You and Taha have a knowledge and artistry of oud that amazes me. As oud collectors we crave variety. We collect oils from different countries and species to diversify our collection. I definitely notice a difference in style in Taha's new ouds. It has added a new dimension to my oud collection. I also know I can never go wrong with your ouds. I appreciate all the styles you guys present.
SOTD
- Thread starter Kruger
- Start date
I am wearing AA Syed's Ascent today and this stuff is amazing. It starts off with a blast of Maroke vapors. Like putting a high quality Maroke chip on a burner on low heat but concentrating those fumes and releasing them all at once. It develops into this ethereal Maroke base. It has been years since I smelled the original Oriscent Oud Royale 1 but I remember that one being deeper, more complex and not as vapory. I can Syed's Ascent aging into something even more amazing than what it is now.
As stated before I see some similarities between the above two oils but way more differences. Somehow something is not right here. A sample mistake or who know what. For those thinking these two oils are the same room awfully the same I am here to say not. My own samples of these two oils were purchased directly from the respective suppliers
Nha trang Ltd. 3rd wear last night.
First off almost 18 hours has gone by and the scent is still on my wrist and not even all that faint. I am in awe and shock to see this longevity. The drydown is gorgeous. Kinam. That’s the note. No purple or green or red attached to it. Just kinam.
Now let’s backtrack.
Before applying this oil for the 3rd time I tried to recall the details of my last wear but I can’t remember how it exactly started last time and how did evolution take place. What I do remember is that in the second time I wore this oil the performance exceeded my expectation.
I apply a generous drop and go to work. Nothing special here unless you find the exact scent of old heartwood nha trang on low heat special. I do. I find it very special. Nha trang old wild heartwood is along HK sinesis hainan green kinam and koh Kong is insane agarwood.
After 15-20 min the scent goes bitter. Deeper yet broader too. Definitely deeper than tahas beautiful Vietnamese oils that have become my To go and most worn oils. No resemblance here though. not to wanmei or kenmei or even Vietnam special k. This is ensar signature I pick up in many of his oils. A unique vibration of bitterness.
A bit later a floral note comes to say hi. Not any known flower but closest would be the floral note in purple kinam. iris?
A while later kinam without purple or green or yellow or red attached to it takes over and that’s pretty much it till now some 18 hours later!!!
To me this oil is not about piling more notes to make something of a wow factor or complex but rather peeling away and getting to the heart of it: kinam. Like the heart of an onion with all the many peels takenoff.
During the evolution I still pick out a stainlessy or metallic note that I find distracting but is only a nuance and it is not something that like barn or funk or ... ruins the experience. What is this note though and will it go away?
First off almost 18 hours has gone by and the scent is still on my wrist and not even all that faint. I am in awe and shock to see this longevity. The drydown is gorgeous. Kinam. That’s the note. No purple or green or red attached to it. Just kinam.
Now let’s backtrack.
Before applying this oil for the 3rd time I tried to recall the details of my last wear but I can’t remember how it exactly started last time and how did evolution take place. What I do remember is that in the second time I wore this oil the performance exceeded my expectation.
I apply a generous drop and go to work. Nothing special here unless you find the exact scent of old heartwood nha trang on low heat special. I do. I find it very special. Nha trang old wild heartwood is along HK sinesis hainan green kinam and koh Kong is insane agarwood.
After 15-20 min the scent goes bitter. Deeper yet broader too. Definitely deeper than tahas beautiful Vietnamese oils that have become my To go and most worn oils. No resemblance here though. not to wanmei or kenmei or even Vietnam special k. This is ensar signature I pick up in many of his oils. A unique vibration of bitterness.
A bit later a floral note comes to say hi. Not any known flower but closest would be the floral note in purple kinam. iris?
A while later kinam without purple or green or yellow or red attached to it takes over and that’s pretty much it till now some 18 hours later!!!
To me this oil is not about piling more notes to make something of a wow factor or complex but rather peeling away and getting to the heart of it: kinam. Like the heart of an onion with all the many peels takenoff.
During the evolution I still pick out a stainlessy or metallic note that I find distracting but is only a nuance and it is not something that like barn or funk or ... ruins the experience. What is this note though and will it go away?
This evening I wore EO's Assam 3000. The spices in this oud are so well blended, that it makes you want to eat your hand. 
I went to the mosque for the evening prayer and afterwards, one of my friends was talking to me and I had this oil in my hands. He asked what Oud is that? I said would you like to smell it, he replied no I want to wear it. Well I put on a small swipe and afterwards he says goodness gracious this smells wickedly awesome. He said you already know that Huh?
I went to the mosque for the evening prayer and afterwards, one of my friends was talking to me and I had this oil in my hands. He asked what Oud is that? I said would you like to smell it, he replied no I want to wear it. Well I put on a small swipe and afterwards he says goodness gracious this smells wickedly awesome. He said you already know that Huh? 
Greetings everybody,
When I was fighting for my life in the hospital, I was not open to messages or calls because I wanted to go it alone, just incase. But now that I am recovering nicely, I welcome anyone’s concern.
I had the Flu and Pneumonia, but to make matters worse Pulmonary Embolism as well (blood clots in the lungs).
I just started checking the forums today.
It’s nice to read the posts once again.
When I was fighting for my life in the hospital, I was not open to messages or calls because I wanted to go it alone, just incase. But now that I am recovering nicely, I welcome anyone’s concern.
I had the Flu and Pneumonia, but to make matters worse Pulmonary Embolism as well (blood clots in the lungs).
I just started checking the forums today.
It’s nice to read the posts once again.
I got the samples quite a while back from the venerable @bhanny, and each was from the original batches released by the respective vendors—not the subsequent releases (which are likely what you, @Rasoul S, are sniffing).
Sadly samples have a way of going missing around here, so I can't find them now and am only reporting from memory. I am certain my assessment was exhaustive at the time I made it though, as there was quite a bit of debate back then about these oils being the same (or at least very similar).
I know what you mean about RCX and Aahtu, too (@bhanny included a sample of this).
As for Kyara LTD (2005), whoever smells it in either of these oils is very, VERY lucky.
Sadly samples have a way of going missing around here, so I can't find them now and am only reporting from memory. I am certain my assessment was exhaustive at the time I made it though, as there was quite a bit of debate back then about these oils being the same (or at least very similar).
I know what you mean about RCX and Aahtu, too (@bhanny included a sample of this).
As for Kyara LTD (2005), whoever smells it in either of these oils is very, VERY lucky.
Not intentionally. Some of the oils @Ammar mentions might qualify as 'accidental' releases of the same oil by different vendors. But then again, as you can see, that is very much subject to interpretation.
I do plan to release Malinau Extreme in the near future though (no later than 2025), and I have good reason to believe the raw materials are as close as possible—if not identical—to the wood used by Ustaz Taha.
Hmmmm..... Maybe it should be Borneo Senkoh instead???
I do plan to release Malinau Extreme in the near future though (no later than 2025), and I have good reason to believe the raw materials are as close as possible—if not identical—to the wood used by Ustaz Taha.
Hmmmm..... Maybe it should be Borneo Senkoh instead???
gullam solide is the scent of the day.
@PEARL , you need to try this oil if you havent. if you thought (and i agree with you) that IO sinesis extract was similar to kz 85, then wait till you try this oil. to my nose they are 30-40% simialrity where as the former was 20-25% similarity.
there is a boozy quality, kirsch, cassis note. herbal liqueur like quality too as well as aged old high quality labdanum. the difference is that after sometime, an hour or so this oil goes to a very different place and different direction than the other two oils. tenacity is excellent and the complexity is great. there is also a very pretty quality to this oil in the dry down. very noble and very satisfying in its subtle way which juxtaposed with the opening that is rather intense, it will put a big smile on your face.
@PEARL , you need to try this oil if you havent. if you thought (and i agree with you) that IO sinesis extract was similar to kz 85, then wait till you try this oil. to my nose they are 30-40% simialrity where as the former was 20-25% similarity.
there is a boozy quality, kirsch, cassis note. herbal liqueur like quality too as well as aged old high quality labdanum. the difference is that after sometime, an hour or so this oil goes to a very different place and different direction than the other two oils. tenacity is excellent and the complexity is great. there is also a very pretty quality to this oil in the dry down. very noble and very satisfying in its subtle way which juxtaposed with the opening that is rather intense, it will put a big smile on your face.