What's on your burner today?
- Thread starter YouNight
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@epidoc: it is an interesting mix. I think they have Halmadi mixed in with Agarwood which I didn't expect. It smells a lot like regular Nag Champa that I have tried before but their Nag Champ is a Bulldozer of smells. definitely windows open when you light it 
There is very little Oud smell in the Oud Masala sticks. But it's beautiful, sweet mix that will make any Hindi stick fan happy. I am wondering though why there isn't an Indian Outfit that would make from cultivated Assam Oud a nice Incense stick out of it, no Oils, no additives, Just Bark and resin, something in a similar fashion and even better than say Sacred Mountain is doing with Vietnamese Crassana?
This afternoon I lit some Eritrean White Frankincense, Thanks Abu Ayoob...beautiful sharp and clean Camphoric notes and I mixed a bit of Ross's sandalwood with Ambergris, a spicy mix made brilliant and vibrant by the Ambergris mixed in it.
There is very little Oud smell in the Oud Masala sticks. But it's beautiful, sweet mix that will make any Hindi stick fan happy. I am wondering though why there isn't an Indian Outfit that would make from cultivated Assam Oud a nice Incense stick out of it, no Oils, no additives, Just Bark and resin, something in a similar fashion and even better than say Sacred Mountain is doing with Vietnamese Crassana? This afternoon I lit some Eritrean White Frankincense, Thanks Abu Ayoob...beautiful sharp and clean Camphoric notes and I mixed a bit of Ross's sandalwood with Ambergris, a spicy mix made brilliant and vibrant by the Ambergris mixed in it.
Sure CUUNSI or 'UNSI is traditionally a Somalian bakhoor,but my mother in law said that they do use it in Eritrea. It is used traditionally used around the horn of Africa for purposes of Ruqqiya (exorcism) and as a perfume for scenting ones clothing it also is used as a wedding bakhoor, but this has unfortunately given way to bakhoor touch me by nabeel here in Eritrean/Somali communties here in the west!
'Unsi is one of my favorite bakhoors because of its spiciness and calming properties. As far as smell think Somalian chai with it's gingery, nutmeg, cardamon, cloves and cinamon with frankincense flavors! you get all of these scents in a traditional 'Unsi that is absolutely spectacular! Masstika I haven't tried the CUUNSI/'Unsi from agarscentsbazaar, but i'm sure that it will be awsome as Sharif and Omar are very skilled when it comes to bakhoor! My mother in law doesn't like it that much she says "because it is not consistent and it depends on who makes it, sometimes it smells burned and other times spicy and then there are some who make it sweet and spicy this one I like"
also check Aluwwah for Unsi as well, i think both would be worth trying Insha Allah!
'Unsi is one of my favorite bakhoors because of its spiciness and calming properties. As far as smell think Somalian chai with it's gingery, nutmeg, cardamon, cloves and cinamon with frankincense flavors! you get all of these scents in a traditional 'Unsi that is absolutely spectacular! Masstika I haven't tried the CUUNSI/'Unsi from agarscentsbazaar, but i'm sure that it will be awsome as Sharif and Omar are very skilled when it comes to bakhoor! My mother in law doesn't like it that much she says "because it is not consistent and it depends on who makes it, sometimes it smells burned and other times spicy and then there are some who make it sweet and spicy this one I like"
also check Aluwwah for Unsi as well, i think both would be worth trying Insha Allah!
Nabeel is another one of the Gulf big houses for perfumes and bakhoor! Bakhoor Touch Me is probably one of the most popular bakhoors on the market!
http://oudd.zahras.com/
http://oudd.zahras.com/
Burning a stick of Minorien's Fu-In aloeswood, and wearing a swipe of AgarAura's Borneo Jewel.
Borneo Jewel is my favorite Borneo oud that I've smelled. I wish I'd bought a bottle of it when I had the chance. I love it because it captures a note (that's either too good for words, or elusive against my own vocabulary limitations) that's at the heart of this incense. I have to wait for about an hour after application of the oud before that note is unlocked, but it's like a treasure, every time. The incense has that same note in it.
...it's a simultaneous mustiness and sweetness, but it's more complex and simple than that. Hard to describe, but I sure love it.
Borneo Jewel is my favorite Borneo oud that I've smelled. I wish I'd bought a bottle of it when I had the chance. I love it because it captures a note (that's either too good for words, or elusive against my own vocabulary limitations) that's at the heart of this incense. I have to wait for about an hour after application of the oud before that note is unlocked, but it's like a treasure, every time. The incense has that same note in it.
...it's a simultaneous mustiness and sweetness, but it's more complex and simple than that. Hard to describe, but I sure love it.
Good onya for grabbing some Lam's Breath, Oudiferous! That's some lovely, lovely stuff.
Ahhh... Khidr. What a deeply wonderful oil that is. No notes that are particularly surprising, uncharacteristic or stand-out, per-se, and you've got to be up for a good bit of "barnyard"... but those are all attributes, for my liking. I do think that it's intensity sets it apart, though. When I'm in the mood for an oud with a classic Indian profile, Khidr has become my Gold Standard.
Ahhh... Khidr. What a deeply wonderful oil that is. No notes that are particularly surprising, uncharacteristic or stand-out, per-se, and you've got to be up for a good bit of "barnyard"... but those are all attributes, for my liking. I do think that it's intensity sets it apart, though. When I'm in the mood for an oud with a classic Indian profile, Khidr has become my Gold Standard.
To me, Mostafa's fruity component disqualifies it as being 'classically' Indian (it's also part of what makes Mostafa a big-time favorite of mine). Mostafa's got a definite Hindi base underneath the dark fruit, whereas Khidr Doesn't have anything surprising or uncharacteristic (like Nuh's etherial, almost Borneo-like top, or Mostafa's Cambodian/Thai/Laotian-esque fruit) hovering above its Indian glory. To me, Khidr is pure, naked and unapologetically 'Indian', which is what, in addition to its might, endears me to it.
I find Khidr to be beautiful. Not 'pretty', but beautiful.
I find Khidr to be beautiful. Not 'pretty', but beautiful.
It's interesting YouNight that descriptions you've give Khidr Oud, a friend of mine and I have given them to Mostafa. We agreed that Mostafa was the most unabashedly Classical Indian Oud oil that does not seek an excuse for it being what it wants to be and worries to the wind if you don't like it attitude Khidr on the other hand and as asserted by you does not surprise with the big drums and the fire crackers but it grows on the person as one wears it like a presence or a shadow. it's too bad that it is the least talked about of Ensar's Ouds that I feel it's like a black horse running stealthy and steady.
Starting the day with 1/2 a stick of Tibetan Highland Monastery; Dry and Medicinal and a little bit of sweet Nag Champa. Sunny and cool day outside by our standards 62 F. Degrees.
Khidr on the other hand and as asserted by you does not surprise with the big drums and the fire crackers but it grows on the person as one wears it like a presence or a shadow. it's too bad that it is the least talked about of Ensar's Ouds that I feel it's like a black horse running stealthy and steady.Starting the day with 1/2 a stick of Tibetan Highland Monastery; Dry and Medicinal and a little bit of sweet Nag Champa. Sunny and cool day outside by our standards 62 F. Degrees.
I love it, masstika; that we oud fanatics can have differing takes on given ouds... but I think we're not far-off from each-other on our assessments of Mostafa and Khidr.
I'm in 100% agreement that Mostafa carries an air of unapologetic certainty about it. To me; its sheer intensity (which I love) is what gives it that vibe. There's very little that's subtle or quiet about its profile. It's just that its fruity component harkens to the characteristic profile of ouds from other regions, and in my own goofy little (but personal) way of declaring what "classic Indian" means to me; That type, and amount, of fruit doesn't feel "classic", for an Indian, to me.
So, I guess, to my nose, I guess I'd say that Mostafa is unapologetic about carrying non-classically Indian components within its profile. ;-)
That said, if I was forced to choose one "Desert Island Oud", not only between Mostafa and Khidr, but between all ouds that I've tried; Mostafa would be my pick, without hesitation. In that sense, Mostafa is, for me, an undoubted future classic!
I'm in agreement that Khidr is the big-time sleeper among Ensar's current selection. I think many people would find the intensely 'Hindi' quality a bit much, but for those who love a great, great purely Indian oud; it's hard to imagine a better specimen.
Ah, Highland! I prefer to warm the powder (or crush the sticks into powder and warm it), rather than ignite the sticks, but that's a fantastic Tibetan incense, either way. One of my favorites.
I'm in 100% agreement that Mostafa carries an air of unapologetic certainty about it. To me; its sheer intensity (which I love) is what gives it that vibe. There's very little that's subtle or quiet about its profile. It's just that its fruity component harkens to the characteristic profile of ouds from other regions, and in my own goofy little (but personal) way of declaring what "classic Indian" means to me; That type, and amount, of fruit doesn't feel "classic", for an Indian, to me.
So, I guess, to my nose, I guess I'd say that Mostafa is unapologetic about carrying non-classically Indian components within its profile. ;-)
That said, if I was forced to choose one "Desert Island Oud", not only between Mostafa and Khidr, but between all ouds that I've tried; Mostafa would be my pick, without hesitation. In that sense, Mostafa is, for me, an undoubted future classic!
I'm in agreement that Khidr is the big-time sleeper among Ensar's current selection. I think many people would find the intensely 'Hindi' quality a bit much, but for those who love a great, great purely Indian oud; it's hard to imagine a better specimen.
Ah, Highland! I prefer to warm the powder (or crush the sticks into powder and warm it), rather than ignite the sticks, but that's a fantastic Tibetan incense, either way. One of my favorites.
Oh my...Oud Khidr is going to have to be next on my list. I crave that classically pure Indian Oud. Mostafa is an unapologetic Oud for sure, but I agree with YouNight. It does have "non-Indian" notes. Part of what I really enjoy about the Indian Ouds I have right now (Nuh, Mostafa, and Shuyukh #2) is their "departure" from the "classic" Indian profile. They are classically Indian at heart, and yet, there is so much more happening in the scent that it is stunningly beautiful.
Can't wait to try Khidr.
Can't wait to try Khidr.