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Oud Laos E.O (Woody)
Adam Michael has this to say “The opening notes of this Oud which hails from Laos are that of, decaying jungle woods, dark nutrient rich soils with strong mulch and animalic waste nuances and finishing with big powerful bursts of cresole and leather.
Now this leather note is more of a pronounced dark tanned leather aroma, a note I know well from the many leather shops here in Tuscany, a region of course recognised as one of the finest leather producers in the world and rightfully so. This leather aroma takes us out of the first phase (lasting about 40 minutes) and introduces us into the second phase. Leather notes start to soften and decrease in intensity and in doing so, this paves the way for the introduction of sweet plumes of fruit to burst in to detection. Again this is that classic, distinct oud fruit aroma, reminiscent to me, of exotic fruits sitting together in a fruit bowl and creating an all in one smell. A very tangy fruit sensation, and as a Westerner, also exotic themed to my nose. Also I would like to highlight that this fruity aroma has a fleeting diluted cherry like quality, comparable to how it tastes when eating amarena cherries.
And we continue to progress, slowly and in harmonious fashion all the notes mentioned above begin to become one. Hours go by and the fruits fade out into the background and a day later we end up back at the beginning – albeit in a weaker and dried out fashion, full of dark, old smelling woods, with an injection of extra decay, mulch and green earth. This green earth note by the way is something I encounter a lot in Tamil vetivers and a note I encounter most among the fashion-conscious Italian gents’ perfumes whenever I go to the city at night.
The dry down is an all wood orientated affair, old flaking woods, even powdered wood effects. Whilst I think this can be considered as a perfume in its own right I would add this is is going to of course deliver best results for those who are working on impact orientated woody base perfumes. If you wanted to add other base notes to this, it will indeed work well with the smooth qualities you find within Indian sandalwood, less so Australian spicatum as by comparison that is a much rougher affair. Also vetivers, patchouli, resin rich frankincense will all complement a base with this oud. Tobacco materials warrant a mention. Building further whilst white floral’s can provide interesting effects it is rose floral’s especially our rose bourbon absolute, that will complement this Laos oud by far the best. This production took place in a stainless steel vat, is one year aged, deep amber in colour, and slightly thick but still of an easily pourable viscosity.”
Botanical Name: Aquilaria crassna
Origin: Laos
Plantation Material
Kristina M (verified owner) –
Aquilaria is called called a “Tree of Gods” – and from the moment i first tried it in my life i understood why:
It is so complex, it’s such a beauty – it’s such a never-ending magic – each tree will give you a different scent even if it has grown in the same plantation with other agar woods.
And sincerely for me it is the same feeling – each tree has it’s own personality as a different person has a different character.
At the very first seconds this Laos Oud opens with rounded milky and powdery notes.
And this beginning is just to reveal to us immediately after that, a fresh, unique, amazing balsamic scent that will accompany us during the whole trip were we will have a possibility to experience this wonderful essential oil.
And this balsamic feeling in nostrils – is still a mystery to me because it’s not mint – but feels minty – it is not eucalyptus but opens your lungs as if it was.
Later on i can detect a very pleasant sweet animalic note though still without a prominent scent of a barnyard (which i like very much in the Cambodi Oud E.O. 2 years aged, that i have got from Adam and Eleonora as well).
And as time goes by – after almost 4 hours – Mimosa and Cassie flower shyly appears letting their pace to a sweet Rose aroma and fermented green tea.
And then, well – this wonderful balsamic – as it continues to be present – it brings you a wonderful bit of Ylang Ylang mixed with luxury leather note that is always elegantly just there, in this Laos Oud.
It reveals as well some dried peaches or plums or apples and pears stored in a paper bag – the same feeling i had each time i used to open my grandmothers cupboard in the kitchen were she used to keep her medicinal herbs as well – camomile, thyme, mint, linden flowers (or blossom), and other herbs with mysterious names that were for me at that time.
On it’s dry down it becomes even more mysterious, so soft, with its own Woody character that perspires a slight hint of pine and even oak wood – it simply brings you into a tropical forests as well as those ones in European mountains.
And again out of the forests it brings you back into a garden with a wet soil where perfumed small flowers are growing shyly and enjoying you with their delicate fragrances.
It’s like a one great journey around the whole world !
Yes it is a unique journey full of experiences while wearing this Laos Oud on your skin or smelling your blotter – were the pleasure lasts for days.
Apart its beauty it was and still is used like a medicine in asian countries – it is said to be a strong aphrodisiac, against the cancer, as a remedy for sterility, digestion and hormonal problems as well as antidepressant. Used as well as firming and anti-inflammatory oil.
Was used as well in religious rituals, kept for years in families and given like the most precious gif to their descendants.
This Oud I would use as a perfume alone absolutely – it is so complete – but maybe just a little bit but a very small trace of sandalwood and ambrette seed will occasionally do if i wish a slight difference for an evening time.
What else to say – i’m totally in Love with this material and i think most of you will be as soon as you’ll experience that by your own.
Jolie T (verified owner) –
I have a few agar woods, nothing bad but nothing special. The common thing is a smell of “ wet dog”- which I like and a diffusiveness.
So , just to know, I had to find some real oud, to know what the buzz is about.
Buying oud is scary ,it’s expensive, but there’s the “is it real?”, “ what am I buying?”
I have bought from Hermitage, I have really liked what I bought, so I decided to take the plunge.
Not only do I not regret it , it’s actually fun, and educational. I now think I understand why these materials are used in perfumery.
This Laos oud is smokey , dry woods, persistent, black pepper. It does have “ wet dog”- but I have to search for it. There is layer after layer after layer, intertwined, no edges, just wafts of either different facets or the perfume they ultimately produce.
This material is extremely complex, very long lived on skin( 5hrs on skin- still traces after 8)
It develops into airy, fruit, wisps of green, tangy sweet.
The reason that ouds are treated almost as a separate entity is that they don’t develop like other oils do.They’re much more complex while retaining their character and the elements come and go as they would if you were sitting next to what was emitting them in a forest. Truly a formidable experience well worth the money. And they are all different while having common elements.
Wilco L (verified owner) –
I never smelled a pure oud oil before and when I opened the bottle I didn’t like it! However, after a few days I started to appreciate the scent so much! It’s amazing, also now I understand the difference between a fruity and a woody oud oil. I think I didn’t like it at first because it was not what I was expecting (fruity), but now I love it. It’s expensive but so good, addictive. It’s warming and has so many nuances, I will definitely buy more in the future and can recommend it.
Aidan A (verified owner) –
Regardless of whether you intend to make perfumes with this, wear it alone, age it, or use it as a study material, there is really no better option for an oud of this type, at this quality, at this price, and from a trusted seller.
In addition to everything Adam said, I find the combination of that elusive, nose tingling, bitter incensed oud smell with the wet decaying woods to be the most attractive thing about this oud to me. Your limit is your imagination with something like this but I’ve had very interesting results with cabreuva, olive fruity, patchouli, oakmoss, guaiac, white oud, mushroom derivatives, dalzeilii, vetivers, mate, indole, tobacco, rose, geosmin and indole if you’re brave.
This material is such a perfume in its own right, the challenge is augmenting the oud without unnecessarily muddling or obscuring the inherent balance and complexity naturally present.
Charalambos Charalambous (verified owner) –
I have a big collection of oud oils and each time i buy blindly good quality oud is like a new adventure arises!smelling this real gem i realize again that oud is probably the most prized and challenging material out of this world.. i detect a beautiful woody as antique sandalwood quality wood..with musky notes, dry fruits and spices all together blended so beautifully that really transport me to heaven. Actually oud is a very personal experience to enjoy and you can actually use it as a stand alone perfume and as an excellent expensive basenote..everyone should really try as an adventure this oud to enjoy what nature up to this time were most of the jungles and forest are not burnt yet, can give us..