After running out
of Cambodi
Sultan,
I rang up the distiller and told him I wanted another oil just like it.
Over the course of the next several months, he gave me samples of new
distillations, each one more disappointing than the previous.
I was convinced that Cambodian oud was history, for AgarAura.
Then things changed.
He managed to get wood from the Roneam Doun Sam forest in western
Cambodia. What I
found most exciting was that the resin formation in the heartwood was
estimated to be 7-9 years old.
Words cannot express the excitement I felt - the oil was a visage of
antiquity. This is what true Cambodian oud would have smelled like if
it was distilled half a century ago.
So what is this oil like? It opens
with a
translucent ethereal quality. It flaunts
classic Cambodian oud notes of plums and figs. A limpid resinous top
note crowns the scent, and as the oil develops on
the
skin hints of nectarines and peaches emerge. The opening smells
more red and purple, while the heart is more yellow and gold. If you
were a sucker for Cambodi Sultan's fruitiness, Oud Kampuchea will have
you swooning.
The bright top notes are grounded by a lower-register dark, deep
woodiness - a seriousness hardly seen in Cambodian oils these days.
The oil dries down to a flawless sweet, resinous, woody
accord.
Most oud oils from this region are
created
using low quality raw materials and poor distillation techniques.
Usually the agarwood is rotted prior to disitllation to impart a
superficial depth to the end product, which is then aged to tame the
dark fecal and pungent notes. If this is not done, you get the more
pleasant smelling variety of Cambodian oud - but they smell flat and
lack depth and complexity.
The impressively old resin formation in the trees used for crafting Oud
Kampuchea ensured that the oil had a a deep and dark base
without
having to rot the wood prior to distillation, and optimal distillation
techniques preserved the mouthwatering top notes that are the hallmark
of any fine Cambodian oud oil.
Discover why fine Cambodian oud is the most universally loved variety of oud. Treat yourself to a bottle today.
Price:
$225
2.5 grams per bottle
What others are saying:
Oud Kampuchea is an
absolutely beautiful oil. I am stunned in the wake of its magical
splendor and diversity of character. Very deep, and one of the most
complex Cambodis I have come across so far. There is plenty going on
with Kampuchea to play with my senses and leave me intoxicated in its
aroma. Kampuchea is surprisingly bold too. It is not a quiet or totally
linear Cambodi. It asserts itself, unafraid of showing its true colors
with real confidence. Kampuchea’s maturity also lends to a
feeling of seriousness that I often do not find in Cambodian oils. It
is deep. It is still. It draws one into contemplation of its radiant
resinous core, sweetly penetrated by notes of fruit. It is a true Oud
oil that invokes a sense of the sacred.
N.P.
(USA)
Oud Kampuchea is for me truly amazing. Ive come across things on the
internet describing opening a bottle of Borneo oil like a genie comes
out holding a cornucopia of fruits. well this Cambodian oil came as
close to that for me as possible...
I was
also fascinated that the
price of this is less than others, while having all great qualities. Of
course i was not expecting anything less than your reputation and the
reputation of of your oils has suggested. these are certainly
a
testament to artistry. Please continue with such high standards. I'll
be looking for more new things on your site.
J.S.
(USA)
It's a really lovely oil. I got notes of dried
figs, raisins, peaches, honey...a classic, yummy, fruity Cambodian.
Love it!
E.S. (USA)
