Oud Royale

This is an ode to the father of artisanal oud and the one oil that gave birth to the oud world all of us wander in today.

The fact that you’re reading this or that you’ve been enjoying artisanal oud in any way is thanks to this oil.

When given a batch of fantastic agarwood, a fairly competent distiller is bound to get decent oud oil from it. That’s how many vintage ouds came to be and why early generation ouds have a good chance of being good by default – high-grade agarwood was far more plentiful than it is today. So, while those distillations may not have been artisanal, they were nonetheless high-grade.

The oud Sultan Qaboos distilled for himself, on the other hand, was artisanal. And ultra high-grade.

At a time when practically all oud was distilled in India and Cambodia, he sought out remote and previously unexplored jungles. Not only that, he flew the harvests from those unheard-of jungles halfway round the world to his own distillery in Oman to make them his way.

Distillation in Borneo, and much of the Indo-Malay oud scene at large, only kicked off in the early 90s. Papua New Guinea followed after, and several islands (e.g. Ambon/Ceram/Almahera) had a window of only a few years in the mid-90s before they were confined to the history books.

Yet, the Sultan distilled Maroke agarwood in ‘82 – years before others rushed in – which means his knowledge of the area and the harvest itself must have predated even that. Plus, we can’t be sure how long he actually had the harvest in his possession before the wood was distilled.

His pursuit of a different breed of oud triggered a seismic quake across the world, one we’re still feeling today.

This shows you the Sultan’s pioneering fervor and passion for oud, but it also tells you that everyone who came after got second dibs while the finest reserves ended up at the royal distillery in Oman. Not only do you get quality vintage oud, a rarity in itself, but the finest quality artisanal vintage ouds, many of them first editions from virgin jungles.

If you’re familiar with Maroke ouds, you’d instantly recognize the DNA in Oud Royale. But then, because you’re familiar with Marokes, you’ll also instantly appreciate how there’s so much more going on than in other Marokes.

Your typical Maroke profile orbits around a recognizably earthen-smoky core, with subtle differences in their degree of herbaceousness, the pitch of that petrichor note, or less commonly, a spiciness that darts from the swamp-resin, even chocolatey, chord that make Maroke ouds to distinct.

Rather than it being the defining profile, the above is merely one reflection in Oud Royale’s kaleidoscopic beauty. There’s a blue tone reminiscent of legendary old-school Bruneian ouds, this deep microcarpa-like glaze atop a floral bouquet you won’t smell except in other sinking-grade ouds like Oud Sultani.

The dry-smoky kinamic earthy pitch pierces your nose as that Maroke DNA in the background stokes the fire that oozes out incense in blue-purple waves, as if you’re licking the resin, tasting it, feeling the cooling sensation; a touch tongue-numbing. 

Oud Royale is not only a historic first but one of history’s finest. It’s the oud that jump started the Western oud scene and has been the profile I’ve strived to capture in my own distillations ever since. I’m not talking about capturing the specific Maroke profile, but the quality and depth the oil possessed, which you quickly learn only comes from exceptional caliber agarwood…

It’s easy to cross-check. It’s been almost half a century since Oud Royale was distilled and I have not smelled a Maroke oil that compares. The same goes for anyone who owns this original: they haven’t either, while you often hear something like “it reminds me a bit of the original Oud Royale” when owners talk about other fantastic ouds. Yet, nothing ever quite touches this OG.

There have been approximations, echoes of its purple-piercing-blue resinous beauty in later oils, but Oud Royale is a signature scent; the benchmark of all benchmarks. If you were planning to buy any oud ever, this should be the one. Even if you had budgeted for a few bottles of different ouds, I wouldn’t hesitate to suggest you put those on hold in favor of a bottle of this – the one that inspired all others.

The Sifu and the Sultan

You’d notice that the Oriscent collection showcases my kyara Sifus’ oils exclusively – except for Oud Royale.

I decided to present Oud Royale alongside these rarities because of how it represents a meeting of worlds. Oud Royale cemented our pursuit of quality and it was the Sultan’s emphasis on artisanal excellence that got woven into our own distillation philosophy over the years.

Oriscent oils are kodo-fied Sultani oils: Purple Kinam and Oud Sultani were distilled from the same caliber Malaysian agarwood, set apart only by the distillation style and aesthetic – the Sultan’s vs. the Sifu’s.

Showcasing Oud Royale here is a tribute to my first teacher and the OG that gave birth to Oriscent. And now, forty years later, it’s yours to own.

Ouds in the Oriscent Collection includes a hand-crafted green onyx applicator.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS

Aaaaahahhhhhahahhhhaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!
—T. B. / USA

My next purchase will definitely be another Oud Royale. I am so besotted with this oil!… and really want to build up a multi-year supply. It is hard to justify buying anything else when this is available!
—Lee / USA

This Oud oil defies description. The complexity of the aroma is simply unmatched by any essential oil, agarwood or otherwise. Just as stated, it very closely mimics the smell of burning agarwood: a feature only possible when the oil is distilled from a high resin content wood. One is warned, however, to remain humble after applying this oil, as it actually does induce a sense of ‘royalty’!
—Muhammad / USA

This is definitely one of the best Oud oils I have ever smelt. It resembles the smell of burning wood chips. Once you have tried this you will never go back to another Oud oil.
—Farooq / UK

After wearing this for a day, I was completely hooked. I have never encountered such a sublime, mysterious fragrance – utterly intoxicating! Buyer beware – this oil is completely addictive! I will no longer even think of risking money with other companies – Oriscent is the best, hands down. These days it is rare to be able to have such confidence in a company.
—Lee / USA

Just a quick note to let you know that the Oud Royale arrived in my Saturday mail. Indeed another wonderful scent from Oriscent.com.
—John L. / USA

Hello. The bottle of Oud Royale I ordered arrived today. I love it. This stuff is amazing! Thanks a lot.
—Harold  / USA

I am totally addicted to Oud Royale as is my partner.
—Tom  / USA

…And the king of them all is really the Oud Royale. Its name stands for its quality! It has a very intoxicating, lovely and beautiful smell. It’s not too strong but very mystical. It’s just great! I am happy to be one of the few people who own some of it. I think it’s one of the few chances to get such old and especially such high grade oud oil for an affordable price.
—Andy  / Germany