I used to think the exact same thing. I loved what I had too much, and then I had too much of what I loved. A certain limit was reached where I became desensitized. It was not about monetary value or return. It was about living my life. I didn't need my extra bottle of this, and my v-vial of that. I've already worn all those plenty of times and danced them into myself.
I went on a few days without using any fragrances at all, then I chose a bottle of my preference and swiped, and my perception was completely different of what I used to perceive the oil as. Things were so much clearer. We cherish so much, yet what is the use of owning more than I could ever use? What is the use of being stingy? I would rather cherish through my respectful use of the material.
But what is respecting? Everyone has their own ideas. Imagine swiping a random person some of your most expensive oil, knowing that they won't be able to perceive it to it's full limits. Blasphemous, or is it? I swiped everyone in the majlis some of my most expensive oil, half a bottle downed in a couple of minutes, of an oil that might not be reproduced again, used on people who aren't seasoned enough to tell the difference. Was that a waste? It would have been wasted if it sat among my collection, gathering dust, begging me to find joy in it. But I found joy by using it, and by making use of it. As everyone else was enjoying their time, what more respect could I have given this Oud? It was the host of our evening together.
Why don't vendors mind selling their great oils? Why don't they mind aging their oils as investments to sell in the near or far future? Someone would say "it's to make other great oils of course! To continue the journey of Oud!" Yeah alright, but people have to feed themselves, and people want financial security for themselves and for their next generation.
My dear alkhadra, it's so wonderful to correspond with you again, albeit in not so private of a setting.
I very much agree with much of what you said here, and I especially like how you honored the oud by using it, sharing it at the gathering.
I often liken oud to a seed... What good would a seed do if you simply keep it in your pocket? It must be planted, and in this case swiped; the only way for the knowledge of oud to grow is by
sharing it!
Even if only one person out of the gathering truly appreciated it, you and God know what it's worth, which makes it even more valuable, and your act of charity will be rewarded all the more for it!
Now here I don't mean to get too personal, and feel free not to address this question, but: do you have children? I ask because to have more than you can use in a lifetime is to have an asset for your children, for future generations.
You know that quality wild oud is diminishing, whether we like it or not, it's a finite resource and no amount of mono-culture plantations can replace the same complexity of wild old-growth oud trees with decades of matured resin, layer upon layer upon layer... So by holding onto a sinking-grade Malaysian oud for example, your not being stingy, rather your acquiring an asset for your children, how? Well when they inherit from you, that pristine 3 grams will be a small fortune, or even better, they get to use an oud the likes of which haven't been around in a looong time!
That said, I do acknowledge that for most of us there are the 'daily ouds' and then there are the 'heirlooms.'
I also get what
@RobertOne was saying, these ouds are priceless and irreplaceable, like all fine art is, and many won't let even a drop go for love or money.
Just my two scents, or cents
