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