, what's not to like here?

Uhhh... nothing? I love KR! Your description is right on. Awaiting delivery of Koh Kong '76 which is supposed to also have some red notes.

 

[bhanny]

Uhhh... nothing? I love KR! Your description is right on. Awaiting delivery of Koh Kong '76 which is supposed to also have some red notes.

Let us know your thoughts of Koh Kong '76! Sounds awesome!

 

[bhanny]

Oud Yusuf today. My first bottle purchase. So nice and fruity. A little kinam. Perfect.

 

[kesiro]

Oud Yusuf today. My first bottle purchase. So nice and fruity. A little kinam. Perfect.

I believe it was my first purchase as well! Need to get that one out more often.

 

[kesiro]

Tonight I put on Koh Kong '76 that just arrived. Definitely has some of that Koh Kong red characteristic, but also has a really nice incense sweet wood that I really crave.

 

[bhanny]

Sounds great kesiro. I might have to sample that one! I don't wear my Cambodi's a ton, but man I love them when I do. Glad you're enjoying!

 

[bhanny]

Kyara LTD today. Pure bliss in a bottle. Bewitching from the first drop. Wish I had more of this stuff. Starts a bit bittersweet and green, sweetens up to a golden sun-kissed syrup, then mixed into the sweet syrup is some very subtle yet mouthwatering sour element that makes me want to drink this stuff. But I won't. Amazing stuff.

 

[kesiro]

Kyara LTD today. Pure bliss in a bottle. Bewitching from the first drop. Wish I had more of this stuff. Starts a bit bittersweet and green, sweetens up to a golden sun-kissed syrup, then mixed into the sweet syrup is some very subtle yet mouthwatering sour element that makes me want to drink this stuff. But I won't. Amazing stuff.

Ok, I am salivating and jealous! LOL. That sounds incredible. For some reason, a slight sourness is a favorite note for me.

Today for me is Jing Shen Lu. Wow, like nothing I have smelled before. Starts of earthy and then begins to soften to a more blue green direction. Truly unusual. I am interested to see how it progresses throughout the day.

 

[MzM15]

Looked at the box of samples I have from Ensar and saw that I actually do have barely a drop of Oud Yusuf and Assam 3000, both which I have read great things about. Assam 3000 smelt amazing, not enough of a drop so I put on a little Yusuf as well and my hand are constantly on my face trying to get a whiff from time to time.

 

[kesiro]

Looked at the box of samples I have from Ensar and saw that I actually do have barely a drop of Oud Yusuf and Assam 3000, both which I have read great things about. Assam 3000 smelt amazing, not enough of a drop so I put on a little Yusuf as well and my hand are constantly on my face trying to get a whiff from time to time.

I am with you. The Assam 3000 is one of my absolute favorites and is like Oud Yusuf on major steroids.

 

[bhanny]

Looked at the box of samples I have from Ensar and saw that I actually do have barely a drop of Oud Yusuf and Assam 3000, both which I have read great things about. Assam 3000 smelt amazing, not enough of a drop so I put on a little Yusuf as well and my hand are constantly on my face trying to get a whiff from time to time.

Oud Yusuf is beautiful and a great, friendly start to any oud collection or journey. Assam 3000 is an amazing and dynamic no barn Hindi. That sample pack is amazing as is his Legends sample pack.