Ard (Habzoud, 2015) Oud Oil Review
Pleasant Filaria House: HabzOud Region: Indonesia Wood used: Wild shavings from Aquilaria filaria This yellow, rather ordinary looking 3 years old oil, distilled from wild Aquilaria filaria is my first experience with Merauke oils. What a great introduction! It starts off with an intensely minty/mentholic smell, coupled with a note of royal vetiver (hydro distilled essential oil from north Indian vetiver, aka, ruh khas). I know how non-IFRA compliant oakmoss absolute smells like. But I have no idea how oak-moss smells like. However, this oil has a powerful foresty green, and camphorous/incensy smell at the top that is quite similar to the non-IFRA oakmoss absolute I have. Both are outstanding. The hay note is just sumptuous - similar to a freshly dried hays – more specifically hays from Bangladesh – never too strong. There is also a hint of herbaceous notes that settle down quite quickly – more specifically something akin to middle and end not...