Oud Session

This project is my attempt at bottling the elusive experience of inhaling oud wood chip. I wanted to capture the full presence of the wood itself—gently heated in an Oud Session, adorned with curling smoke tails and a heat-kissed aroma. I wanted to work on an oud-only blend.

Through experimentation, incremental layering, and curating ouds of different material states, I created the following entourage: 

• Wild Pursat — smooth, slightly sweet, with fruity woodiness.
• Wild Brunei — thick, resinous warmth with a dense, jungle-like depth.
• Wild Black Kyara — smoky, shadowed, with bittersweet incense.
• Natural Green Kyara — mossy vibrancy and bitter-green sparkle.
• Wild Mamberamo — balsamic richness with a juicy, tactile weight.
• Wild Leyte — dry sharpness and a crisp, herbal-spicy edge.
• Wild Pinoy — bright, sweet-resinous highlights with airy elegance.

I said earlier I wanted an oud-only blend. Then I remembered: who am I kidding? Rules were made to be broken. So, a subtle ambergris accord snuck in—quietly weaving its way into the mix, making the oud feel a little fancier.

Now, onto the age-old question: what’s the concentration?

The truth is, I can’t give you an exact number—or any number, in fact. I used different extraction methods to capture every layer of the oud’s aroma, one after another. Because of that, the blend’s complexity goes beyond simple measurement, and without lab equipment, providing any figure would be misleading. But I assure you—it is oudy enough.

And the second common question: How is the projection?

This is an oud blend through and through. If you’ve spent enough time with oud, you know it’s a resin—one that lives naturally in the mid to base range when it comes to projection. In that regard, this isn’t a projection-focused blend; it’s a sit-down session, subtle and composed. From a usage standpoint, it’s easily wearable in a work environment, to the masjid, or in other social gatherings. The way elegance enters a room—present without ever needing to announce itself, yet whispering gently: “come closer.”

The first release is Oud Session Extract, with highly prized ouds stepping in as special guests.

I know… you’re probably wondering: what are those special guests?

Here’s the deal. In an attempt to offer something for everyone—and to explore more exotic and unique oud oils—I’m creating a few installments of Oud Session, each celebrating a specific region or a particular oud.

These are oils I’ve managed to find either through collectors or from distillers who kept them as special reserves for special requests—the back-drawer kind. As such, they came at a higher price point for me to acquire. Think of them as Oud Session installments—from collectors and artisans to oud connoisseurs.