Looks like my gig is up folks, I've been caught red handed. I've been peddling $95-$150/tola oils for astronomical prices.
Gen3...? Psshh, just add some floral absolutes to a cheap oud. Or even better, synthetics (the more surreal the better... the whole 'inner dimension' story sells easier).
Gen4..? Skip the additives.
As a matter of fact I'm off to hunt down some more such cheapies, so sadly I won't have much time to share much more than that for now. Gotta make preparations.
Alternative caption for those who are into 'stories':
Gotta pitch a tent and cook some more Vietnamese oud, in Vietnam this time. It's in a remote location so I cannot guarantee I'll have a connection when I'm there.
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I'd been hoping to hear from Habz on WhatsApp but I didn't (ended up deciding I'd contact him myself in the morning but alas, all this ^ got posted right in this thread, which I didn't want contaminated with this issue).
@Admin/mods, can this stuff kindly be shifted to a new thread please?
Habz, still hoping to hearing from you on WhatsApp. The time constraints I face certainly would make it much easier for me compared to posting online.
Since the Sulawesi oil came up, just to set the record straight and since I did mention earlier that this particular issue got resolved (we both paid.. me back in July/Aug 2015 and not sure when Faizal did but HE DID too, and I told him to just keep the oil)..
These are the sorts of people we're dealing with. And this distiller is not an anomaly, so it should speak something loud and clear to those who take a moment to reflect.
Not too clear? I've been more open than anyone on my blog/facebook, sharing names/locations/contact info of my (ex) distillers (even been advised in the past by other vendors to be more careful, wish I had taken heed!). So if anyone decides to get in touch with those guys to buy oils directly, please... just try to ensure it's an oil whose raw material didn't belong to someone else. These lovely folks are generally cut from a cloth quite different from what most of us are used to. The people who are engaged in the oud trade in the east know this all too well, and this stuff usually gets filtered out by the time you, the customer, are clicking on the Order button for your BOJ (bottles of joy).
Faizal was completely unaware of this in the case of the Sulawesi oil, and I could sense the honesty in his voice when we spoke without a doubt. Knowing that only one of us could have the oil (plus, it was already with him), I decided to give it up. ie case closed. Meanwhile, our distiller friend of course maintained (still maintains? Who knows.. he was the first I tossed out) that Faizal got some random oil distilled by someone else that he passed on to Faizal, as you can see in the screenshot. In my heart I know that's a lie.
Only mentioning the Sulawesi oil here because it came up, and it involves someone else (Faizal/Imperial). Case closed. No secret agendas, attempts at harming anyone, etc.
For all the other cases, guys, do the right thing. If in (even the slightest) doubt.. verify, ascertain, before trampling all over a guy's bread. I'm a message away (well at least for the next 18 hours).
Public trial demanded? Fine. Please not in this thread though.
In 2016 I spent (wasted) WAY too much time on jungle hunts (alternative caption: sipping Pina coladas at resorts.. depends which 'story' your mind likes to believe). During this period, I requested distillers to KEEP my oils with them until I was able to pay them for their labour/facilities rental etc (the wood was already paid for by me). Most of the oils 'vanished' during this time, ie lots of Christmases for some of these folks.
The truth: I got too addicted to those darn yummy pina coladas!
---Edit---
Oh wow, I did it again didn't I? Took too long to compose my post (I'll blame my Canadianness in attempting to choose my words a little too carefully, ha!), and in the meantime my 'lawyer' just came up with an even more brilliant 'story' than I could have.
Yep, it's true. Didn't want to post about this case, but yes Ensar and Kruger were secretly offered to buy the oil. The only difference in this case: they didn't quickly snatch up the oil, but rather showed up at my home after a few days and told me all about it.
And to whoever Ensar's/Kruger's words hold credibility, they can tell you how long I waited to receive the batches of Kalyani & Lavanya because I told the distiller to hold the oils for me just so I could transfer the cash for allowing me to use his facility (a paltry sum compared to the cost of the raw material!). I'd forgotten about this guy... one (out of formerly three) Indian distiller I can still trust. So that's a grand total of two now (Ahmad being the other).
Gen3...? Psshh, just add some floral absolutes to a cheap oud. Or even better, synthetics (the more surreal the better... the whole 'inner dimension' story sells easier).
Gen4..? Skip the additives.
As a matter of fact I'm off to hunt down some more such cheapies, so sadly I won't have much time to share much more than that for now. Gotta make preparations.
Alternative caption for those who are into 'stories':
Gotta pitch a tent and cook some more Vietnamese oud, in Vietnam this time. It's in a remote location so I cannot guarantee I'll have a connection when I'm there.
---------------------
I'd been hoping to hear from Habz on WhatsApp but I didn't (ended up deciding I'd contact him myself in the morning but alas, all this ^ got posted right in this thread, which I didn't want contaminated with this issue).
@Admin/mods, can this stuff kindly be shifted to a new thread please?
Habz, still hoping to hearing from you on WhatsApp. The time constraints I face certainly would make it much easier for me compared to posting online.
Since the Sulawesi oil came up, just to set the record straight and since I did mention earlier that this particular issue got resolved (we both paid.. me back in July/Aug 2015 and not sure when Faizal did but HE DID too, and I told him to just keep the oil)..
These are the sorts of people we're dealing with. And this distiller is not an anomaly, so it should speak something loud and clear to those who take a moment to reflect.
Not too clear? I've been more open than anyone on my blog/facebook, sharing names/locations/contact info of my (ex) distillers (even been advised in the past by other vendors to be more careful, wish I had taken heed!). So if anyone decides to get in touch with those guys to buy oils directly, please... just try to ensure it's an oil whose raw material didn't belong to someone else. These lovely folks are generally cut from a cloth quite different from what most of us are used to. The people who are engaged in the oud trade in the east know this all too well, and this stuff usually gets filtered out by the time you, the customer, are clicking on the Order button for your BOJ (bottles of joy).
Faizal was completely unaware of this in the case of the Sulawesi oil, and I could sense the honesty in his voice when we spoke without a doubt. Knowing that only one of us could have the oil (plus, it was already with him), I decided to give it up. ie case closed. Meanwhile, our distiller friend of course maintained (still maintains? Who knows.. he was the first I tossed out) that Faizal got some random oil distilled by someone else that he passed on to Faizal, as you can see in the screenshot. In my heart I know that's a lie.
Only mentioning the Sulawesi oil here because it came up, and it involves someone else (Faizal/Imperial). Case closed. No secret agendas, attempts at harming anyone, etc.
For all the other cases, guys, do the right thing. If in (even the slightest) doubt.. verify, ascertain, before trampling all over a guy's bread. I'm a message away (well at least for the next 18 hours).
Public trial demanded? Fine. Please not in this thread though.
In 2016 I spent (wasted) WAY too much time on jungle hunts (alternative caption: sipping Pina coladas at resorts.. depends which 'story' your mind likes to believe). During this period, I requested distillers to KEEP my oils with them until I was able to pay them for their labour/facilities rental etc (the wood was already paid for by me). Most of the oils 'vanished' during this time, ie lots of Christmases for some of these folks.
The truth: I got too addicted to those darn yummy pina coladas!
---Edit---
1. I know firsthand that Taha was shortchanged by 50 grams of his own distillation just recently. This is not hearsay, nor is it a story he told me in confidence. I know this for a FACT. I saw it happen. His total yield for the run was 140 gr, of which he received only 90 (the distiller told him that was all of it). More than a third of the yield ended up with someone else.
So, I don’t need Taha to make up stories of what happened to him because I've SEEN it happen to him.
So, I don’t need Taha to make up stories of what happened to him because I've SEEN it happen to him.
Yep, it's true. Didn't want to post about this case, but yes Ensar and Kruger were secretly offered to buy the oil. The only difference in this case: they didn't quickly snatch up the oil, but rather showed up at my home after a few days and told me all about it.
And to whoever Ensar's/Kruger's words hold credibility, they can tell you how long I waited to receive the batches of Kalyani & Lavanya because I told the distiller to hold the oils for me just so I could transfer the cash for allowing me to use his facility (a paltry sum compared to the cost of the raw material!). I'd forgotten about this guy... one (out of formerly three) Indian distiller I can still trust. So that's a grand total of two now (Ahmad being the other).
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