Learn more about the most precious fragrance on earth: Oud Oil.
Also known as agarwood, aloeswood, and aquilaria,
oud is without a doubt nature’s most exquisite fragrant
offering...
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When you smell oud oils from different countries/species,
you may be surprised by how different they smell from one
another...
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So many products to choose from, and they all sound awesome.
Overwhelmed?
Don't panic, just follow our advice...
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Swipe some oud oil on, rub it in.
Easy peasy, right? Wrong.
Learn the proper way to apply oud to get the most out of
it...
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Considering the rarity of (real) oud, it should come as no
surprise that there is a lot of cheating involved in this
trade, at every level...
read more >
There are few things in life as exquisite as the ambiance
that envelopes you, when you create the Agar Aura...
read more >
Also
known as agarwood, aloeswood
and eaglewood, oud is
nature’s most exquisite fragrant offering.
Deep in a Far Eastern jungle, an evergreen tree is attacked by
fungus-carrying insects that bore into the tree. Much like our
bodies’ immune system produces white blood cells, the tree starts
producing a substance to combat the infection.
Over the years, the infection grows – as does the substance the
tree produces. This is oud, or agarwood. When it is distilled, oud
oil is derived.
There are few natural aromatics that have as complex a scent
spectrum as oud. Natural ambergris, musk and sandalwood also rank
as some of the most valuable natural fragrances, but none come
close to oud in the sheer transcendence and sublimity its
fragrance boasts.
More than just a scent, oud can be mentally and spiritually
engaging. In fact, ouds from different regions also seem to have
different effects on a person’s emotions. Indonesian oils induce
joy and frivolity, while Indian oils have a deeply pacifying
quality which makes them popular for using when meditating.
Check out our products,
and begin your own oud journey!
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While many people have the incorrect notion that oud is supposed
to have a funky, leathery, woody smell, you will soon discover
that this is gross misinformation - especially in the case of oud
oils that were distilled in a way to capture the true aroma of oud
wood, like our oud oils.
We suggest you look at the different oils' descriptions in our product
catalog. You will realize from the product
descriptions just how much the smells can vary from region to
region. We try to keep our descriptions are accurate as possible.
The best place to start if you are new to oud is to purchase 0.15g
samples of our oud oils. You will realize that each oil is unique
in scent and character, and will learn which region/species you
enjoy the most.
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There
are two main reasons for wearing oud: for one’s personal
enjoyment, and for others.
It is an absolute delight studying the evolution of the complex
smell of oud on your skin for hours, for your own enjoyment. Many
varieties of oud evoke olfactory memories, and it is a fascinating
experience identifying them as the oil develops on your skin..
For one’s personal enjoyment, it is recommended to apply the oil
to one’s outer forearm, 2 – 3 inches above the wrist. Even the
tiniest amount will be sufficient. This is then gently dabbed
below the jaw line.
Needless to say, oud oil is so potent that even this tiny amount
you apply can scent the entire room you are in.
It is important that you do not rub. Rather, you should dab gently
until a sheen remains on your arm, after applying to your
jaw/neck. Your skin is highly absorbent, so rubbing will make the
oil (and the scent) disappear much faster. It can also damage the
scent molecules and hence the aroma of the oud.
Moisturizing your skin before applying oud oil will also ensure
that the aroma lasts longer.
For the ultimate ‘broadcasting’ effect, there are two ways to use
oud oil:
1) Applying to your clothes, bracelet, or other item: This will
give you the longest lasting smell as the oil will not be absorbed
by the skin. For clothes, it is best to apply a bit to the
shoulders, and some to the chest and back areas of your shirt.
2) Applying to the skin: while this will not last nearly as long,
in most cases the smell will be much more appealing due to the
unique chemistry between the skin and oud. Apply the oil just
below your outer wrist, then dab (not rub) it onto your jaw/neck.
Once again, remember to keep a sheen remaining so don’t rub too
hard!
About 1 – 2 light swipes of the dip stick should be used if you
want to share the beautiful smell of oud with those around you.
Don’t forget that others might not be accustomed to the smell of
oud like you! So do not over apply, even if you yourself can not
detect too strong a smell. Remember that one’s own nose gets
quickly accustomed to the scent due to olfactory fatigue.
Different ouds have different scent lives, and different
chemistries with the skin. You may find, for example, that you
like your Indian oud best applied to the skin, while you like to
have your Malaysian oud scenting your clothes.
It’s all a matter of taste, and a matter of testing to see which
end results you like the most. Go to our product catalog now to start your adventure!
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Oud or agarwood is a very rare natural fragrance that is
diminishing rapidly from forests that once used to have abudant
agarwood trees, and their rarity has driven people to come up with
various cheating techniques.
Cheating is found at all levels: the hunter, wood supplier,
distiller, wholesaler, and the retailer. We will go over some of
the common techniques below.
1.
Mixing oud oils from different origins
It is common practice to add oils from 'less popular' regions to
oud oils from regions that are highly sought after, like India or
Cambodia. The resulting oil is then sold as 'Indian oud' or
'Cambodian oud' to the uninformed buyer.
2. Mixing oud oils of different qualities
A higher quality oud oil will be mixed with a lower quality oil to
decrease the total cost, and will then be sold as a 'high quality'
oil.
3. Mixing oud oils with adulterants
This is the most common of all cheating techniques, and sadly
occurs in 99% of cases. Extremely foul-smelling low grade oud oils
are spiked and 'tamed' with essential oils like vetiver or fennel
oil. The use of synthetic perfumes is even more common. DPG,
DOP and glycerin are used to stretch oud oils, and some distillers
deliberately use a certain types of synthetic compounds which are
harder to detect in lab tests. Sometimes adulterants are used in
the distillation process itself to make the oil thicker, which a
lot of people incorrectly think is an indication of quality -
another common misconception.
Take the guesswork out of buying oud. Check out our oud
oils, and rest assured that you get what you pay for.
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There are few things in life as exquisite and uplifting as the
intoxicating ambiance that envelopes your very being, when you
create the 'Agar Aura'.
For this, you will need oud chips, a fine oud oil, and some
patience.
First moisturize those parts of your body which you will scent
with the oud smoke. Arab women customarily moisturize their necks,
faces, and the nape area, and we advise the same.
Start by burning the oud chips, and let the scent of the oud smoke
absorb into your skin and hair, and beard. Hold the mabkhar, or
the incense holder, above your clothes to waft it with the
fragrance which will scent it for days.
After you have sufficiently scented yourself and your clothes with
the oud smoke, proceed to applying the oud oil.
As the smokiness recedes, the rich smell of the oud oleoresin left
on you from the smoke will emerge, and will delight your senses
for hours (even days!) to come. The combination of the radiating
scent from the oud chips with the intoxicating smell of the oud
oil will give your senses a treat they seldom receive.
Enjoy the Agar Aura, the olfactory work of art! Your
masterpiece.
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What is oud?
What is the difference between oud oils and oud attars?
Can I combine oud with other fragrances?
I heard oud is very strong, and I'm afraid I will be
overwhelmed
Which oud is the best?
Why do different ouds smell so distinctive?
How long will the scent last on my skin?
How long will a bottle of oud last?
Is oud gender specific?
When should I use oud?
Why Agar Aura?
Every order
is subject to the straightforward shipping & returns policies
below.
By placing an order, you agree to comply with the following:
- Dispatched via DHL within 1 business day
- 100% secure
- Tracking number provided
- Delivered within 1-4 business days
In more detail:
Delivery typically takes 1-2 business days to reach Asian
destinations, and 2-3 business days to reach Australia, Europe, Africa
and the Americas. If your delivery address is in a rural or "out of
service" area, delivery may be delayed by an additional 2-3 days.
Packages are dispatched with a tracking number and you are fully
protected against losses/damages.
Important note about crystal bottles:
Whereas the majority of our customers prefer to get sturdy bottles
(the "2.5g Plain Glass Bottle" option), some of you may want a more
beautiful bottle to house your precious oils.
For this reason, the "3g Crystal Bottle" option is available.
Please note that these bottles are much more delicate. Although we
will cover any possible damage incurred during package transit, we
request that you be extra careful when handling these bottles after
you've received them because of their delicate nature. As such, we are
not able to compensate for any damage the bottle might incur from
handling, after it has reached you safely and in tact.
We strongly believe in 100% satisfaction, and that is why we urge you
to try samples of our oils before committing to full bottle purchases.
We are not able to accept returns for any of our products due to the
risk of contamination. Just as you would not want a used bottle of oud
oil, you can imagine others would not either.