People keep asking me for oud with oomph. Oud that’s not been softened up – or touched by ‘modern’ distillation tweaks. I know what they mean – and I have exactly such a batch that’s been maturing in German Pyrex in my private stash for the past three years.
Hindi oud often packs too much punch, stuffed with overly feral barn. Same with Burmese and Laotian oils. Not many Indo-Chinese ouds strike the right balance between unabashed hooh-hah and farmyard overkill. Even fewer oils tap straight into that primordial depth you find in ouds ‘of old.’
I’m exceptionally excited to release Aku Akira. Not only because it’s matured so well, but also because it’s the first ever release of Karbi Anglong oud to the Western audience.
I’ve been infatuated with its distinct aroma since the day it was distilled. A unique buchu bush profile smooths out any barny twang and makes the scent a great aid to meditation. The calming aroma of dried rooibos twigs laced with kaori cha turns the initial ground pepper / nutmeg spiciness almost sweet – almost. The scent of ripe cannabis crystals permeates the buchu and the bos and gives the tea tones a crisp herbaceous flair – and makes me want to put a caution label on the bottle: “Swipe with moderation!”
The classically steel-distilled wild-harvested Karbi Anglong agarwood gives the oil a couldn’t-be-more-full-bodied primal allure that takes you out to the Himalayas – to help you focus and clear your mind, and give you a taste of something primordial.