Let's talk Oud: a detailed discourse on the various aspects of this substance we love
- Thread starter Taha
- Start date
Quick update from the supply side.
As I had expected, getting segregated shavings is getting harder by the day. With China's demand for agarwood dust now trumping even Taiwan's (for making joss sticks), virtually everything is usually just mixed up together and shipped off to China. A few years ago, when it was easier to haul wood back from the jungle, it was also easier to get wood segregated by grade. Now what little is coming out from the jungles is either just 'incense grade wood', or indiscriminately mixed up 'oil grade wood' - mostly bunk.
There's also a very weird lag in the market right now, mostly due to the Saudi-Yemeni war as well as the general oil crisis in the Middle East. The price of wood is actually CHEAPER in the Middle East than it is even getting it directly from hunters here. I had a wholesale buyer from Taif come to my place who ended up not getting anything at all. He told me that all grades of wood, across the board, are cheaper in Dubai right now compared to what they are being sold for in the source country (Malaysia in this case).
So the big jolt hasn't quite come yet (at least not on the consumer side, as for the supplier side then yes we felt it BIG time in 2016). It will probably come as soon as the wood currently in the market's coffers gets depleted and its time to replenish them. A big ouchie I fear..
Either that, or Sina'i (synthesized) "agarwood" will become the new standard agarwood.
My mission is clear. Since I am now cooking oils myself, its a race against time to get as much of the old batches of wood as possible (basically competing against the consumer market), before the Great Replenishment happens. And then cook like a madman like there's no tomorra.
As I had expected, getting segregated shavings is getting harder by the day. With China's demand for agarwood dust now trumping even Taiwan's (for making joss sticks), virtually everything is usually just mixed up together and shipped off to China. A few years ago, when it was easier to haul wood back from the jungle, it was also easier to get wood segregated by grade. Now what little is coming out from the jungles is either just 'incense grade wood', or indiscriminately mixed up 'oil grade wood' - mostly bunk.
There's also a very weird lag in the market right now, mostly due to the Saudi-Yemeni war as well as the general oil crisis in the Middle East. The price of wood is actually CHEAPER in the Middle East than it is even getting it directly from hunters here. I had a wholesale buyer from Taif come to my place who ended up not getting anything at all. He told me that all grades of wood, across the board, are cheaper in Dubai right now compared to what they are being sold for in the source country (Malaysia in this case).
So the big jolt hasn't quite come yet (at least not on the consumer side, as for the supplier side then yes we felt it BIG time in 2016). It will probably come as soon as the wood currently in the market's coffers gets depleted and its time to replenish them. A big ouchie I fear..
Either that, or Sina'i (synthesized) "agarwood" will become the new standard agarwood.
My mission is clear. Since I am now cooking oils myself, its a race against time to get as much of the old batches of wood as possible (basically competing against the consumer market), before the Great Replenishment happens. And then cook like a madman like there's no tomorra.
Quick update from the supply side.
As I had expected, getting segregated shavings is getting harder by the day. With China's demand for agarwood dust now trumping even Taiwan's (for making joss sticks), virtually everything is usually just mixed up together and shipped off to China. A few years ago, when it was easier to haul wood back from the jungle, it was also easier to get wood segregated by grade. Now what little is coming out from the jungles is either just 'incense grade wood', or indiscriminately mixed up 'oil grade wood' - mostly bunk.
There's also a very weird lag in the market right now, mostly due to the Saudi-Yemeni war as well as the general oil crisis in the Middle East. The price of wood is actually CHEAPER in the Middle East than it is even getting it directly from hunters here. I had a wholesale buyer from Taif come to my place who ended up not getting anything at all. He told me that all grades of wood, across the board, are cheaper in Dubai right now compared to what they are being sold for in the source country (Malaysia in this case).
So the big jolt hasn't quite come yet (at least not on the consumer side, as for the supplier side then yes we felt it BIG time in 2016). It will probably come as soon as the wood currently in the market's coffers gets depleted and its time to replenish them. A big ouchie I fear..
Either that, or Sina'i (synthesized) "agarwood" will become the new standard agarwood.
My mission is clear. Since I am now cooking oils myself, its a race against time to get as much of the old batches of wood as possible (basically competing against the consumer market), before the Great Replenishment happens. And then cook like a madman like there's no tomorra.
As I had expected, getting segregated shavings is getting harder by the day. With China's demand for agarwood dust now trumping even Taiwan's (for making joss sticks), virtually everything is usually just mixed up together and shipped off to China. A few years ago, when it was easier to haul wood back from the jungle, it was also easier to get wood segregated by grade. Now what little is coming out from the jungles is either just 'incense grade wood', or indiscriminately mixed up 'oil grade wood' - mostly bunk.
There's also a very weird lag in the market right now, mostly due to the Saudi-Yemeni war as well as the general oil crisis in the Middle East. The price of wood is actually CHEAPER in the Middle East than it is even getting it directly from hunters here. I had a wholesale buyer from Taif come to my place who ended up not getting anything at all. He told me that all grades of wood, across the board, are cheaper in Dubai right now compared to what they are being sold for in the source country (Malaysia in this case).
So the big jolt hasn't quite come yet (at least not on the consumer side, as for the supplier side then yes we felt it BIG time in 2016). It will probably come as soon as the wood currently in the market's coffers gets depleted and its time to replenish them. A big ouchie I fear..
Either that, or Sina'i (synthesized) "agarwood" will become the new standard agarwood.
My mission is clear. Since I am now cooking oils myself, its a race against time to get as much of the old batches of wood as possible (basically competing against the consumer market), before the Great Replenishment happens. And then cook like a madman like there's no tomorra.
Ha! Tents! Yeah right!
Tents you can do in European and North American forests, but in the jungles out here, you have to keep everything 'lean' because of how cramped these SE Asian jungles are. You can't walk if you have something like a tent on your back, even collapsed.
Every jungle trek was preceded by a trip to buy some canvas. The canvas is cut into large rectangles, which are then hung over ropes which are tied to adjacent trees. The canvas sheets were thus the roofs. Their sole purpose: to stay dry during night rain showers.
After my jungle treks in the past 12 or so months, I'm convinced that the SE Asian jungles they show in movies are NOT SE Asian. Maybe Floridan or Caribbean.
But yes, you have no idea how many nights in the jungle you saved me.
I was, yet again, actually gonna touch upon on how true your Chinese friend's 2016 extinction prediction had been. Its just futile now, everyone is winding down operations here. I had a visit from a client from Jeddah a few weeks back (he also got none of the recently harvested Sarawak wood!), and when I asked him what he's gonna do now that he's unable to take back more than a handful of wood from his trips to the East, he said he's gonna switch to Sinai. This game plan seems to be pretty consistent across the board. Let's not forget, Ahmad now works for the largest Sinai supplier and the latest thing now is Sinai oil.
Synthesized "agarwood". Synthesized "oud oil". Hip hip hurray!
I was also chatting with one of the OudLine folks a couple months back, and he told me they already shut down their distillery here in Malaysia a while back. I also jokingly (but seriously) asked why they adulterated so many of their oils, after testing their 'Kalimantan' and 'Malaysian' "super grade" oils. The guy (rightly) pointed out that their target market simply won't even pay enough to cover the cost price of their wild oils, because "chewing gum" (i.e. Trat Thai chemically inoculated + spiked) oud oils destroyed the wild oud supply market. So adulteration isn't a choice. Its a survival instinct.
Truer words had not been spake.
And since I know how hunters operate, I know fully well why the sudden drop in raw material supply for low grade oils. Its just not worth the hunters' effort to carry back cheap wood on their backs for weeks/months.
Like I said... the market is yet to get hit because the previous stockpiles have not yet been fully depleted.
We are for the most part oblivious to what's about to come.
And of course, OudLine is not the only victim. The list of grassroots distillers is even shorter now. And this is Malaysia we're talking about! The last frontier of the 'old world' oud countries. Don't even get me started on Cambodia or Vietnam, ha!
Good thing I'm only focused on high grade oils.
Its all about who acts fast these next couple years, and who acts faster.
Ensar, let the race begin! All in good sport and sportsmanship of course. I suspect about 2-3 years' worth of oil stock. Dunno what's gonna happen after that. Sinai? Chewing gum?
Tents you can do in European and North American forests, but in the jungles out here, you have to keep everything 'lean' because of how cramped these SE Asian jungles are. You can't walk if you have something like a tent on your back, even collapsed.
Every jungle trek was preceded by a trip to buy some canvas. The canvas is cut into large rectangles, which are then hung over ropes which are tied to adjacent trees. The canvas sheets were thus the roofs. Their sole purpose: to stay dry during night rain showers.
After my jungle treks in the past 12 or so months, I'm convinced that the SE Asian jungles they show in movies are NOT SE Asian. Maybe Floridan or Caribbean.
But yes, you have no idea how many nights in the jungle you saved me.
I was, yet again, actually gonna touch upon on how true your Chinese friend's 2016 extinction prediction had been. Its just futile now, everyone is winding down operations here. I had a visit from a client from Jeddah a few weeks back (he also got none of the recently harvested Sarawak wood!), and when I asked him what he's gonna do now that he's unable to take back more than a handful of wood from his trips to the East, he said he's gonna switch to Sinai. This game plan seems to be pretty consistent across the board. Let's not forget, Ahmad now works for the largest Sinai supplier and the latest thing now is Sinai oil.
Synthesized "agarwood". Synthesized "oud oil". Hip hip hurray!
I was also chatting with one of the OudLine folks a couple months back, and he told me they already shut down their distillery here in Malaysia a while back. I also jokingly (but seriously) asked why they adulterated so many of their oils, after testing their 'Kalimantan' and 'Malaysian' "super grade" oils. The guy (rightly) pointed out that their target market simply won't even pay enough to cover the cost price of their wild oils, because "chewing gum" (i.e. Trat Thai chemically inoculated + spiked) oud oils destroyed the wild oud supply market. So adulteration isn't a choice. Its a survival instinct.
Truer words had not been spake.
And since I know how hunters operate, I know fully well why the sudden drop in raw material supply for low grade oils. Its just not worth the hunters' effort to carry back cheap wood on their backs for weeks/months.
Like I said... the market is yet to get hit because the previous stockpiles have not yet been fully depleted.
We are for the most part oblivious to what's about to come.
And of course, OudLine is not the only victim. The list of grassroots distillers is even shorter now. And this is Malaysia we're talking about! The last frontier of the 'old world' oud countries. Don't even get me started on Cambodia or Vietnam, ha!
Good thing I'm only focused on high grade oils.
Its all about who acts fast these next couple years, and who acts faster.
Ensar, let the race begin! All in good sport and sportsmanship of course.
I suspect about 2-3 years' worth of oil stock. Dunno what's gonna happen after that. Sinai? Chewing gum?
Death by Oud, And resetting the Oudometer
Sometimes my obssession for Oud takes a harmful turn. I get overexcited at times and tend to go on oud sniffing marathon pushing the very limits of my sniffing capabilities. It usually happens when its slightly humid and the nasal fatigue sets in fast. Also some oils cause fatigue faster like Hindis and some dont cause at all. The nearer you apply to your nose more chances of getting fatigued faster. All these factors combined and a rainbow of region profiles on my skin each causing additional individual fatigues finally leads to a stage which I call "Death by Oud" LOL. I dont know how many of you have gone through this weird phenomenon. Even the moat pleasant Oud after that stage causes a stingy ammoniacal odour which starts burning the mucosa of the sinuses ;and if wrist is brought closer burning of eyes. It happens most when I am wearning the greenish oils esp wallapatta/gyrinops/kinam oils. So, from a stage of oud ecstasy things turn into a complete aversion of Oud :-( within hours/days.
But luckily this is not as intense as one which happens with perfumes. The "Death by cologne" can cause dry cough, dizziness, fever and allergic reactions. It happened to me once where I had to take intravenous steroids to save myself.
However, with Ouds I have found 2 solutions that work for me in such a disheartening scenario. Hindi Oud...lol...yes swiping a heavily funky hindi causes immediate relaxation of the nasal mucosa. Next, is complete abandon of any scented body product for a day or two. Even light airy citrus saprays help to recover.
For avoiding such headaches in the longer run one can perform nasal saline wash or the traditional ayurvedic "jal neyati". Where u mix some baking soda and mountain salt in lukewarm water and use the neti pot specifically designed for irrigation (Amazon etc should help). It helps so much.
Post-recovery I use very tiny amounts of oil to lower my sniffing threshold. Even with tiny amounts only applied to above-wrists you get nice non-fatiguing whiffs of your favorite Oud. This downgrading of the sensory receptors is one tiny secret to enjoy even the tiniest samples of your non-replenishing Oud legends for a long long time. I would love to know if someone else has experienced such self induced olfactory trauma before ?
Sometimes my obssession for Oud takes a harmful turn. I get overexcited at times and tend to go on oud sniffing marathon pushing the very limits of my sniffing capabilities. It usually happens when its slightly humid and the nasal fatigue sets in fast. Also some oils cause fatigue faster like Hindis and some dont cause at all. The nearer you apply to your nose more chances of getting fatigued faster. All these factors combined and a rainbow of region profiles on my skin each causing additional individual fatigues finally leads to a stage which I call "Death by Oud" LOL. I dont know how many of you have gone through this weird phenomenon. Even the moat pleasant Oud after that stage causes a stingy ammoniacal odour which starts burning the mucosa of the sinuses ;and if wrist is brought closer burning of eyes. It happens most when I am wearning the greenish oils esp wallapatta/gyrinops/kinam oils. So, from a stage of oud ecstasy things turn into a complete aversion of Oud :-( within hours/days.
But luckily this is not as intense as one which happens with perfumes. The "Death by cologne" can cause dry cough, dizziness, fever and allergic reactions. It happened to me once where I had to take intravenous steroids to save myself.
However, with Ouds I have found 2 solutions that work for me in such a disheartening scenario. Hindi Oud...lol...yes swiping a heavily funky hindi causes immediate relaxation of the nasal mucosa. Next, is complete abandon of any scented body product for a day or two. Even light airy citrus saprays help to recover.
For avoiding such headaches in the longer run one can perform nasal saline wash or the traditional ayurvedic "jal neyati". Where u mix some baking soda and mountain salt in lukewarm water and use the neti pot specifically designed for irrigation (Amazon etc should help). It helps so much.
Post-recovery I use very tiny amounts of oil to lower my sniffing threshold. Even with tiny amounts only applied to above-wrists you get nice non-fatiguing whiffs of your favorite Oud. This downgrading of the sensory receptors is one tiny secret to enjoy even the tiniest samples of your non-replenishing Oud legends for a long long time
. I would love to know if someone else has experienced such self induced olfactory trauma before ?
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Yes I've definitely noticed that more enjoyment can be taken from oud if it is not used too frequently - it loses some of the magic if used too often.. I would say that in general I use it too frequently to enjoy it as much as I could, because whenever I take even a day or so away from it my enjoyment goes way back up.. I typically apply it 2-3 times per day though, including late every evening near bed time..
New opening in Brunei for Oud Hunters? Looks like their building a bridge from Brunei mainland to the Ulu Temburong National Park and Sumbiling Eco Village. I would imagine that this could open a great bit of opportunity for those in the business, and hopefully some heavenly new scents for rest of us.
http://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/brunei-bridge-rainforest-eco/index.html
http://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/brunei-bridge-rainforest-eco/index.html
Uh oh...
There's been a silly little rumor that I've known about for some time, and I didn't really give it any attention, like most other rumors (and there are plenty more).
But now I've discovered that this particular rumor has in fact reached some folks whom it potentially could affect. So I'd like to say a word on two on the matter, and put their minds at ease.
So, I'm addressing anyone who got my Filipino wood that I sold earlier this year.
The rumor is that its not really Filipino wood (not sure what its supposed to be instead, considering how unique and unusual it is).
I'm happy to share photos from the Philippines, in the Philippines. Photos of trees, photos of wood, photos of me with that wood (including a lovely Super King China-market grade chunk in my lap). Photos of the DENR approval papers for the wood, photos of the package (with confirmable DHL tracking number that shows the package weight, package content description, the origin and destination).
Basically... proving it is indeed Filipino wood.
That is, of course, assuming I'm not a genius who had foreseen these rumors would arise at some point in the future and therefore decided to pose for photo shoots across the islands of the Philippines, just to one day refute them. Don't even get me started on how one would even manage to smuggle such wood INTO the Philippines (1 of the 5 hardest countries to sneak raw wood into/out of).
This batch of wood was THE most ethical, THE most legal, THE most traceable batch of agarwood that has ever been harvested in the history of agarwood harvesting. At least to my knowledge.
A customer of mine told me that there is a way to track down the exact GPS coordinates where a photo was taken, and that it is something that cannot be faked.
So if anyone who bought this wood (and I don't really care about anyone else's opinions or doubts) would like this confirmation, I would encourage you to get together, appoint one person who knows how to pull out such GPS data from photos, and I am happy to send them to him/her. And with the condition that they are not shared with any one else. I don't like being put on a trial stand, and don't like to give any satisfaction to folks who'd like to put me up there (i.e. let them continue holding on to their opinions). So the photos will go to that one person who can then confirm the GPS coordinates of where those photos were taken.
Yes, I am aware that these GPS coordinates would reveal the locations of some of the tiny pockets I spent so much time, energy (errm, and money) to find. But I'm not worried, because these places are so dangerous that its not like I'd be giving away a huge secret for free. So the GPS information would not help my 'competition' in any way for that reason.
Again: this is ONLY for folks who got some of the wood.
As for some of the other rumors, you're welcome to believe them. Because they bear no consequence to the product you have in your hands. Rumors such as... the photos of me in the jungles are 'fake', I guess that either means photoshopped or a 10 minute photo shoot in a local park (those who have seen some of the jungle bed time photos, tree felling photos etc, shh... don't share them, I will re-request not to give the rumor-mongers the satisfaction). Some other amusing rumors too, he he, again, I don't mind them continuing on. There are even some that have been in circulation for a couple years, and I sometimes enjoy laughing about them with others. We all need a good laugh every now and then, life can otherwise be so dull.
Anyone who did NOT get the wood, I would politely request not to participate. I don't need any tongues clucked on my account, nor any snide remarks/attacks on those responsible for starting/spreading the rumors, and most certainly not another online oud war breaking out.
This is strictly for people who got the Filipino wood. Thank you.
To the rumor-mongers, all I can say is... you have no idea what I risked losing. And more importantly, what I DID lose because of the Philippines expeditions. I'm not bothered by the opinions you decide to insist on holding (although it does make me sad). I am only concerned about false rumors about products that reach those who got those products. Because those folks don't deserve that.
Footnote to the power of ∞ (my posts require them, as they are misinterpreted more than any others' for some reason): please guys, don't let this escalate. I could have mentioned all this privately to the folks who bought this wood from me, but more people got some and then split it with others, than I had thought. And that's the only reason I am posting this publicly here.
If this escalates, I think the online oud community has no hope for recovery from the sickness that's been ailing it of late (obsession with oud 'politics' and he-said-she-said, more than obsession with oud). Either that, or I am a hopeless case, who has an amazing knack for starting silly online wars without wanting that.
There's been a silly little rumor that I've known about for some time, and I didn't really give it any attention, like most other rumors (and there are plenty more).
But now I've discovered that this particular rumor has in fact reached some folks whom it potentially could affect. So I'd like to say a word on two on the matter, and put their minds at ease.
So, I'm addressing anyone who got my Filipino wood that I sold earlier this year.
The rumor is that its not really Filipino wood (not sure what its supposed to be instead, considering how unique and unusual it is).
I'm happy to share photos from the Philippines, in the Philippines. Photos of trees, photos of wood, photos of me with that wood (including a lovely Super King China-market grade chunk in my lap). Photos of the DENR approval papers for the wood, photos of the package (with confirmable DHL tracking number that shows the package weight, package content description, the origin and destination).
Basically... proving it is indeed Filipino wood.
That is, of course, assuming I'm not a genius who had foreseen these rumors would arise at some point in the future and therefore decided to pose for photo shoots across the islands of the Philippines, just to one day refute them. Don't even get me started on how one would even manage to smuggle such wood INTO the Philippines (1 of the 5 hardest countries to sneak raw wood into/out of).
This batch of wood was THE most ethical, THE most legal, THE most traceable batch of agarwood that has ever been harvested in the history of agarwood harvesting. At least to my knowledge.
A customer of mine told me that there is a way to track down the exact GPS coordinates where a photo was taken, and that it is something that cannot be faked.
So if anyone who bought this wood (and I don't really care about anyone else's opinions or doubts) would like this confirmation, I would encourage you to get together, appoint one person who knows how to pull out such GPS data from photos, and I am happy to send them to him/her. And with the condition that they are not shared with any one else. I don't like being put on a trial stand, and don't like to give any satisfaction to folks who'd like to put me up there (i.e. let them continue holding on to their opinions). So the photos will go to that one person who can then confirm the GPS coordinates of where those photos were taken.
Yes, I am aware that these GPS coordinates would reveal the locations of some of the tiny pockets I spent so much time, energy (errm, and money) to find. But I'm not worried, because these places are so dangerous that its not like I'd be giving away a huge secret for free. So the GPS information would not help my 'competition' in any way for that reason.
Again: this is ONLY for folks who got some of the wood.
As for some of the other rumors, you're welcome to believe them. Because they bear no consequence to the product you have in your hands. Rumors such as... the photos of me in the jungles are 'fake', I guess that either means photoshopped or a 10 minute photo shoot in a local park (those who have seen some of the jungle bed time photos, tree felling photos etc, shh... don't share them, I will re-request not to give the rumor-mongers the satisfaction). Some other amusing rumors too, he he, again, I don't mind them continuing on. There are even some that have been in circulation for a couple years, and I sometimes enjoy laughing about them with others. We all need a good laugh every now and then, life can otherwise be so dull.
Anyone who did NOT get the wood, I would politely request not to participate. I don't need any tongues clucked on my account, nor any snide remarks/attacks on those responsible for starting/spreading the rumors, and most certainly not another online oud war breaking out.
This is strictly for people who got the Filipino wood. Thank you.
To the rumor-mongers, all I can say is... you have no idea what I risked losing. And more importantly, what I DID lose because of the Philippines expeditions. I'm not bothered by the opinions you decide to insist on holding (although it does make me sad). I am only concerned about false rumors about products that reach those who got those products. Because those folks don't deserve that.
Footnote to the power of ∞ (my posts require them, as they are misinterpreted more than any others' for some reason): please guys, don't let this escalate. I could have mentioned all this privately to the folks who bought this wood from me, but more people got some and then split it with others, than I had thought. And that's the only reason I am posting this publicly here.
If this escalates, I think the online oud community has no hope for recovery from the sickness that's been ailing it of late (obsession with oud 'politics' and he-said-she-said, more than obsession with oud). Either that, or I am a hopeless case, who has an amazing knack for starting silly online wars without wanting that.
Uh oh...
There's been a silly little rumor that I've known about for some time, and I didn't really give it any attention, like most other rumors (and there are plenty more).
But now I've discovered that this particular rumor has in fact reached some folks whom it potentially could affect. So I'd like to say a word on two on the matter, and put their minds at ease.
So, I'm addressing anyone who got my Filipino wood that I sold earlier this year.
The rumor is that its not really Filipino wood (not sure what its supposed to be instead, considering how unique and unusual it is).
I'm happy to share photos from the Philippines, in the Philippines. Photos of trees, photos of wood, photos of me with that wood (including a lovely Super King China-market grade chunk in my lap). Photos of the DENR approval papers for the wood, photos of the package (with confirmable DHL tracking number that shows the package weight, package content description, the origin and destination).
Basically... proving it is indeed Filipino wood.
That is, of course, assuming I'm not a genius who had foreseen these rumors would arise at some point in the future and therefore decided to pose for photo shoots across the islands of the Philippines, just to one day refute them. Don't even get me started on how one would even manage to smuggle such wood INTO the Philippines (1 of the 5 hardest countries to sneak raw wood into/out of).
This batch of wood was THE most ethical, THE most legal, THE most traceable batch of agarwood that has ever been harvested in the history of agarwood harvesting. At least to my knowledge.
A customer of mine told me that there is a way to track down the exact GPS coordinates where a photo was taken, and that it is something that cannot be faked.
So if anyone who bought this wood (and I don't really care about anyone else's opinions or doubts) would like this confirmation, I would encourage you to get together, appoint one person who knows how to pull out such GPS data from photos, and I am happy to send them to him/her. And with the condition that they are not shared with any one else. I don't like being put on a trial stand, and don't like to give any satisfaction to folks who'd like to put me up there (i.e. let them continue holding on to their opinions). So the photos will go to that one person who can then confirm the GPS coordinates of where those photos were taken.
Yes, I am aware that these GPS coordinates would reveal the locations of some of the tiny pockets I spent so much time, energy (errm, and money) to find. But I'm not worried, because these places are so dangerous that its not like I'd be giving away a huge secret for free. So the GPS information would not help my 'competition' in any way for that reason.
Again: this is ONLY for folks who got some of the wood.
As for some of the other rumors, you're welcome to believe them. Because they bear no consequence to the product you have in your hands. Rumors such as... the photos of me in the jungles are 'fake', I guess that either means photoshopped or a 10 minute photo shoot in a local park (those who have seen some of the jungle bed time photos, tree felling photos etc, shh... don't share them, I will re-request not to give the rumor-mongers the satisfaction). Some other amusing rumors too, he he, again, I don't mind them continuing on. There are even some that have been in circulation for a couple years, and I sometimes enjoy laughing about them with others. We all need a good laugh every now and then, life can otherwise be so dull.
Anyone who did NOT get the wood, I would politely request not to participate. I don't need any tongues clucked on my account, nor any snide remarks/attacks on those responsible for starting/spreading the rumors, and most certainly not another online oud war breaking out.
This is strictly for people who got the Filipino wood. Thank you.
To the rumor-mongers, all I can say is... you have no idea what I risked losing. And more importantly, what I DID lose because of the Philippines expeditions. I'm not bothered by the opinions you decide to insist on holding (although it does make me sad). I am only concerned about false rumors about products that reach those who got those products. Because those folks don't deserve that.
Footnote to the power of ∞ (my posts require them, as they are misinterpreted more than any others' for some reason): please guys, don't let this escalate. I could have mentioned all this privately to the folks who bought this wood from me, but more people got some and then split it with others, than I had thought. And that's the only reason I am posting this publicly here.
If this escalates, I think the online oud community has no hope for recovery from the sickness that's been ailing it of late (obsession with oud 'politics' and he-said-she-said, more than obsession with oud). Either that, or I am a hopeless case, who has an amazing knack for starting silly online wars without wanting that.
There's been a silly little rumor that I've known about for some time, and I didn't really give it any attention, like most other rumors (and there are plenty more).
But now I've discovered that this particular rumor has in fact reached some folks whom it potentially could affect. So I'd like to say a word on two on the matter, and put their minds at ease.
So, I'm addressing anyone who got my Filipino wood that I sold earlier this year.
The rumor is that its not really Filipino wood (not sure what its supposed to be instead, considering how unique and unusual it is).
I'm happy to share photos from the Philippines, in the Philippines. Photos of trees, photos of wood, photos of me with that wood (including a lovely Super King China-market grade chunk in my lap). Photos of the DENR approval papers for the wood, photos of the package (with confirmable DHL tracking number that shows the package weight, package content description, the origin and destination).
Basically... proving it is indeed Filipino wood.
That is, of course, assuming I'm not a genius who had foreseen these rumors would arise at some point in the future and therefore decided to pose for photo shoots across the islands of the Philippines, just to one day refute them. Don't even get me started on how one would even manage to smuggle such wood INTO the Philippines (1 of the 5 hardest countries to sneak raw wood into/out of).
This batch of wood was THE most ethical, THE most legal, THE most traceable batch of agarwood that has ever been harvested in the history of agarwood harvesting. At least to my knowledge.
A customer of mine told me that there is a way to track down the exact GPS coordinates where a photo was taken, and that it is something that cannot be faked.
So if anyone who bought this wood (and I don't really care about anyone else's opinions or doubts) would like this confirmation, I would encourage you to get together, appoint one person who knows how to pull out such GPS data from photos, and I am happy to send them to him/her. And with the condition that they are not shared with any one else. I don't like being put on a trial stand, and don't like to give any satisfaction to folks who'd like to put me up there (i.e. let them continue holding on to their opinions). So the photos will go to that one person who can then confirm the GPS coordinates of where those photos were taken.
Yes, I am aware that these GPS coordinates would reveal the locations of some of the tiny pockets I spent so much time, energy (errm, and money) to find. But I'm not worried, because these places are so dangerous that its not like I'd be giving away a huge secret for free. So the GPS information would not help my 'competition' in any way for that reason.
Again: this is ONLY for folks who got some of the wood.
As for some of the other rumors, you're welcome to believe them. Because they bear no consequence to the product you have in your hands. Rumors such as... the photos of me in the jungles are 'fake', I guess that either means photoshopped or a 10 minute photo shoot in a local park (those who have seen some of the jungle bed time photos, tree felling photos etc, shh... don't share them, I will re-request not to give the rumor-mongers the satisfaction). Some other amusing rumors too, he he, again, I don't mind them continuing on. There are even some that have been in circulation for a couple years, and I sometimes enjoy laughing about them with others. We all need a good laugh every now and then, life can otherwise be so dull.
Anyone who did NOT get the wood, I would politely request not to participate. I don't need any tongues clucked on my account, nor any snide remarks/attacks on those responsible for starting/spreading the rumors, and most certainly not another online oud war breaking out.
This is strictly for people who got the Filipino wood. Thank you.
To the rumor-mongers, all I can say is... you have no idea what I risked losing. And more importantly, what I DID lose because of the Philippines expeditions. I'm not bothered by the opinions you decide to insist on holding (although it does make me sad). I am only concerned about false rumors about products that reach those who got those products. Because those folks don't deserve that.
Footnote to the power of ∞ (my posts require them, as they are misinterpreted more than any others' for some reason): please guys, don't let this escalate. I could have mentioned all this privately to the folks who bought this wood from me, but more people got some and then split it with others, than I had thought. And that's the only reason I am posting this publicly here.
If this escalates, I think the online oud community has no hope for recovery from the sickness that's been ailing it of late (obsession with oud 'politics' and he-said-she-said, more than obsession with oud). Either that, or I am a hopeless case, who has an amazing knack for starting silly online wars without wanting that.
Talebearing and gossip. tsk tsk tsk.
May Allah ease your matters Taha
Well interestingly, @Taha had shared with me his Philippine expedition at least a year before he made the trip itself. I am just a small collector in the Oud community and I seriously do not think it is worth Taha’s effort to go through all the ‘act’ just to make me buy his stuff, right? Regardless, i had indeed bought his Philippine wood and i am definitely not regretting it. In fact the wood is so awesome that I had bought more of it after my first purchase.
Honestly speaking, which is more important? The country of the wood origin or the aroma of the heated wood? Personally I would choose the latter anytime!
Regardless, i had indeed bought his Philippine wood and i am definitely not regretting it. In fact the wood is so awesome that I had bought more of it after my first purchase. Honestly speaking, which is more important? The country of the wood origin or the aroma of the heated wood? Personally I would choose the latter anytime!
@Taha what you're referring to with pictures and finding out the GPS coordinates of said pictures is called geotagging. I would imagine that when you go on hunting expeditions you're using experienced hunters who know and can navigate the jungles without getting lost, you're using a handheld satellite GPS device or both. Some standalone cameras are GPS enabled but most are not as it's a feature most don't need. If the camera you used is GPS enabled and that service was on at the time then the geotag can be found, if not it cannot. If you used a cellular handset like an iPhone with the location services activated, granted you had a signal at the time of taking the pictures, then the geotag can be found, if not it cannot.
At any rate, someone has questioned your integrity and made accusatory allegations. I believe that the information such as pictures, DENR approval papers, package tracking information, etc. can be shown as proof of the wood's provenance, but that's only as a rebuttal and after the accusers have shown any credible "proof" (they don't have it) that the wood is not what you say it is; but that itself is going well above and beyond in my belief, not to mention giving away GPS coordinates, NO. Sometimes you are TOO giving of yourself. Sidi Taha, my dear you are honest to a fault, I don't believe you'd tell a lie even if it would save your life; anybody that can't see that characteristic in you deserves nothing. If the saying, "the meek shall inherit the earth" is true, then you'd get two; that’s partially a compliment and partially not because it's meekness and submission to Allah alone and not to man. Please don't allow anyone, who has no proof of anything, to take advantage of you and bully you into divulging your life's work over a rumor. Believe me, they take your kindness for weakness. If I were you, I wouldn't show them $h!t excepting perhaps my middle finger; your impeccable history, reputation, and integrity precede you. It's a silly little rumor as you rightly stated. Besides that, it's likely not your customer anyway, but rather an UNKNOWN someone on the outside that's making the noise. Allah subhana wa ta'ala knows best.
At any rate, someone has questioned your integrity and made accusatory allegations. I believe that the information such as pictures, DENR approval papers, package tracking information, etc. can be shown as proof of the wood's provenance, but that's only as a rebuttal and after the accusers have shown any credible "proof" (they don't have it) that the wood is not what you say it is; but that itself is going well above and beyond in my belief, not to mention giving away GPS coordinates, NO. Sometimes you are TOO giving of yourself. Sidi Taha, my dear you are honest to a fault, I don't believe you'd tell a lie even if it would save your life; anybody that can't see that characteristic in you deserves nothing. If the saying, "the meek shall inherit the earth" is true, then you'd get two; that’s partially a compliment and partially not because it's meekness and submission to Allah alone and not to man. Please don't allow anyone, who has no proof of anything, to take advantage of you and bully you into divulging your life's work over a rumor. Believe me, they take your kindness for weakness. If I were you, I wouldn't show them $h!t excepting perhaps my middle finger; your impeccable history, reputation, and integrity precede you. It's a silly little rumor as you rightly stated. Besides that, it's likely not your customer anyway, but rather an UNKNOWN someone on the outside that's making the noise. Allah subhana wa ta'ala knows best.
Ah hmmmm, so whadayaknow... when I view the photos on my iPhone, the jungle pics just show the date at the top, whereas the photos which were taken after bringing the wood back to the city, do show the location. So I guess Location Services automatically got disabled when I had no signal, but back in the city the geotags worked.
Conclusion: the 'jungle' pics are just me posing at the Bukit Nanas Eco Park (10 mins from my home), and naughty @m.arif was the cameraman. As for the 'hunters', well, they were just the park staff who were landscaping and manicuring the foliage.
Look, I know what you mean @PEARL, and I understand and agree. That's why I will reiterate, I am not 'giving in' to any bullying. I simply think its not fair for anyone who got this wood, to have any doubts cloud and affect their appreciation of the wood. And that is precisely why I would share photos, DHL info, DENR paperwork etc only with someone (and one delegated person only) who got the wood, who could then verify the veracity of my outrageously outlandish claims, to the rest.
In the meantime I've already heard back from most of the folks who got the wood. No one has had any doubts.
@AmberyOudLova, opo po! I recall reading that before and I'm curious, whereabouts in The Philippines? I've been to so many islands there (I think my trips to the Philippines might outnumber even those to Cambodia), Who knows, I just might have even swung by your childhood barangay. Maybe even caught whiffs of the local barangay champion babae's buka pie?
PS: if you think Hindi and Malaysian are oudy... you gotta smell Pinoy aloes. Its the King of Oudy oud. In my opinion of course. Ask anyone who got some, (I think) they would agree too.
Of course, then there's the question as old as humanity itself... what does 'Oudy' even mean, when in fact every oud varietal in its totality is oud and nothing but oud yet different from every other oud varietal....
Conclusion: the 'jungle' pics are just me posing at the Bukit Nanas Eco Park (10 mins from my home), and naughty @m.arif was the cameraman. As for the 'hunters', well, they were just the park staff who were landscaping and manicuring the foliage.
Look, I know what you mean @PEARL, and I understand and agree. That's why I will reiterate, I am not 'giving in' to any bullying. I simply think its not fair for anyone who got this wood, to have any doubts cloud and affect their appreciation of the wood. And that is precisely why I would share photos, DHL info, DENR paperwork etc only with someone (and one delegated person only) who got the wood, who could then verify the veracity of my outrageously outlandish claims, to the rest.
In the meantime I've already heard back from most of the folks who got the wood. No one has had any doubts.
@AmberyOudLova, opo po! I recall reading that before and I'm curious, whereabouts in The Philippines? I've been to so many islands there (I think my trips to the Philippines might outnumber even those to Cambodia), Who knows, I just might have even swung by your childhood barangay. Maybe even caught whiffs of the local barangay champion babae's buka pie?
PS: if you think Hindi and Malaysian are oudy... you gotta smell Pinoy aloes. Its the King of Oudy oud. In my opinion of course. Ask anyone who got some, (I think) they would agree too.
Of course, then there's the question as old as humanity itself... what does 'Oudy' even mean, when in fact every oud varietal in its totality is oud and nothing but oud yet different from every other oud varietal....
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Of course, then there's the question as old as humanity itself... what does 'Oudy' even mean, when in fact every oud varietal in its totality is oud and nothing but oud yet different from every other oud varietal....
The content is roughly two drops from almost every bottle I have!
Attachments
Ha! Post of the year.
But I have to say it smells incredible. The six Sri Lankans are clearly evident in the top and heart, they go really well with the three Marokes; then Tigerwood 95 for the liqeur, Ayu for some sparkle and zest, and the best part was how Assam Organic 07 and Chugoku Senkoh gave it serious depth and somehow unified the whole blend.
The final result smells like New Guinea and Sri Lanka from the bottle, with the Maroke emerging more in the drydown and really wonderful Lankan fruity and oceanic notes about twenty minutes in which continue all the way into the drydown. Strangely the Hindis can only be felt as a presence, which makes me think they are the supreme 'fixative'.