What's on your burner today?

[floraopia]

I am sorry to hear of your unfortunate experience with ASAQ and AO. Did the product come in an original sealed package ?


Would it be imposing on you to check, the next time you are near an AO store, on the price of 1/4 tola of King Fahad ?

No, the AO Oud did not come in an original sealed package, but that is because it was taken from a never larger bottle at the back of the store.

I live in Riyadh so it will not be a problem to go and check the price of a 1/4 tola Oud bottle of King Fahad. I will let you know as soon as I can. As for the sandalwood, I have to agree with Massitka as I have read many similar reports regarding the state of the industry in India. in fact are many trustworthy people who go as far as saying that 99% of companies in India adulterate their sandalwood.

 

[ibn]

I live in Riyadh so it will not be a problem to go and check the price of a 1/4 tola Oud bottle of King Fahad. I will let you know as soon as I can.

jazakallahu khayran !

 

[floraopia]

jazakallahu khayran !

Well I've returned from a trip outside. I managed to check the local Arabian Oud store, but was told that they were out of stock and they did not know the price of the Oud. It's one of the larger stores in Riyadh, so I was slightly surprised that they did not have any available. I then went to the local mall and walked into another Arabian Oud store, but the assistant was absolutely clueless. He had never heard of Oud Fahad and insisted that this was the location of the Arabian Oud store - on King Fahd Street! So I went online and on my iPhone and showed him the Oud and got a shrug of his shoulders. I do know of other Arabian Oud stores in Riyadh and will make a point to enquire about this Oud when I visit.

 

[ibn]

Thanks for your efforts floraopia. King Fahad blend is an oud/rose/musk mukhallat (mix).

 

[floraopia]

Thanks for your efforts floraopia. King Fahad blend is an oud/rose/musk mukhallat (mix).

Yes, I realised it was a mukhallat and mentioned this to the assistant when I brought it up on the iPhone to show him. I remember seeing this in Oxford Street, London with Ensar in 2008 - whether it was the King Fahad or something else, I'm not sure, but it was priced at around £8000 and was a mukhallat with Oud, Rose, Patchouli and other essential oils.

 

[AbuAyoob]

Agarscentsbazaar White Ambergris/Rose Stick I recieved with my order! Very beautiful scent and the ambergris is noticable and more dominant than the rose! I love agarscentsbazaar's incense sticks, truly amzing scents permeating from the packs.....

Thanks brother Omar

 

[ibn]

Thanks brother Omar

Their musk kasthuri incense is very good too !

 

[ibn]

Yes, I realised it was a mukhallat and mentioned this to the assistant when I brought it up on the iPhone to show him. I remember seeing this in Oxford Street, London with Ensar in 2008 - whether it was the King Fahad or something else, I'm not sure, but it was priced at around £8000 and was a mukhallat with Oud, Rose, Patchouli and other essential oils.

The London AO store says the 'regular price' of 1/4 tola of King Fahad is UKP 650. I assume its negotiable, but ... Zahras has it in their AO catalog for USD 375. Too bad Zahras has such an uncertain reputation.

 

[floraopia]

The London AO store says the 'regular price' of 1/4 tola of King Fahad is UKP 650. I assume its negotiable, but ... Zahras has it in their AO catalog for USD 375. Too bad Zahras has such an uncertain reputation.

What I saw must have been something else then... or maybe not as that price was for several tolas. It was a huge bottle.

 

[ibn]

@floraopia: What did the bottle look like ? Please let me know if you see some genuine King Fahad blend at a good price in the KSA !

I am experimenting with makko and ash today. I have a small Japanese tea cup filled with rice ash. I've made a small spatula like incense tool from a piece of arundo donax (the reed from which the ney is made). I've made a depression in the ash about half the size of a woman's thimble, filled it with a bit of makko, lit it and covered it over with ash, leaving a small hole for the smoke to exit. I placed a small piece of hojari and a small chip of hindi oud on top.

I'm impressed with this technique. It seems easier to regulate the heat than using charcoal and the hojari has less of a tendency to carbonize, which I think negatively effects the fragrance.

The technique of incensing with makko and ash is more of a hands on affair which has the benefit of cleaner scents and keeps the nose close to the burner.

 

[AbuAyoob]

Ibn

That's pretty cool, I was waiting for someone to experiment and give an update regarding makko powder. That has given me the courage to try it Insha Allah. I'm going to order my supplies today Insha Allah. That combo that you used is my favorite (frankincense and Oud chips), there is something otherworldly about it when you use the best of both.

I'm burning the other half of that ambergris rose sticks. And later I plan to burn Kashmiri kashturi stick Insha Allah. Also I got inspired by floracopiea and decided to go to the dollar store and buy glass jars for my different frankincense and a wooden box for my Oud chips (smaller boxes to separate the woods by origin).

 

[ibn]

Inshallah you won't be disappointed AbuAyoob. I need to work on getting some better chips. Its too bad those Oudline king super chips are so expensive ...

The agarscents kashmeri kasthuri stick is best at night when the soft kasthuri breath can envelop your mind and carry it away with the spiral of fumes from the stick

 

[ibn]

And later I plan to burn Kashmiri kashturi stick Insha Allah.

AbuAyoob, has the Kashmiri Kasthuri stick taken away your speech or can you tell us your impressions ?

 

[ibn]

That combo that you used is my favorite (frankincense and Oud chips), there is something otherworldly about it when you use the best of both.

AbuAyoob, you are wise beyond your years. It is a nice combo. Hojari gives average quality oud chips a spicy penetrating top note like you get from the best chips.

 

[AbuAyoob]

Ibn, the Kashmiri sticks are absolutely wonderful and they have a real musk scent to them. It is very strong and I have been using the same stick all day by letting it burn for five minutes and putting it out there after. The scent is genuine to my nose, sweet with a slight animalic note in there that I like which is very similar to his kasmiri musk oil. They both go hand in hand and I can't get enough of them both!

Ibn I have wise people around me

 

[AbuAyoob]

Ibn where can I get a kilo of hojari for a good price.

 

[masstika]

Tonight burning some of the Koh Kong chips. Dry and spicy. Not much bubbling but the scent is warm and gentle. First tried on the electric burner which yielded sweet vanilic scent, extremely gentle. Then came the charcoal and the ash, more intense, dry and fierce like the other rough cousin that we all have

 

[fumigateur]

Ibn where can I get a kilo of hojari for a good price.

The best frankincense I have ever purchased is the black frankincense from Enfleurage in New York. They take orders by phone. Don't remember the price but when compared to agarwood its like buying chewing gum.

 

[ibn]

@AbuAyoob:

Ibn, the Kashmiri sticks are absolutely wonderful and they have a real musk scent to them. It is very strong and I have been using the same stick all day by letting it burn for five minutes and putting it out there after.

One stick of Agarscentbazaar's kashmiri kasthuri incense lasted me for two nights.

I purchased a supply of fresh silver Omani superior hojari from a seller in Oman on ebay 5 years ago but he is no longer in the business. He was a sailor in the Oman navy. He also sent me a supply of aged hojari to try out. It has a spicier scent than fresh hojari and is more golden in color.

I am almost out and need to find a fresh supply. Seller 'madeuk' on ebay is selling 2 pounds of Omani superior for US$ 100 right now. I have tried it in the past and it is good quality.

 

[AbuAyoob]

Ibn, my good brother, I'm still on the same stick as yesterday and am only 1/3 of the way through it. I lit it for about 5 min when I woke up today! I hope to score soon as well on the frankincense tip. Right now I'm left with about 4oz of ethiopian resin, which I don't like much. 3oz of Adeni resins which I love, but don't want to use up and a supply of Eritrean resins that is burned often an offers a change up from the traditional citrusy notes offered elsewhere. So I need to diversify my collection and the same goes for Oud chips as well.