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10/21/2021
BrianBuchanan
355 Reviews
BrianBuchanan
Helpful Review
7
'Jewellery for the Skin'
On her website, Rania J advises people to be cautious. She asks them to try this before buying, because it can be 'challenging for non oud lovers'.
The reason for this warning may be the knife edge overtone that appears at the top of the scent. It gives a sharpness to the antiseptic smell of natural oud; and, if it's worn (discretely) in a medical setting, Oud Assam blends perfectly with the background hum of strict hygene. But if you are wearing it in quantity, this opening could be too strident for those who aren’t used to such things.
Under the sharp note and the disinfectant oud there are smoky and leathery facets which are faintly touched with orange.
And, with incense and pepper it's unsweet-bitter. But having said that, I detect something softer and sweeter, almost floral, which (according to Wikipedia) is a mark of real agarwood.
Later, there's a rich acid barnyard note - which could be mixed with narcissus - and the cheesy aroma, which oud lovers will know...
I get fruity maroon, leathery, woody, cheesy and fungal Breton cider from the empty sprayer - the smell of rotting apples on the humid earth.
And then there's a dry floral, and a salty note of vetiver, and musk from my cuffs ...
This really is complex stuff, and a welcome change to yer regular high street pong. I wish I had more juice to do a fuller review, this empty sample gave out a few paltry squits and now it’s gone.
I'm no oud expert, but it strikes me this is an authentic hybrid that blends Eastern oud with scintillating Western highlights; something that Rania J can do with authority. Having grown up in the middle east and africa, she now lives in Paris.
And despite her warning, I think that this - with familiar tones in it’s strange coloured brew - is a good place to start, especially as you can just buy a 2ml sample.
The reason for this warning may be the knife edge overtone that appears at the top of the scent. It gives a sharpness to the antiseptic smell of natural oud; and, if it's worn (discretely) in a medical setting, Oud Assam blends perfectly with the background hum of strict hygene. But if you are wearing it in quantity, this opening could be too strident for those who aren’t used to such things.
Under the sharp note and the disinfectant oud there are smoky and leathery facets which are faintly touched with orange.
And, with incense and pepper it's unsweet-bitter. But having said that, I detect something softer and sweeter, almost floral, which (according to Wikipedia) is a mark of real agarwood.
Later, there's a rich acid barnyard note - which could be mixed with narcissus - and the cheesy aroma, which oud lovers will know...
I get fruity maroon, leathery, woody, cheesy and fungal Breton cider from the empty sprayer - the smell of rotting apples on the humid earth.
And then there's a dry floral, and a salty note of vetiver, and musk from my cuffs ...
This really is complex stuff, and a welcome change to yer regular high street pong. I wish I had more juice to do a fuller review, this empty sample gave out a few paltry squits and now it’s gone.
I'm no oud expert, but it strikes me this is an authentic hybrid that blends Eastern oud with scintillating Western highlights; something that Rania J can do with authority. Having grown up in the middle east and africa, she now lives in Paris.
And despite her warning, I think that this - with familiar tones in it’s strange coloured brew - is a good place to start, especially as you can just buy a 2ml sample.
2 Replies
Hermesh
