Oud Burmi Al Waseef

Unexpectedly often comes, especially when strolling through the Christmas market. A stand with Arabic goods made of olive wood caught my attention, as I needed a new cooking spoon in a rather mundane way. Next to all the wooden items was a selection of flacons with very simple and inexpensive Arabic no-name scents for filling. I casually asked the seller if he knew where one could get a good Dehnal Oud. He initially seemed a bit puzzled, but suddenly pulled out a package from some hiding place and showed me the flacon: an Oud for spraying, in a heavy and very high-quality flacon. The special thing: at the bottom of the flacon, you can see a few Oud splinters!

Oud Burmi differs from the Indian Ouds for spraying that I know (e.g., the “Al Shams” by Ajmal). This “Burmese” variant seems somewhat less animalistic in comparison, somehow brighter and more pleasant. For European noses, this might be a good entry point.

The sensational price of about €25 / 100 ml allows for a blind purchase. I saw Oud Burmi online at Musk & More. We are certainly at the lower end of what one would still want to recommend in terms of price. The Oud is dissolved in plenty of alcohol, and thus the top note comes across as quite tipsy. But that fades quickly. After that, the typical woody warmth unfolds, which can feel so vibrant.

Certainly, no special fixatives have been used, and so one must accept what the so-called natural perfumery imposes with Oud Burmi: that there is only a gradual fading, but no consistent tension of the wood note throughout the top, heart, and base. This makes sensible dosing almost impossible: no matter how much you apply, fundamentally you have to reapply if you want the enjoyment to last. A small travel flacon for pants or handbag is certainly recommended.

However, whether Oud Burmi is pure nature, I cannot say with absolute certainty. After a while, about an hour, the harsher wood scent gives way to a somewhat rounder, sweet-honeyed, and mustier aspect, with distinct notes of leather. This could - but doesn’t have to - indicate subtle support from an artificial Oud base.

I really like the calm, unexcited character of this simple Oud spray. Lovers of beautiful, warm wood scents will surely have their hearts opened here!

In fact, Oud Burmi can be recommended to many. It would be a good reference scent for anyone who simply wants to experience how real Oud truly smells - in contrast to the synthetic fragrance cocktails that almost universally dominate the Western Oud wave. And there are worlds in between!

Then I think Oud Burmi is suitable for many types of layering. Together with the spicy Red Sea by Micallef, which I had applied earlier, it makes quite a good impression. I also think that a summery-citrusy Eau de Cologne could be well carried over into winter by the warmth of this wood. Oud Burmi is by no means as exclusive as an expensive wine that must not be mixed with anything else.

Oud Burmi shows that even the cheapest qualities of natural Oud have beauty and are already quite wearable - you just have to know where to get it!