Time to start my Oudication

[str8shooter]

So now I have good oud(thanks Ensar and Thomas!!!). Now what? I can either use them and blindly go through applications or I can learn more. I choose the later. In that spirit I am going to try an experiment. I will take each and do a blind application and document my thoughts, what I smell, see, how long it lasts, projection etc. All without looking at the label(wearing contacts is a good thing for this, I'll wait to put my eyes in until after). This way I will not have preconceived notions of what I am smelling and experiancing. Let the education(oudication) begin!!!!
More to follow Incha Allah.
Paul

 

[str8shooter]

Mystery Oud 1

These are the notes I took.

The first Oud is a middle amber color, with a very faint haze throughout not honey thick but not water either. Oil like sheen on application. VERY sweet, with a deep rich fruity smell, do I get mild faint chocolate? Slight indol note to it but soft and earthy. Very clear smell almost crisp.

2hrs in it has lost all indol and is still a VERY sweet fruit smell with a hint of floral almost like Yellow Jesmine. Not white Jasmine. I am also getting a mild spice. I'm sensing it is a young oud. It's definately not Indian, not borneo. It can't be cambodi/thai though. What on earth is it???

4 hrs and it's starting to fade. woody, spice, faint leather. It is a mild incense. This must be.... I have no idea. It's wonderful and I want to re-apply. Can't though. I'll wait...

6hrs later and it's still there, faint passing in and out. I'm reminded it's on and smile and reflexively bringing hand to nose. WOW still there!!! I can't wait any longer... What is this!!!!!!






Assam Organic!!!!I never would have guessed this!!! Fantastic and breaking all of my preconceived notions on what should smell like what!
1 down and many to go!
@Adam these are not samples and I would still have many days to go even like that! Not counting blends either. It will be fun to truely investigate each one without distraction of others. I have a pic on my page if your curious.

 

[str8shooter]

Mystery Oud # 2

Second mystery oud today. It is a very clear dark amber color. Slightly less then honey. Glossy sheen on application. On opening I was greated with a clear crisp incense kyara smell. Very deep and rich with mild leather, faint pepper and wood. It's very bright and ethereal also with hints of honey and mint. My first reaction is Borneo. It has to be!
At 1 Hr it is faint floral lemon/orange blossom, honey, ambergris, clove and mint with faint woody kyara. TART comes to mind.

3HR mint, wood, spice, patchuli, mint, honey and do I smell raspberry???? This must be steam distilled!!! low to minimal soak. It is still bright and very ethereal

Well it is now 8HR in and now a very faint skin scent. Still there but mostly patchuli with a nagging sense of raspberry/orange.


It is
Oud Sultani
Again I am wrong!!!!! Ensar is playing with me!!! He is breaking down my notions of what is what here!!!!! Malaysia, not Borneo...

The Oudication(education) continues!

 

[str8shooter]

ooh you started with the heavy one / personally - i did not like it much / it is a bit too much for me / very hot oud and it has sated and overflowing animalic indian scent which is a very personal thing / classical assam type (based on my poor knowledge=) yes it is sweet / but not enough for me / i happy that you enjoyed it / keep going / and share with us =)

Adam, I didn't find it heavy or overly indol/animalic but quite fruity and bright. Only mild indol at the beginning.

 

[str8shooter]

The players in the game

Here is what the players are for the Oudication

 

[floraopia]

Masha Allah..... you're a nutter - like me! Lovely collection there and excellent choice of Ouds People say that this is a Ensar Oud fan forum, but I would say that if someone... anyone... can show me Ouds that are comparable in quality at similar (or cheaper ) prices, then please do. I have sampled Ouds from many vendors but none - with the exception of quite a few of AgarAura offerings - can come close... but then Ensar has a lot of Ouds in his collection like the Oud Ishaq, Oud Sultani and Kyara LTD that are peerless.

 

[str8shooter]

Masha Allah..... you're a nutter - like me! Lovely collection there and excellent choice of Ouds People say that this is a Ensar Oud fan forum, but I would say that if someone... anyone... can show me Ouds that are comparable in quality at similar (or cheaper ) prices, then please do. I have sampled Ouds from many vendors but none - with the exception of quite a few of AgarAura offerings - can come close... but then Ensar has a lot of Ouds in his collection like the Oud Ishaq, Oud Sultani and Kyara LTD that are peerless.

So VERY true!!! It wasn't until I stumbled upon Ensaroud that I knew what true Oud should/could be. Before that, I stuck with a lot of the EDP/attars that are available out there. And I only found out through Basenotes, which seems to be an Ensaroud hate club from some of the posts I have read. I have posted similar to what you have stated up there and will continue to carry the torch for Ensar and Thomas with the amazing work they do!

 

[str8shooter]

Well this is new/amazing! I got called in and while sitting here reflexively smelled my hand and i can still smell Oud Sultani!!! 18HRS ago was when I swiped it on!!!

So true, Adam. Some people hate Indian indol, others find Borneos too light. I love each for their own merits..

Paul

 

[str8shooter]

Mystery Oud Day #3

In the bottle it is a clear dark amber with a consistancy of thin honey.
On application it greated me with a wet damp wood/earth with a mild indol scent. Musty sweet peach/pear smell. Very thick and rich. When I say thick I envision how the thick smell of custard is if that makes sense.

1HR
I get strong sweet pear, wood, nutty vanilla/almond with a hint of bright mint. Still slightly fecal but only barely. I am feeling like it is definately not a steam distill but a fair bit of soak of about 24ish days??? Not steel but copper.

2HR
It has maintained the 1HR scent profile but very much mellower. No indol. Sweet wood but very faded. I feel as if I washed it off of my hands. Odd

4HR
It is very faded sweet wood with intermitant "blasts" of the 2HR scent.

Well at this point I am thinking a young cambo/thai that would greatly benifit from another year or two of aging. Getting the feeling it would hold it's profile better over the long term. Great opening and at one hour perfect!

The oil is.....


Oud Yusha
I got one almost right!!!!!
This is a good oil and in my heart I really feel it will be amazing in a year or two!!!

 

[str8shooter]

Mystery Oud #4

It is a clear rich honey color with about the same thickness. It spreads thick with nice sheen.
On opening I am hit with an intense barnyard! My horse had eaten Kyara, strawberries and Eucalyptus. It is huge and strong!!! This has to be an Indian oud!!! Strong soak and steel!!!!!!!!

1Hr It has changed it's mind on me and is no longer overly fecal but only a hint with sweet mint and honey with burning wood. Comforting and relaxing on my drive to work. My wrist stays glued to my nose while my other hand is on the steering wheel on the way to work. Very seductive and calming.

3Hr and it's much calmer now. Wood, incense and intermitant hits of sweet fruit keep me checking if it is changing. The calm after the storm is what I'm reminded of. Maybe because my eye's are checking on the impending hurricane. VERY calming and serene.

6hr later I am left with a soft faint sweet wood/incense with faint traces of mint. This Oud did not change much through out after the opening "kick in my face". Very calm.

I'm home from work and it's 11 hours later. It's almost not there but I still get a mild sweet incense. It has to be Indian. Let me go check.





Chinese Exclusive
I am now 1 for 4 at guessing where they come from!!!! Wrong again!! Ensar, if you are looking in could you give some Intel on this? Distillation etc??? What makes Hainan Oud this Fecal at the beginning but calm so soon after? I'm beginning to wonder if it was not copper? Definitely can't be steam. This was an extremely educational oud!

 

[Ensar Oud]

Ensar, if you are looking in could you give some Intel on this? Distillation etc??? What makes Hainan Oud this Fecal at the beginning but calm so soon after? I'm beginning to wonder if it was not copper? Definitely can't be steam. This was an extremely educational oud!

Educational is right, Paul, and I'm thrilled to hear of your experience with one of our oldest distillations, dating back to 2004. Chinese Exclusive Oud, as named by my Sheikh back in the day, was an oil that had a lot to do with the beginning of my journey into the world of agarwood. It was distilled around the same time as Borneo 3000 (No 1) and like Borneo 3000, a portion of it went to the Sheikh, who had it GC'd to be delighted with the results. He said it initially reminded him of the smell of cheese, but that connoisseurs would be delighted with it as he was.

You've nailed it on the head about the distillation method; no way such an oil could be steam distilled. This is classic Hindi-style hydrodistillation, after a gooood soak, which also makes for the 'fecal' beginning note as you put it. The 'fecal' note only lasts a few minutes because that is not the scent of the oil itself, but rather the fermentation note you can pick up at the opening of any oud that is processed this way (Oud Mostafa Experiment is another recent example). After the note dissipates, you get the true character of Chinese Exclusive Oud, which to me is orange peel laced with ultra mellow fine cigar smoke. I rank the oil as one of my finest, certainly one of the most classic ouds I've ever offered.

I am happy to still have some of it in stock, and to grow and mature with it. Looking at the Pyrex where I keep it stored is reassuring, given the way Artisanal Oud is headed.

The wisdom of the oil speaks of mellowing out and taking things easy as the passage of time brings us closer and closer to beholding Eternity. Or one could unscrew the top and take a deep whiff, and be reminded of it then and there.

 

[str8shooter]

Thanks Ensar!!

 

[str8shooter]

Mystery Oud #5

Today's Oud was dark amber with a thin honey consistency that when opened reminded me of very bright ethereal bakhoor and cherry's. It applied nicely and left a nice sheen. Soft presentation not overly "loud" and very nice.

1HEtherealal, light, floral and I am smelling Kyara, peach and pink pepper. It's too fruity to be a Borneo but it is so airy it's hard not to compare it to it!!!!

2HR in and it is now a light ethereal incense. Fruity(peach/pear), soft, comforting with less pink pepper and more like a black pepper.

3HR and it's still a very bright top note but with a incense base. Soft woody but bright if that makes sense.

5HR and it is faint wood, bakhoor, pepper, still has bright floral top notes but now it has a musk smell!!!! It is heaven!!!

7HR and it is still the same as 5HR.

At this point my day got very busy and I had no time to make notes but I would go back to smell my wrist often. A colleague of mine is an Jordanian MD and he asked me what I was smelling? I said can you ID this and held out my wrist. He took one sniff and said "you know OUD???" LOL I now turned him on to Ensar's site after he asked me where I thought the best oud came from... He tried to tell me the best oud oil was from the middle east sellers!!! Ajmal etc!!!! I emphatically told him THE BEST IS RIGHT HERE(website)!!!! I briefly explained about where/why etc along with what is coming from the big sellers in the UAE(blended oud). Artisan oud oil concepts and he made me promise to bring some in for him to try.

Well I am now home and it is a good 13-14 hours later from application. I only get the faintest smell and I am trying to guess what/where/how this was made.
All things considered I would have to say Thai, HIGH quality wood maybe ground into a powder with only minimal soak. Steam Distilation???? If not, copper boil?




Purple Dervish

Amazing!!!!!! It is young???? I never thought that!!!! VERY THICK AND REFINED SCENT!!!!! I was close to being right on the location. Ensar, how about the crafting of it???
I will definately be wishing for more of this!!!!!! Top notch Oud Oil!!!!!

 

[str8shooter]

Mystery Oud #6

DON'T FAKE THE FUNK!!!!!
Right after taking off the cap I thought one thing. This has to be a Hindi!!! It is a dark amber with a thin honey thickness. It spread with a nice even sheen. First scents were a soft fecal with toffee/coffee and a wood/hay scent.
1HR I was thinking, THIS IS OUD!!! Mild fecal with sweet soft hay, deep moist musty earth.

2HR It is a hay/wood with an amber tinge. Very soft and enjoyable. I'd like to give hourly reports but at this poiint it maintained a wonderful soft ride through the country side not really moving away from this. EXCELLENT OUD!!!!!

So at this point 6 hours later I still have the light soft hay scent and I'm wondering it's construction. I would have to think it's Hindi. A good soak but not over 30-35 days. Very refined. It never kicked in my teeth with fecal but was really quite comforting. Reminded me of childhood horse riding and spending time out doors.




Assam Kinam
LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!!

 

[Cambi]

loving this thread!

 

[str8shooter]

Thanks Cambi. It is an Oud off day for me. Start back up Fri!!!!

loving this thread!

 

[Ensar Oud]

Amazing!!!!!! It is young???? I never thought that!!!! VERY THICK AND REFINED SCENT!!!!! I was close to being right on the location. Ensar, how about the crafting of it??? I will definately be wishing for more of this!!!!!! Top notch Oud Oil!!!!!

'Young' relatively speaking. It is from last September, so nearly a full year's maturation at this stage. Thank you for the great review, Paul, and you're most welcome to more Purple D; just email Thomas and he'll hook you up.

As for the crafting of Purple Dervish, it is old school Cambodian distillation. Steel pots, 15-day Koh Kong groundwater soak, with the raw materials originating from both Pursat and Koh Kong Provinces. Koh Kong water is considered the secret of the greatest Cambodis of all time. The mineral content of it being unique and not found anywhere else in the region.

 

[str8shooter]

Mystery Oud #7

I was able to do a swipe after work so here is number 7!!
Mid amber color and lt weight oil thickness. On removing the cap I knew instantly what oud this was!!! Bright and fruity, and the smell of yellow jesmine.(at least to me) Nice sheen. What is not to like here? Peach/pear fruit smell, with yellow jesmine/lillies for top notes and a undercurrent of faint incense kyara....
1hr the brightness still remains and if anything the base has just built up some. It started feeling "yellow" but now is blending to smelling "blue" I don't know if people understand what I'm saying here but sometimes I smell something and I "feel" a color with it. Almost chewing gum like. Bubalicious type. Well this is fruitylicious/floralicious!!!!
3Hr later and I'm going to sleep with incense burning and the smell of wonderful oud on my arm. Still very bright and ethereal.

The next morning I am greeted with the wonderful drydown of Kyara wood and a hint of floral still.
I am sure of this oud. It must be Yusuf!!!!

It is.....






Oud Yusuf
This is one MUST BUY OUD!!!! Price excellent!!
Do not pass this one by as it will only get better with age!!!!! 2011????? Amazing!!!!!!

 

[str8shooter]

Mystery Oud #8

Today was a dark amber, light weight oil. On opening up I was greated with Light top notes that were very airy/floral, hints of mint and Kyara. It spread with a wonderful sheen not waxy at all. Almost like baby oil.

1Hr in and it is still ethereal/airy mint. It's hard to explain but it's less of a mint and more of the way mint makes my nose tingle. Whispy might be a good description. It mingles with the woody smell wonderfully. It must be a Borneo....

3Hr and it is still the same as the first hour but slightly more wood/kyara smell. Ahhhhh the peace of my day during chaos!!!! Very calming.

Throughout the day it progressed down to less of the top end and more of the woodiness I love towards the end of good Oud. As I sit writing this it is 14 hrs later and very little remains.





Borneo 50K

This is a wonderful creation and never screams out "look at me". This is a refined buisiness man in a suit walking among chaos. Close to the skin scent and calming. Or better yet a beautiful woman that knows as she walks in the room all eyes are on her.... This could easily be a female's favorite oud but she would have to get it from me first!!!!!

 

[str8shooter]

Mystery Oud #9

This Oud is a Dark DARK amber. No light will pass through the bottle. By far the thickest oud I have seen. It is just shy of being a oud paste!! It spreads with a honey sticky glaze. This really is less an oil and more a paste consistancy. I know this oud already.
It can be none other then the venerable Oud Ishaq! I am greeted with the scent of soft kyara, bakhoor, honey, sweet spice, damp dark earth, and a faint fruity strawberry.
1Hr It is moved to a powder/kyara/patchuli with soft seet honey. It is gentle but commands your attention by maintaining a strength few oud oils can hope to acheive. Never moving far from being a skin scent I have no control over my wrist moving to smell more. Wonderful!!!!

This oud also never moves off of this posture it's life time on my wrist. It is now 7 hours later and it is still present but faded.



Oud Ishaq

A wonderful Oud that is top notch!! Definately at the top of the class!