Yes...another Oud thread

**daverasi** · 05-22-2012, 12:41 PM

I hate to do this because I know there are other threads out there - one even started by my after Luckyscent offered their Oud sampler.

I frankly have no idea where to start on my Oud journey...given the prices maybe I should just turn away and slowly walk away...or run!

The samples on the Agar Aura site are, relatively speaking, fairly reasonable and would allow me to pick and choose which oils to try...assuming I could decide which ones to sample. The sampler at Ensar Oud seems to offer a lot of variety but I don't know if I really need to try 8 different oils at a cost of $300.

Then there are the Oud named fragrances (maybe some of these contain Oud but they seem to only contain synthetic Oud.) I have tried a number of these such as M7 which was not to my liking, Creed Royal Oud which I like but contains no Oud and not bottle worthy IMO, a few Montales (Dark and Safron) and some others but I am starting to think that I need to sample the real thing.

So now where do I go? The fecal notes that some have associated with Oud is a bit disconcerting and scares my a bit...but the dry down often associated with Oud is what intrigues me.

It goes without saying (but I'll say it anyway) that I have more fragrances then I know what to do with as it is...part of me wants to ignore Oud and just get some use out of the samples, decants and bottles I already have but I really think I'd miss exploring something if I did this.

Thoughts are welcome and appreciated!

**insomniac** · 05-22-2012, 12:44 PM

I would go with Agar Aura.

Failing that, if you just want to know what they smell like, I'm over on the Eastside. We can meet up over the weekend or something and you can take a whiff.

**professorchaos** · 05-22-2012, 12:54 PM

If you are interested in Oud - real oud - try the oils from Agar Aura, Oriscent or Oudimentary. While I like many of the "oud" frags, they don't come close to capturing the complexity and appeal of a real oil.

**daverasi** · 05-22-2012, 01:06 PM

Originally Posted by professorchaos

If you are interested in Oud - real oud - try the oils from Agar Aura, Oriscent or Oudimentary. While I like many of the "oud" frags, they don't come close to capturing the complexity and appeal of a real oil.

Thanks Henry,

But the question is where do I start? Which ones do I sample?

**professorchaos** · 05-22-2012, 01:13 PM

I'd start with Cambodi or a Borneo. They are the most approachable, least shocking in my opinion.

Oudimentary's KSSS Cambodi is the one that got me hooked. What they are selling now is probably a different batch so I don't know how it stacks up.

Taha's (Agar Aura) stock seems to turn over pretty quickly - I can't speak to his current oils. However, he is a good guy with a great nose for oud. I haven't bought a bad oil from him. Don't think he sells any.

**gaj90027** · 05-22-2012, 02:17 PM

Sorry for hijacking your other oud thread and turning it into my review thread

So far Agar Aura is the only Oud's that I have sampled and I am completely blown away.

Oud Kampuchea was the first pure Oud that captured me and compelled me along the way. The opening notes were a little off putting but only the first 2 times I wore it, now I don't find anything offensive about it at all. This would be a great one to start with.

I have a few more Agar Aura samples on the way which will have me caught up on everything he has to offer!

My next exploration will probably be the $150.00 sampler from Oud Select:

http://oudselect.com/index.php?page=...emart&Itemid=1

**daverasi** · 05-23-2012, 08:29 AM

Ha! No worries about "hijacking" my thread! I have enjoyed your reviews... unfortunately they just make me curious as to what pure oud oil is like and I think I may venture exploring in that direction. insomniac has been kind enough to meet with me over coffee one of these days so I can get a sniff of some of his ouds.

Curious to hear more about Oud Select. Their sampler is quite reasonable compared to Oriescent but I've never heard of them.

**gaj90027** · 05-23-2012, 10:25 AM

Originally Posted by daverasi

Ha! No worries about "hijacking" my thread! I have enjoyed your reviews... unfortunately they just make me curious as to what pure oud oil is like and I think I may venture exploring in that direction. insomniac has been kind enough to meet with me over coffee one of these days so I can get a sniff of some of his ouds.

Curious to hear more about Oud Select. Their sampler is quite reasonable compared to Oriescent but I've never heard of them.

Cool, thanks, I am enjoying the process. Very nice of insomniac to share the ouds, I may have the chance next month to meet up with Evbo - Evan myself when I'm in New York.

I am only going to try Oud Select based on an honorable mention from Evbo on one of the other Oud threads and price wise they are the next most affordable route. I may be able to swallow those Oriscent prices one of these days but right now it seems way overpriced for my wallet.

**john parker** · 05-23-2012, 11:11 AM

Just read on Fragrantica that Aramis has come out with an oud fragrance - Aramis Calligraphy. Said to be oud and rose. Everyone is jumping on the bandwagon!

**Evbo** · 05-23-2012, 12:01 PM

Originally Posted by john parker

Just read on Fragrantica that Aramis has come out with an oud fragrance - Aramis Calligraphy. Said to be oud and rose. Everyone is jumping on the bandwagon!

Indeed. This article on Basenotes reinforces that. And fyi...oud & rose (+ sandalwood &/or saffron &/or musk) are very traditional combinations in Middle Eastern perfumery.

Hey Garry -- looking forward to meeting you!

**insomniac** · 05-23-2012, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by Evbo

Indeed. This article on Basenotes reinforces that. And fyi...oud & rose (+ sandalwood &/or saffron &/or musk) are very traditional combinations in Middle Eastern perfumery.

Lime Oud? Good grief!

**professorchaos** · 05-24-2012, 06:37 AM

As Evan implied, many of the Oud frags on offer these days are derivative of traditional Middle Eastern perfumery. It is my experience that the Middle Eastern oils from reputable sellers are far, far better both in terms of price and quality. Oudimentary's Mukhallat Salman is one such example.

Before buying Oud from a lesser known seller, do some research. Chances are that someone has bought from them before and has written up their thoughts.

**The Chandos** · 05-25-2012, 07:18 AM

I've been lucky enough to have sampled a few Oriscent and ASAQ as well as just about every Agar Aura oud oil and mukhallat to come out in the past six months and I gotta say that Taha (Agar Aura) makes excellent products - as good if not better than Ensar (Oriscent) - and makes the samples available at very good sizes and prices. So far I've been perfectly happy with mukhallats (Oud Chypre and B2K in the collection now) but for the first time I'm really hankering for a bottle of oud oil - Kemenyan! I'd say that based on Taha's pricing and sample sizes, it's the best way to go. And because it's such good quality, you'll be able to get a good idea of what some good oud and variations in types smells like.

**daverasi** · 05-26-2012, 07:29 AM

Originally Posted by professorchaos

As Evan implied, many of the Oud frags on offer these days are derivative of traditional Middle Eastern perfumery. It is my experience that the Middle Eastern oils from reputable sellers are far, far better both in terms of price and quality. Oudimentary's Mukhallat Salman is one such example.

Before buying Oud from a lesser known seller, do some research. Chances are that someone has bought from them before and has written up their thoughts.

I've been checking Oudimentary out for sometime...I looked up Mukhallat Salman and was pleasantly surprised at the VERY reasonable price. As it turns out I'll be in the Bay Area in a few months...maybe I can sneak over for a visit.

Henry - Are their any others from Oudimentary you can recommend?

**daverasi** · 05-26-2012, 07:32 AM

Originally Posted by The Chandos

I've been lucky enough to have sampled a few Oriscent and ASAQ as well as just about every Agar Aura oud oil and mukhallat to come out in the past six months and I gotta say that Taha (Agar Aura) makes excellent products - as good if not better than Ensar (Oriscent) - and makes the samples available at very good sizes and prices. So far I've been perfectly happy with mukhallats (Oud Chypre and B2K in the collection now) but for the first time I'm really hankering for a bottle of oud oil - Kemenyan! I'd say that based on Taha's pricing and sample sizes, it's the best way to go. And because it's such good quality, you'll be able to get a good idea of what some good oud and variations in types smells like.

Thanks to one of our fine members I'll finally be sampling some pure Oud oils very soon! Curious about B2K but they don't seem to sell it anymore.