Oud adds an intense sensuality to perfume. Mainly used in ambery fragrances, it presents a carnal contrast in accords of rich rosy notes, and enhances the mysterious qualities of incense or myrrh. Its rich, naturally leather-esque notes invite wearers to imagine the earthy warmth of the woods.
Oud, the subtly fragrant and aromatic resin, is a coveted byproduct of trees suffering from a fungal infection. Human innovation has developed a process to artificially infect the trees of oud plantations as a solution to what occurs naturally in only 10% of trees. Through this careful process, four-to-five year old trees are drilled and infected. They can even be reinfected to produce a 25% higher oil yield! After six months, the tree trunks are roughly chopped and reduced to chips. Ever resourceful, the parts that can't be used for distillation are turned into firewood or incense. Each tree produces an average of 32 ml of essence, contributing in part to its high cost which is between 15,000 and 60,000 euros per liter for vintage varieties. Other factors, in addition to age, contribute to the variety of prices for this exquisite and sought after essence. Its color, texture and the tree's origins are all factors. One of the ways age factors in is the scent itself. For example, five-year-old oud wood boasts a fragrance that is more intense, leathery and animal. Incredibly popular across the Persian Gulf, the exclusive raw material is adored by men and women both. In countries like Arabia, Qatar and Oman, there are so many oud fragrances that the fragrance family has developed into sub-families, like fruity oud, leather oud or rose oud.
A prized ingredient in China for thousands of years before reaching Europe, agarwood was known as the aloe of the New Testaments. In Japan, agarwood was used in Kodo ceremonies.
Indonesia, India, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam
