Qinan Rose

Qinan (also spelled Qinnan, in Chinese, 奇楠, qínán) is among the rarest and most revered forms of agarwood. When I first worked with Hainan Qinan, its beauty struck me—creamy, green, and subtly sweet. Everything I love about Chinese oud was present, though it leaned too smooth. It needed texture.

White Rose Otto, crisp and delicate, provided the natural counterbalance. Geranium’s leafy sharpness and ginger’s quiet spark added movement, giving the Qinan room to breathe. Anchored by a backbone of select Chinese and Southeast Asian ouds, the composition opened floral-woody and softened into a graceful drydown.

Yet it wasn’t complete until I introduced Two Souls, a vintage blend of SQ Papua Oud and SQ Taifi Rose—around 50 years old. Its resinous smokiness and assertive richness transformed the balance, pouring depth into the Qinan Rose.

You’d be right to call this a Two Souls perfume, but I chose to keep the Chinese element in the name—to give Qinan and White Rose Otto the spotlight they deserve. Another Two Souls creation is still in the works, waiting for the right moment to reveal itself.

In honor of this dialogue between materials, Qinan Rose is available in two configurations: as a standalone—or as part of an exclusive bundle with Two Souls.

The bundle includes:

1. Qinan Rose in the size of your choice
2. Two Souls (2.5 g)
3. A gift of Qinan Rose attar (approx. 0.5 g), limited to just over ~12 vials and reserved only for the bundle, on a first-come, first-served basis. Once the attar vials are gone, they will not return, though the bundle itself will remain available.

Both configurations comes with personalization options with additional vintage Bulgarian or Turkish roses. Here's a short primer on roses profiles:

1. White Rose Otto – airy, crisp, and luminous; brings purity and lightness to balance Qinan’s smooth body.
2. Turkish Rose – velvety, spicy, and deep; lends warmth and sensual gravity.
3. Bulgarian Rose – fresh, dewy, and bright; adds a radiant, sparkling floral lift.
4. Taifi Rose – sharp, citrusy, and regal; offers a piercing brilliance that cuts through richness.

This blend had its seed start since my first Ambergris release. It only became ready now. As my late friend and comrade Tarek Al Ghussein once told me: “Maher, you learn things when you’re ready to. Not when you want to.” This creation is a testament to that truth—born when it was ready, not a moment sooner.