I’m amazed at the stuff people rub on their skin. A quick glance at the list of ingredients makes you reel back in horror, as you wonder: ‘Why? How can you stand those things on your body?’ And, my God, the smell of those creams. We consume these perfumed and flavored creams and lotions daily. Big Pharma makes grand claims about […]
The Oud of legend earned its status through its haunting aroma and intrinsic soul-stirring attributes. Once only available to Prophets, Emperors, Sultans and Kings, a few traces remain, passing through the hands of passionate and eccentric artisanal oud producers and into the hands of the equally rare individual who appreciates art for the details, the brilliance of each stroke, the subtle-nuanced hues, and the intensity of color saturation…
We’ve just wrapped up our Qatar and Oman OudFests, and guess what? Most of the demand for expensive oils and wood didn’t come from our retail customers. We had farmers from Thailand – pioneers of cultivation and master distillers – plead with us for ouds they’ve been unable to make themselves. All the ‘Oud Something’ […]
“Concerted conservation and restoration efforts are urgently needed to secure the long-term availability of this iconic product.” – Nature, International Journal of Science. “…That leaves overtapped trees that are weak and vulnerable to pests and early death before a new generation can replace them. Despite adult trees producing plenty of seeds, researchers seldom found any […]
Musk is one of the most used and abused terms in perfumery. What is it? What is it not? And more…. with EO and Sheikh Ehab!
Borneo ouds are Sheikh Ehab’s favorite. In this episode, Ensar Oud pulls out the big guns to blow the lid off all things Borneo.
Find it on the beach and it’s like winning the lottery. Ambergris is one of the most expensive perfumery ingredients and a key component in many landmark perfumes. Despite this, many are clueless about its bizarre origin… Join Ensar Oud and Sheikh Ehab as they share the story of one of nature’s stranger gifts, where […]
An introduction to Kyara. Follow us on YouTube for more videos on all things Oud, musk, and artisanal perfume. Featuring fragrance reviews of other houses, behind the scenes info on the production of my oils and perfumes, and a whole lot of daily wisdom from Sheikh Ehab.
Oud is not like coffee, where no matter which brew you’re tasting, you know you’re drinking coffee, not tea. Nor is it like any other essential oil. In a blind test, you could dish out Ta’if and Turkish rose. Folks might not be able to tell the difference, but they can still easily tell they’re smelling rose. South African vetiver might be richer than Haitian harvests, but in a blind test both are still clearly vetiver…
Oudheads who love detail know that there are two sides to this fragrant coin: agarwood’s essential, intrinsic—core—smell, and its ‘auxiliary’ (or secondary) notes. Those fruity, floral, honey-sweet, savory umami notes in your…