Blue Malay Agar Aura

First of all, I must sincerely thank the lovely PallasCC and the dear Caligari for warmly recommending this oil to me, especially Taha's Ouds/Agar Aura! For me, a new world has opened up in this regard over the past few weeks :-)

As a lover of ouds - specifically the varieties from Indochina and Malaysia - I was very excited to receive and study my recently ordered bottle of Blue Malay.
I must say upfront that Taha's oils differ immensely from the "normal" ouds of other brands. Specifically, I mean the character of the oil, the way it behaves when it comes into contact with air and the scent molecules begin to leave the skin.
(This is the case with all AA's I have tested; I will go into more detail later about what one can imagine by this)

I don't want to talk about notes and complexity yet - this oil is very complex and multi-layered - rather, I want to describe the feeling, that is, the way the oil "affects" me.

After applying the oil and allowing it to connect with the skin for 30 seconds, the oil takes its "starting position" from which it can be perfectly studied. Right away, one notices upon inhalation that it is a "cold" oil (the term comes from PallasCC :-)). Cold here means, on the one hand, that it literally cools the airways and lays like an ice-cold blue veil over the face. On the other hand - referring to the synesthesia of "cold" and "blue" - that the scent evokes bright blue and green tones. These tones go hand in hand with the cold - not mentholated or minty, but like actual cold - and alternate rapidly with deep, transparent dark green tones.
However, the oil also has a completely different side. The colors shift immensely, creating the impression of sunlight breaking on salt crystals or water droplets... a quick flicker of colors and nuances.

I consciously refer to these two things here, as I personally am reminded of a transparent yet classically Malay oil profile. Notes of salt, jungle, water... it's very difficult to put the notes into words, as this oil is incredibly complex. It evokes a clearing in the jungle, the sun shining on a waterfall, and the rays being broken into their spectra by the mist.
This effect lasts for hours. Sometimes stronger, sometimes weaker. Time and again, one is surprised by a new, different side of the oud and sent on a cinematic scent journey.
Don't get me wrong, the oud should not be compared to a Walla Patta oud/Sri Lankan oud - which can indeed be maritime, sea-water-like - rather, this metaphor is meant to emphasize the green and blue notes. A slight damp earthiness also resonates with the green notes.

Regarding projection, one can say that a "dot" on the back of the wrist ensures that one is surrounded by blue wafts all day long. For me, this oil is the epitome of Malay oud. The reference.

Initially, I mentioned that Taha's oils are different from "normal" oils. By this, I mean that these oils literally radiate when applied. They are pure, incredibly strong, and possess a certain transparency. As if the scent molecules are colliding with each other, constantly driving the concentration in the air higher.

This oil is very special and drives one crazy. When inhaled correctly, one experiences a "brain buzz" or better yet a "brain freeze". It's hard to describe, one must experience it for oneself. It’s insane.