SOTD

Rasoul S

Well-Known Member
I haven't smelled that oil. However, one of the possibilities could be that the nose got overwhelmed with all the stuff that's going on, and became fatigued, hence unable to detect the scent much. It happens sometimes with me. I'd be scratching my head why can't I smell it, but people around me say "Wow you're wearing oud? It's strong". If this happens that's probably the case.


Recently I visited dear Mr @Taha . Rather than the usual "both arms dabbed with oud", I smelled three oils. A super classic perfumey unnamed Kalimantan. A cambodian. And a very special Malaysian...Ayu.

Malaysian Oud.. Maybe I'm biased, I don't know. But the first artisanal oud that affected my perception on aromatics, was Sutera Ungu. Aside from @Ensar I don't know if anyone here has it. Since Sutera Ungu, I haven't found ANY oud from AA that smells anything like it (SOME slight nuances were found in Ceylon 1...). But Ayu, well... the moment I smelled it, I said "Taha, this one strongly reminds me of something"..He said "Yeah I know. Sutera Ungu". Spot on! It is almost identical to Sutera, but with the Kedah Woody OOMPH...yet delicate and elegant. For one to pinpoint individual notes of this oil, he/she needs to have a trained nose. I'd say "out of this world" since I can't pinpoint the aroma to any specific existence on earth...but maybe it's due to my olfactory weakness.

The part that baffles me, Sutera is from Terengganu (Far east peninsula). Ayu is from Kedah (Far west peninsula)...Even the people of both states speak almost totally different slangs.
If they were to say "Where are you going?" It'd be like :
Kedah : Hang nak pi mana?
Terengganu : Mung nok gi mane (ne - as in -er in paper)?

If it was mere distillation technique, I bet some other oils would've achieved a similar scent. If it was a particular species, how come oils of other species don't smell at all similar?

Well, that's that. If I could I'd get all of Ayu off Taha's hands, except perhaps a bottle for him as a memento, for old time's sake. If only I could.
i would love to read your thoughts on Ayu and if the Cambodian you speak of was au luong (lime green colour?)
 
A

Alkhadra

Guest
I haven't smelled that oil. However, one of the possibilities could be that the nose got overwhelmed with all the stuff that's going on, and became fatigued, hence unable to detect the scent much. It happens sometimes with me. I'd be scratching my head why can't I smell it, but people around me say "Wow you're wearing oud? It's strong". If this happens that's probably the case.


Recently I visited dear Mr @Taha . Rather than the usual "both arms dabbed with oud", I smelled three oils. A super classic perfumey unnamed Kalimantan. A cambodian. And a very special Malaysian...Ayu.

Malaysian Oud.. Maybe I'm biased, I don't know. But the first artisanal oud that affected my perception on aromatics, was Sutera Ungu. Aside from @Ensar I don't know if anyone here has it. Since Sutera Ungu, I haven't found ANY oud from AA that smells anything like it (SOME slight nuances were found in Ceylon 1...). But Ayu, well... the moment I smelled it, I said "Taha, this one strongly reminds me of something"..He said "Yeah I know. Sutera Ungu". Spot on! It is almost identical to Sutera, but with the Kedah Woody OOMPH...yet delicate and elegant. For one to pinpoint individual notes of this oil, he/she needs to have a trained nose. I'd say "out of this world" since I can't pinpoint the aroma to any specific existence on earth...but maybe it's due to my olfactory weakness.

The part that baffles me, Sutera is from Terengganu (Far east peninsula). Ayu is from Kedah (Far west peninsula)...Even the people of both states speak almost totally different slangs.
If they were to say "Where are you going?" It'd be like :
Kedah : Hang nak pi mana?
Terengganu : Mung nok gi mane (ne - as in -er in paper)?

If it was mere distillation technique, I bet some other oils would've achieved a similar scent. If it was a particular species, how come oils of other species don't smell at all similar?

Well, that's that. If I could I'd get all of Ayu off Taha's hands, except perhaps a bottle for him as a memento, for old time's sake. If only I could.
I've smelt this Ayu oil myself, and being a person who's currently getting ready to release their own Oud oils, I feel I am conflicted about sharing my opinions on other vendors oils... whether I review oils positively or negatively, us humans come with bias.

However, I will say this.. Ayu is an oil which upon smelling, you can easily notice the crystal clearness in the oil (Agar Aura signature). There is much complexity to be enjoyed in this oil, to the point that the oil might not smell complex at first due to all the smallest nuances that are too difficult to dissect for the average nose. This oil has a sparkling soda note (I say this in the best absolute way possible), like Sprite or 7up, without actually smelling like Sprite or 7up (you must experience it yourself to understand). It's a refreshing, invigorating oil.
 
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kesiro

Well-Known Member
Khmer Special K by Taha. Incredible oil. Take your Special K, light a few coals underneath, sprinkle some chilli powder, add some purple candy to give it a bit of softness and prepare to cut through all superficiality. This oil is like a warrior epic.
100% spot on. This one is an olfactory museum piece if something like that existed.

Today, and yesterday, is Oud Dhul Q. Either I am not remembering it right from when I first got it, but this oil is really developing into a more sophisticated ethereal incense beauty. Powerful no doubt but it is also becoming more meditative. For an organic oil to move me, it is quite an achievement!

PS: I apologize for my lack of input. There is just too much going on to try to keep together in my world and something had to give. I keep trying to remember: "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade"
 

Nikhil S

Well-Known Member
Oud Dhul Q: Marvellous oil. The opening gives me a heavy dose of damp earth, thick incense smoke. Feels like an intense Meroke opening with chocolaty Labdanum resin. Soulful. Meditative. Ancient Temple compound. Midway the Crassna peaks through like a tourist with a point and shoot camera annoying the meditating Monks. But soon more tourists enter the holy premises and soon the monks start enjoying the attention even though the trance was broken. I just have a little sample. Every swipe of this greasy oil is so precious. Its not a soft gentle sophisticated scent as one would expect from a crassna but feels like a steam distilled scent in its most raw appearance. I love the rough edges on this one. Feels like a non-compromising Indian Yagna session opposite to that of Monkoh. A must have affordable collector's item alongside Jing Shen Lu.
 
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JohnH

Moderator
Staff member
EO Yunnan Exclusive

I was really unsure about this oil for some time, feeling that Yunnan 2003 and Hainan 2005 met my needs. Over the past month or so my mind has changed as I've spent much more time with it and it might now actually be my favourite of the three.

Years back there were a couple of TV programmes that I used to enjoy watching which were based on old Chinese literature and fables.

In relation to those programmes Yunnan Exclusive would be Monkey:


And Yunnan 2003 would be The Water Margin:

 

Simla House

Well-Known Member
SOTNight:
Studying the effects of oxidation from a tiny amount of TW95; decanted 3 months ago into a stubby 1 gr vial, against the aftermath of a post-monsoon evening......more later......

Edit:

Well, that was interesting. Both are decidedly still excellent!
After 3 months of oxidation in a somewhat leaky vial, TW95 develops bright glowing vaporous medicinal notes and has lost a touch of the depth that the original full bottle still possesses.
I have no idea what I'm doing o_O .....maybe I'll try extracting small portions from other small bottles to see what happens.
Someone stop me if I've lost the plot :eek:
 
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Nikhil S

Well-Known Member
Wearing Manek 2 by AAs today. Splendid Oil. The Manek 1 Dna was chocoalate velvet barn. Manek 1 sneaked into the North East Territory and ran away with his spicy love from one of the tribes. A year later Manek 2 was born. Manek 2 is intensely sweet pickled lemons and peppery hot spice (Meitei) served on the background of Assam leather. Its packs a lot of power and immediately rises off the skin instead of traditional Agallocha mid note takeoff. The oil turns musky fruity sweet like the high end EO/AA Hindi Oils upping the wow factor. A touch of modern class served in traditional silver ware. For those wondering where the barn is, the barn is noticeable in the opening but is taken care of. Its no more an anomaly that smells like dried piss and grafitti. Its no more anomalous but rather a hereditary signature presented in its most useful self. Stunning oil. I really appreciate the effort of brother Zak for introducing the genuine Kalakassi Dna. Yes that pickled lemon is Kalakassi. Enjoy.
 

kooolaid79

Well-Known Member
Yesterday was the beautiful tigerwood 95. I mean that Oudh is inseparable from me and who ever has the honor of smelling it, either says wow and just wow again.
This morning, I opened the the long closed China Sayang. Oh my what a work of art and beauty. The Oudh that reminds me of one of my all time favorites "Royal Kinam" Cant get enough of this Chinese Oudh. Simply drop dead gorgeous! Thanks Ensar for allowing us to smell such a wonder and beauty. I think with aging it keeps getting better and better!!
 

Oudamberlove

Well-Known Member
SOTNight:
Studying the effects of oxidation from a tiny amount of TW95; decanted 3 months ago into a stubby 1 gr vial, against the aftermath of a post-monsoon evening......more later......

Edit:

Well, that was interesting. Both are decidedly still excellent!
After 3 months of oxidation in a somewhat leaky vial, TW95 develops bright glowing vaporous medicinal notes and has lost a touch of the depth that the original full bottle still possesses.
I have no idea what I'm doing o_O .....maybe I'll try extracting small portions from other small bottles to see what happens.
Someone stop me if I've lost the plot :eek:
Don't stopo_O
There are oils in my collection that have changed very little in the past 3 to 4 years. I have always thought of transferring them into a vial just like you did. In fact there are several already. It's really interesting to see how they develop.

Those that refuse to oxidize will be put into a "fountain of youth" elixir:p:pjust kidding:oops:

Today....Assam Organic Meghalaya
 
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Ammar

Active Member
AgarwoodAssam Manek II first impression:

Drops of wax and melted white chocolate over cedarwood-made pencil shavings and some hay absolute, mixed with dates, mild wild flowers, honeyed aged cheese and a mini spoon of cider vinegar that can tickle the nose when sniffing the wand closely, wrapped up in tuned down lamb wool and suede leather, freshly laundered cloth and rubber bands creating antique sartorial shop vibe in the drydown.

Very polite smooth oil the delicate notes are so well blended together that they could be barely separated from each other moving altogether in harmony through the heart/basenotes with the minimalistic suave barn separates from other notes creating a vertical dimension that the wearer can appreciate from distance not by close sniffing the applied spot. An updated version of the harsher Manek I with less cheesy barn and acetone flavored sourness, and cured better. Best enjoyed by sniffing the wand or smelling its aura from distance IMO. I doubt this modern Hindi oil is “where the journey of the Oud seeker ends” and it can’t stand in front of the classical Hindi giants, but it’s definitely an excellent offer for the price.

This one grabbed my attention while Manek I was a meh to my nose…
 

kesiro

Well-Known Member
I am hoping to try Manek II in the near future. Manek I is truly a great value and I love it.

Today was Adikuto X again. This style of smoky Cambodi is so satisfying to me. I much prefer this kind of profile to the more common fermented tutti frutti style. This oil, the AK, AK LTD, and Dhul Q represent some of the greatest bang for the buck I have ever seen.
 

Nikhil S

Well-Known Member
Star Oud by Treasure Oud today. Glorious 30 yr old pure Bengali Agallocha oil. Delicious coffee caramel incense. You can pick it up and taste it. Edible grade oil. Everytime I wear it, it takes me on a beautiful Oud journey. No vaporous or floral tones. Its Oud as it is. Truly marvellous.
 

Rasoul S

Well-Known Member
Yesterday was the beautiful tigerwood 95. I mean that Oudh is inseparable from me and who ever has the honor of smelling it, either says wow and just wow again.
This morning, I opened the the long closed China Sayang. Oh my what a work of art and beauty. The Oudh that reminds me of one of my all time favorites "Royal Kinam" Cant get enough of this Chinese Oudh. Simply drop dead gorgeous! Thanks Ensar for allowing us to smell such a wonder and beauty. I think with aging it keeps getting better and better!!
i hope i get there with this oil soon. for now, the tiger balm (no pun intended) and a bit overt camphor notes, stop me from fully enjoying this oil. For my taste, i like to see this oil mellow out a bit more