It's all in the "drydown". How to enjoy premium Oud and other finer aromatics.
Many people are used to briefly sniffing an essential oil or other aromatic product right out of the bottle, and with this initial impression, making a decision. Oud oil is a completely different olfactory experience that deserves a more careful and patient approach.
The Oud experience is all in the "drydown". Drydown refers to how the scent transforms or “opens up” with time once exposed to air or worn on the skin. Sometimes the term refers to the final third or the ending of a scent’s longevity. Here we use the term “drydown” to refer to the entire opening up and transformation process of a scent while wearing it, everything that comes after the earliest top notes: the heart/middle notes, base notes, and finish.
“Fine Oud is an olfactory puzzle box for the aromatic aficionado and perhaps the most complex and delightful single-source scent in nature. ”
Oud oil in general is well known for its staggering overall complexity and depth, and also its exciting variability and the often surprising transformations it manifests during its drydown process. Oud is also known for its longevity when worn on skin or clothing, better Oud often still detectable and pleasant smelling after 24 hours. Oud often demonstrates almost unbelievable changes in scent variation throughout its drydown process.
Every Oud is different. Although Oud oil is likely to possess some classic scent elements common to most Oud oils, the possible range of scents contained in any one Oud oil seems almost unlimited. Lower quality Oud is notoriously unpleasant and intense for most people, being easily afflicted with excessive "vices" - unpleasant scent components - perhaps with more pleasant features coming through well into the drydown. Fortunately, this kind of tolerance is not required if you choose premium Oud from a reputable supplier.
Classic Oud scent components that are common to most Oud oils are; wood, tobacco, leather, spice, fruit, and florals; however these demonstrate remarkable diversity and specificity from product to product. Oud is also reputed to be one of the true aphrodisiacs of the natural world, finer Ouds featuring a pronounced pheromonal allure.
The very best Oud is almost always from wild agarwood trees. While some cultivated varieties can be quite nice, they typically do not come close to the depth, breadth, and longevity of a 100% wild agarwood distillations with expert oversight from forest to flacon.
Fine Oud is an olfactory puzzle box for the aromatic aficionado and perhaps the most complex and delightful single-source scent in nature. Variation in scent reflects the terroir, the state of the wood itself at the time of harvest, the exact species of tree, distillation technique, and proper ageing of the oil.
All Ouds are definitely not created equal. (For 33% off on our ETSY shop enter 33FOR3 at checkout.)
Pierre Black and Aroma Sublime...
I am honoured to have partnered with Aroma Sublime and the legendary Tony Bolton to bring you some of the finest artisanal hydro-distilled essential oils in the world. Aroma Sublime specializes in limited-edition single-estate small-batch distillations of Oud (Agarwood), Sandalwood, Frangipani, Rose, and others. Offering a selection of their own exclusive on-site distillations, or a small, carefully curated selection of fine artisanal oils from carefully chosen suppliers that we laboratory test for purity, Aroma Sublime has a reputation for quality, purity, and simplicity. Always solvent-free, Aroma Sublime supplies only verified pure hydro-distilled essential oils of the highest quality from our own still or from trusted and verified artisanal suppliers. If we don't oversee production personally, our products are lab tested for purity. - Pierre Black, April 2020
AROMA SUBLIME is:
-Only the finest GENUINE 100% hydro-distilled premium oils.
-Wild Oud oils are made with 100% wild agarwood.
-Reputation is everything; Aroma Sublime sets the standard!
