Kurai
5
Pondering on this and trat
Today's agarwood fanatics are all about getting the purest distillation of a single source. I doubt many of them will opt for a multi-genus blend. Personally, I appreciate the skills required for proper oud distillation but I value composition and harmony more than technique. At this price level, one can expect both craft and creativity to be at their highest, though.
Several oud oils from different Thai regions are put together in this limited edition Prin. The liquid looks dark dark brown and that is also how I would describe the scent. No barnyard, cheese or other sharp edges. This oud feels warm, balmy and sort of dry. I get a sense of massive wooden furniture pieces - rather unpolished - on one side and almost tobacco-like fibers or coco husk on the other. Spice and florals are present in low dosage and add minor accents at most.
Considering the whole theme is agarwood, I find this a bit underwhelming. Apart from a deep woody sensation, I miss some of that hard-to-grasp complexity of pure oils and their surprising facets as the scent evolves. So should I reconsider my earlier "composition over technique" statement? Maybe yes when it comes to oud oils, although it still feels contra-intuitive. Maybe it's just that this perfume and I do not get along.