Oud review request thread

[kesiro]

Shabbys's Maroke mash up is very much spot on. I have or have tried all of the ones mentioned except for the Muah.
I think XLL is the benchmark of a very high quality Merauke oud. The wet jungle dark Merauke profile is front and center. Taha's Merauke's amplify the dark, remove the wet and have a scintillating top. The Sultan' Succor being the most pronounced. The Asgon shares the same scintillating quality, but is more 'golden' and less dark. Great stuff!
The Ascent is still a young oil an I believe will take some time to reach its peak, but at this time it is a Black ethereal monster. Brooding and deep with a 'wide' girth to its aroma.
The Syed's Succor is probably my favorite for daily use. It has a sugary sweet note which balances the darkness. For me it is the most psychoactive. As Shabby mentioned, it is not a complex scent, in a similar way like Chugoku is not. But oh what a scent it is.
I think the best move is to get XLL and then explore the other styles.

 

[Nikhil S]

Shabbys's Maroke mash up is very much spot on. I have or have tried all of the ones mentioned except for the Muah.
I think XLL is the benchmark of a very high quality Merauke oud. The wet jungle dark Merauke profile is front and center. Taha's Merauke's amplify the dark, remove the wet and have a scintillating top. The Sultan' Succor being the most pronounced. The Asgon shares the same scintillating quality, but is more 'golden' and less dark. Great stuff!
The Ascent is still a young oil an I believe will take some time to reach its peak, but at this time it is a Black ethereal monster. Brooding and deep with a 'wide' girth to its aroma.
The Syed's Succor is probably my favorite for daily use. It has a sugary sweet note which balances the darkness. For me it is the most psychoactive. As Shabby mentioned, it is not a complex scent, in a similar way like Chugoku is not. But oh what a scent it is.
I think the best move is to get XLL and then explore the other styles.

thanks a lot for the detailed input dear sir. I am glad I pulled XLL before the tap dried out LOL. Oud Dhul Q has been an eyeopener. I dont know what to say about Ensar bhai. One day I would like to visit him just to thank him for his devotion to Oud Art. I don't trace my parcels out of OCD. I think it will knock anytime soon. XLL seems like my Oud Katana. Thanks again.

 

[Philip]

IO Fragrant Harbour Supreme. IO is on a heavy momentum here. Sri Pada was darn good and today I am surprised again. I have no idea about this oil and that leaves the bias /expectations out. On skin application it has a peanut butter bitter fatty aroma. Then when I smudged it turned into a soft green scent with bitter herbal glow. Foresty minty soft green incense aroma of incense grade chips on soft heat. Then comes the wave of bitter rose sitting on a bed of powdery frangipani. The peak of inhale gives the boozy aspect of darkforest honey. The color progression was dull brown to yellowgreen to dullgreen finally a ruby red. Average longevity/intimate sillage/elusive airy hits. Salute the IO team. Supersolid release. I usually avoid such linear green oils. The complexity brought about in this oil is splendid. Like hints of lower SE regions and sinensis drydown.

Dang, thank you @Nikhil S for this very eloquent and detailed review. You are too good at this
Much appreciated

 

[Nikhil S]

Dang, thank you @Nikhil S for this very eloquent and detailed review. You are too good at this
Much appreciated

Thank you for your kindness. I have never bought an IO oil before but I had to pick up someday. It be this harbour one without a doubt. The price is a bonus.

 

[kooolaid79]

thanks a lot for the detailed input dear sir. I am glad I pulled XLL before the tap dried out LOL. Oud Dhul Q has been an eyeopener. I dont know what to say about Ensar bhai. One day I would like to visit him just to thank him for his devotion to Oud Art. I don't trace my parcels out of OCD. I think it will knock anytime soon. XLL seems like my Oud Katana. Thanks again.

The XXL will throw you into another appreciation of Oudh oils. The first Papuan Oil I got was from a Ensar called purple Papua. Legendary but IMO the XXL catapults Meroke Oudhs to something which you will love dearly.
It is a masculine Oudh and once you wear it there's no turning back. The rich jungleness, bitter, sweet wood will open your eyes and you will Thank Ensar again countless times. Just ask me!!

 

[Nikhil S]

@kesiro ☺️ That's great sir. Does Seruranka too evoke such olfactory thrills ? I am expecting the best of the best from it....

 

[kesiro]

The XXL will throw you into another appreciation of Oudh oils. The first Papuan Oil I got was from a Ensar called purple Papua. Legendary but IMO the XXL catapults Meroke Oudhs to something which you will love dearly.
It is a masculine Oudh and once you wear it there's no turning back. The rich jungleness, bitter, sweet wood will open your eyes and you will Thank Ensar again countless times. Just ask me!!

Merauke oils are a very unique profile and certainly a unique experience. Bad quality oils are just horrific, but the good stuff is kILLeR!! For me, they are the most psychoactive. Filaria resin is supposed to be the most chemically complex. The really good oils bear that out.

 

[Oudamberlove]

Merauke oils are a very unique profile and certainly a unique experience. Bad quality oils are just horrific, but the good stuff is kILLeR!! For me, they are the most psychoactive. Filaria resin is supposed to be the most chemically complex. The really good oils bear that out.

AA Sultan's Solace and EO XLL are the most soul-stirring oils for me, but not in a psychoactive sense (which they indeed are), it's just that when I smell them, they move me deep within, like a memory from a thousand years, or an era Iong-gone, or a tap into life's deep ocean. It's haunting, but I love it!

 

[kesiro]

AA Sultan's Solace and EO XLL are the most soul-stirring oils for me, but not in a psychoactive sense (which they indeed are), it's just that when I smell them, they move me deep within, like a memory from a thousand years, or an era Iong-gone, or a tap into life's deep ocean. It's haunting, but I love it!

I think that's it. These oils are like a time machine. Not to biblical times but times of ancient earth, where oceans gave way to expansive jungles and forests. When I first smelled a Merauke, it was a smell I had never experienced before but in some way was recognizable. A very strange phenomenon.

 

[Rai Munir]

I am looking for an everyday Sinensis.
IMHO this naturally excludes Hainan 05 and China Sayang - they are far too valuable. Taha doesn't have any listed currently. Adam's Hainan Arabi has been much discussed (thank you).
I therefore turn to IO.

Can anyone review IO Viet Zephyr or Fragrant Harbour Supreme?

Viet Zephyr is almost a tropical jungle in a bottle. Foresty and soily trails are so soothing. Zephyr is replete with the rain scent of the last night. Oud Yusuf and Fragrant Harbour are the best organic oils. Though certain notes are different- Trat and Chinese- especially the middle notes and dry down. Opening is very much one and the same for me.
Viet Zephyr is an invaluable addition in the gallery of Oud Oils.

 

[Nikhil S]

I wore Viet in the morning to test it for our friend. And it gave off a sweet oudy pulp (IO signature) green incense top turning camphoric leather and then the oil sort of falls flat. Drydown turns bittersweet honey. The sweetness of honey intensifies with time and the classic sweet metallic undertone of Jasmine Sambac turns up in the dying stages. A little bit applied to both above-wrists works really well. Good longevity with a complex character however with flat tones at times. But for the price it is no brainer. You can wear this oil everyday. Definitely a hidden gem among pocket friendly oils.

 

[Philip]

I greatly appreciate your input @Rai Munir and @Nikhil S
Salutations,
Philip

 

[Rasoul S]

I am looking for an everyday Sinensis.
IMHO this naturally excludes Hainan 05 and China Sayang - they are far too valuable. Taha doesn't have any listed currently. Adam's Hainan Arabi has been much discussed (thank you).
I therefore turn to IO.

Can anyone review IO Viet Zephyr or Fragrant Harbour Supreme?

I just posted a review of both under the oud oil category. @OudforLife