Have you ever heard of OUD?

We were visiting our wholesale essential oil supplier and they suggested we take a whiff of a mysterious bottle with the name “oud” on the label.  The first whiff was of a rich exotic woodsy scent with a hint of musk.  Well, i was very curious to know more – “What can you tell me about this Oud? What is it and where does it come from?  Our wholesaler said she was not sure.

Two minutes of searching google and I can tell you it is a resin produced by the Agar Wood tree, which grows in Asia.  When the wood becomes infected with a particular type of mold, the tree reacts by producing a dark, scented resin, which is often called “liquid gold.” “Oud” is used to refer to both the resin-saturated wood (the agarwood) as well as the oil distilled from it. One reason oud is so expensive is its rarity; by some estimates, fewer than 2% of wild agar trees produce it. Experts claim that the very best oud comes from the oldest trees, which are even more scarce.

If you have never heard of Oud don’t be surprised.  This exotic essential oil has been a quietly kept secret of Arabic royalty, and Japanese Samurai for centuries, and only recently was discovered by perfume houses of Europe and America.  In the middle east it is a best seller alone, or paired with other fragrances.    The woodsy musky scent is universal, which is ideal for creating a fragrance with wide appeal.

The pure Oud is wildly expensive, and one of the top 5 most expensive ingredients for perfume making in the world.  Our essential oil is diluted significantly, yet still has that luscious aroma.  So we have taken our new ingredient to the studio, and we are working on some new ideas – a soap, and a solid perfume.  Stay tuned for our new products made with this exotic goodness.

We are also looking for creative names to name the soap and perfume using this ingredient.