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Oud Bengal Leopard
Leather, leather, and yet more leather. This is not for seekers of the faux, stale variety, but of the real, wild and prowling-in-the-jungle kind.
Distilled in Sylhet in early 2020, this is a powerful and yet addictively smooth oud oil. A swipe of this will engulf you in whiffs of gamey leather and mild cheesy fermentation (without the sour notes) on a bed of tobaccoey spices.
As the scent develops, a beautiful animalic, furry note emerges, almost like the warm hide of a wild animal. A leopard roaming the jungles of Sylhet perhaps, or – as I’ve never put my nose to a leopard before – the warm gamey scent of a horse’s hide.
For lovers of powerful, leathery Bengal ouds, this is one for the collection.
Note:
- This is a traditional Hindi oud distillation which I would recommend for lovers of such profiles. However, if it’s your first time experiencing a traditional Hindi, please note that barnyard, animalics and cheesy notes form part of the profile, and while it’s an acquired taste and can be very beautiful to some, it can be quite challenging for those unacquainted with it.
Reviews (14)
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Aceh Flora
A sensually green, zero-soak, wild oud oil from Aceh province in Indonesia, Oud Aceh Flora is a sweet, floral, and minty green beauty that reflects, in my mind, the flora of the jungle from where it hails, hence the name.
Swiping on the arm, it opens up with a strong blast of all shades of green: bright, grassy, mentholic, minty, jungly and vetivery notes, all accompanied by what reminds me of the powdery scent of rice flour, and perhaps a soft whisper of vanilla in the background.
Softening and sweetening as the scent progresses, this exquisitely bright, sweet and sour red cherry emerges, weaving in-between the soft vanilla and dark green jungles to produce what some may call a cola vibe that is simply beautiful.
Overall, however, this remains a dark green jungle-type oud which, alongside the gorgeous red cherry note mentioned earlier, also has floral, leathery, vetivery, mossy and even an almost dark, diesel-like facet to it which is hard to accurately describe, but makes it a fascinating oil in any collection.
Sylhet Orchard
Hailing from the rolling hills of Sylhet in Bangladesh, a picturesque region resplendent with lush tea gardens and tropical rainforests, this is most definitely NOT Hindi oud as you know it.
For most of us, traditional Hindi oud means barnyard and animalics. Love-it-or-hate-it affairs that are simply irreplaceable to their seasoned fans, and just downright offensive to everyone else.
Enter Sylhet Orchard, an artisanal distillation that showcases what high grade, wild Bengali oud can actually smell like. Gathered predominantly from the jungles of Sylhet Division and distilled using a special setup with zero fermentation, this oud firmly closes the door of the barn behind it and takes you on a summery sunshine-filled stroll amongst Sylhet’s fragrant orchards and hills.
Remarkably similar to excellent Thai or Cambodi oils, the scent opens up with a warm concoction of dark stewed fruits, honey, cinnamon and plums with a delicate tanginess reminiscent of green sultanas and hay perhaps, all streaming out together like the sun-ripened harvest of a luscious, fragrant orchard.
As the scent progresses, the green sultana-like tanginess comes to the forefront alongside a leathery facet, balancing out the profile beautifully against the sweet stewed fruits, before eventually reaching a light minty and sweet woody drydown.
Despite being a Bengal distillation, it’s amazing how Cambodian and Thai-esque this smells, but with a warm and radiantly yellow hue to it, and a beautifully rich and intense profile unlike many of today’s cultivated offerings from those regions.
Distilled in the first half of 2021, Sylhet Orchard has been ageing with me for several months now and already its profile has become a lot more beautiful and rounded, with the harsh edges disappearing and its profile becoming sweeter and richer, and it will continue to mature with time of course.Â
So, if you’re in search of an outstanding and unique distillation that will challenge your perception of what a Bengal oud can be... or can’t be, or you’re simply looking for a gorgeously pretty oud masquerading à la perfume to wear on the London Underground or NYC’s subway, I would highly recommend you try this.
Malinau Hijau
When it comes to the world of oud, there’s a rare shade that catches the eye.
Hijau as they call it in Malay. Akhdarr. Green. The shimmering jade of the oud world that’s as rare as it sounds and always a treat.
But not all green gaharus are the same of course. There’s the green oceanic marine of the Ceylons, the green cola-jungle vibes of the Acehnese, and the green bitter-cacao incensiness of the Meraukes.
And then there’s this hijau.
Where the other greens dive with you to the dark depths of oceans and incense-laden jungles, this takes you very much in the opposite direction. Up and up for a breath of fresh air, high above the waves and wilderness, and up into the cotton-candied clouds of Malinau’s air.
It doesn’t smell of cotton-candied clouds, of course (?) but opens up instead with a beautiful airiness, a soft powdery cloud of bergamot-like citrus alongside wildflowers and honey, all underpinned by the tiniest hint of violet leaf’s green powderiness in the background.
With time, this incredible opening slowly settles and gains in sweetness, slightly resembling to me the tart and powdery scent of raspberries, or a mysterious narcotic floral of the tropics, before eventually arriving at its sweet green oudy drydown.
Artisanally distilled from high grade wild Malinau oud, the result is nothing short of sensational. One waft of this will tell you all you need to know about why true Malinau is one of the most sought-after profiles of Borneo - itself replete with many other treasured regions - and why its gorgeous old gaharus are only getting rarer with every passing year.
Golden Sylhet 2021
Every once in a while, you come across an oud oil that just stops you in your tracks. It demands attention. This is one of them.
As an oud oil distilled from old wild trees from Sylhet and nearby regions, you know it’s going to be a complex Hindi oud. What you smell however is not just complex, but a sweet, leathery, barny, and smoky Bengal powerhouse that is truly captivating.
The scent opens up with an intensely rich sweetness reminiscent of overripe fruits and honey, wafting in-between layers of strong animalic leather and barnyard.
As it progresses, the exquisite sweetness is replaced by a warm, spicy, smoky, and barny leather which comes to the forefront, holding centre stage before eventually reaching a sweet woody drydown.
Gorgeously warm and radiant, if this scent had a colour it would be gold. The sweet, golden, rays of sunrise penetrating the dense jungles of Sylhet, waking its inhabitants to another day in the wild.
Notes:
• Please note that is the new 2021 batch. The image will be updated shortly.
Jim –
This turned out to be my favourite of the two samples I purchased. This is more animalic, which I love. But it’s not an aggressive scent. Once applied, the leopard of Bengal clings to my skin for hours. I’m constantly drawn to smelling my wrist, it’s such a soothing and enriching sensation. It is truly majestic as you describe. Many thanks again
Mattia –
Aaron –
This is a fantastically animalic oud. Smells of wild cats playing in the jungle.
Jim –
Wonderful. I will treasure this. It was so beautifully presented in the box with ribbon and note. Thank you also for the sweet gift. :-))
Mathieu –
Good attar ! En revanche frais de port bien trop important
Les –
Jesser –
All of the oils are very good quality with well described affordable samples. Impressed with this approachable seller.
Thomas –
Mesmerising. Sweet, yet warm and a little animalic. Comes across as a lovely, intricate leather. Absolutely love this, also very quick delivery.
biancanron –
Amazing product and fast delivery.
Umid (verified owner) –
Kevin –
Oud de très bonne qualité
Jonathan –
just the right kind of funk
Khalid (verified owner) –
Total goosebumps!! like Muhammad brother’s incredible description its wild, leapord’s animosity and blue cheesy yet a gorgeous powerhouse. I love Muhammad’s work and own Oud Bengal Leapord, Oud Bengal Tobacco, Sheikh Najd and Oud Sylhet. Beautifuly packed. will slowly acquire all insha’Allah.
Paul langton –
another great oud, very long lasting and im never disappointed with anything I purchase from ashworth oud