JADE IBIS 2022 • 100% wild Oud • Pursat Cambodia
• highlights: Smooth and steady classic Cambodian Oud, mostly sweet but with poignant, evocative bitter aspects. Light tobacco, autumn leaves, molasses, natural leather, cooked/dried stonefruit, and new wood are thematic here.
• material: 100% wild Aquilaria crassna, from a group of a few mature trees growing close together in the wild forest lowlands of the Pursat region of Cambodia.
• production: Distilled in October 2022 in steel with a glass collector. Dedicated and verified artisan distiller. Lab-tested for purity and authenticity.
• scent description: This very classic Cambodian Oud stays strong, smooth, and steady through its glowing golden unfolding. Some interesting, unique notes feature strongly at the outset; blackstrap molasses, autumn leaves, red ginseng root, pleasant horse & stable (clean, moderate). These notes quickly relax and harmonize the primary and more consistent classic Oud notes that define and carry this beautiful oil; blonde pipe tobacco, natural suede leather, buckwheat honey, dried apricot, peach jam, sultana raisins, and freshly cut new lumber. Expands and mellows through the drydown into a golden peachy-marmalade and carpenter’s shop aura, with most of the other notes settling comfortably into the background. There is something very nostalgic and soothing about this very special aromatic journey.
• notes of controversy: Minimal. A warm touch of “horse and stable” without being “barny” in a challenging way. The red ginseng and molasses notes bring a slight bitterness to the overall bouquet, mostly in the first hour of drydown.
BLACK NAGA • 100% wild Cambodian Oud • Kampot, Cambodia
• vintage: distilled in early December 2022 from one mature tree in the wild forest lowlands of the Kampot region of Southern Cambodia. Distilled in steel with a glass collector. Dedicated and verified artisan distiller.
• scent highlights: A rich, deep, complex, smooth, clean, gently masculine-leaning Oud. Whiskey, dark pipe tobacco, sweet brown spices, lots of dried fruit.
• scent description: This gorgeous classic Cambodian Oud opens with fine smooth malty-caramel whiskey, dark pipe tobacco, simmering cassia and nutmeg, vanilla pod, raisin, and dried apricot, overripe black cherry, apple cider, chamomile flower, and natural licorice root. It has an interesting understated mineralic and black soil note and an elegant, refined, hint of smoke. Most interestingly perhaps, fresh blueberry notes occasionally emerge in the early drydown. Even with all this complexity at the start, the top notes dance seamlessly and smoothly together. Nothing sharp or undesirable. There is only a touch of leather present in this Oud, a soft natural leather that lingers in the background and remains present through all of the drydown. With some time, this Oud relaxes into a slow sweet cruise, showcasing mainly buttery dried fruits and simmering sweet brown spices; dried apricot, a medley of raisins, dried black fig, sweet baking spices like earthy cinnamon, cassia, allspice, and nutmeg; applesauce, brown sugar and butter. The finish is sweet and smooth Oud glory that lasts and lasts.
• special notes: we think this is a special Oud that will age brilliantly. We are eager to see what happens over time.
• notes of controversy: none. No rough edges. No barn. Even the slightly-too-sharp whiskey note right out of the bottle softens within seconds. Smoke, sometimes a less desirable note for some customers, is in harmony here in the most elegant and understated way. A risk worth taking for those wary of smokier Ouds.
• species: A. crassna