A Journey into The World of Oud Part Twenty
The Best Oud in the World: Oud 2.0 Revisited
Readers of the column probably realize that I've taken a pause for a while, but I'm back with reviews of some of the latest, greatest Ouds that I recently received.
In Part Fourteen of this blog, I shared my surprise and profound joy at finding Ouds that were in a completely different class than all of the Ouds I'd experienced previously.
On the one hand, it spoiled me to lesser oils, most of which I gave away, and on the other hand, I felt tremendously blessed to be able to explore and savor an entire new and higher grade of Ouds.
Note: I don't wear Oud as a perfume. I sit and listen to it and experience its profound effect on my consciousness, on my heart, and on my Soul.
Therefore I give much more weight to the effect of an oil on me than to its fragrance.
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The journey hasn't stopped. In my latest purchase from Ensar Oud are several truly stunning oils:
Sultan Mehmet is the first of two incredibly superb Borneo Ouds I got. This was a tiny free sample, just a drop in the vial, enough to be able to embrace it.
First of all Sultan Mehmet is a very sophisticated oil. Its scent notes are subtle, perfectly balanced, truly lovely, and complete.
One has to quiet down to appreciate its majesty, a very worthwhile pursuit. I can detect whispers of pine and amber and caramel -- and a scent that is radiant and comforting and spacious.
Absolutely lovely!
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I'd like to tell a story next.
When I started out on my Oud journey, I was mad about Cambodi Oud. I bought every one I could find, and only with time realized that they were all much more similar than different, and I began to tire of them.
And I didn't think that I'd ever be smitten by Oud from Cambodia again.
Along came Kamodi No.1 to change all that.
I had never seen a Cambodi Oud show up on the Oriscent page of Ensar's website, and was very curious to see if it would be beyond all of the Cambodi Ouds that I had so vigorously collected.
It was!
Kambodi No.1 is a revelation. While there is no question that it is a Cambodi Oud, with many of the same elements as most; it is much more ethereal, vast, refined, transcendent, and breathtaking. And phenomenal!
It is the only Oud 2.0 Cambodian Oud I've experienced, and completely worthy of its Oriscent placement.
The next Oud, Kyara Ketone, was another surprise.
I would have never guessed that it was from Sri Lanka. Initially, its scent reminded me of naphthalene, but from the very start I was blown away by how powerfully it transported me, both higher and deeper, an olfactory magic carpet ride.
And with time, more and more lovely scent components came to the fore, marrying its profoundly uplifting effect with splendid conifer and even floral notes.
One of a kind, Kyara Ketone is an incredible Oud.
Etrugrul Gazi, on the other hand, is profoundly different from all of the Ouds I've mentioned so far.
From Papua, it is dark, deep, and jungly, and simply great!
I generally don't like the darker Ouds, but Etrugrul Gazi is a wonder to behold. I could sniff it for hours, ever exploring all of its nuances.
It smells expensive, addictive, and enchanting -- and just luscious, while again taking your heart, mind, and Soul to far off and wonderful places.
And, as I am wont to do, I saved the best for last:
Brunei Kynam Oil
I want to shout from the rooftops: Perfect, Perfect, Perfect, Perfect.
I love Kyara/Kinam oils, but none are as fully dimensional and as fully realized as this one.
I really, really didn't think there was an oil that could jump to the top of my collection at this point in time, but Brunei Kynam did!
It has everything: a scent that is beyond beautiful -- an olfactory symphony of firs, flowers, resin, and ocean -- with such transcendent, holy, and enrapturing effects that you almost lose sight of its exquisite fragrance.
While all of the Ouds on this page are must haves, this one is must, must, must have.
There is simply nothing like it.
I am deeply grateful to have the opportunity to experience such profound Ouds.
Thank you Ensar, again, from the bottom of my heart.
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End of Part Twenty
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The heart of Oud
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