It seems that every moment in the harvesting and distillation of the Oud reveals a special story. This one begins with a sliver of wood. It is taken with loving care from a small, almost hidden part of the mighty Aquilaria tree. One thing that makes the splinter unusual is its blade-like, pointed shape. Another distinctive feature is how each and every fragment of the wood is drenched in resin. In most other areas of the tree, only part of the wood is resinous.
But the story doesn’t end there. In fact, it has hardly begun. After this exceptional resin has been distilled, the resultant oil has its own unique strain of the scent for which Oud is renowned. We call this variety Sayufi. It is based on the Arabic term for “sword” and so reflects the shape of the shard of wood in which the oil has its origin.
Of course, the climax of the story comes only with the enjoyment of the aroma. It begins with notes that are tangy and powerful, calling to mind a forest glade after a welcome shower. Next, in quick succession, hints of greenery are released, amid light swirls of kindling and notes of the bark from whence the oil’s life began. Finally, this profusion settles into a sweet and smoky, burnt-timber scent such as only the Agarwood can deliver. Inevitably, as the echoes of one story begin to fade upon its conclusion, a yearning to revisit it arises once more.