ParfumPlus Arabia

P A R F U M P L U S 37 Oud has more than 3000 years of history, and its use began in China, Japan, India and the Middle East. At that time, only kings, emperors and the wealthy could benefit from it and appreciate its virtues. Today with an increase in consumption, we are also seeing a situation which makes it imperative to start the process for protecting Oud immediately OUD ORIGINATES FROM Aquilaria trees found in India and Southeast Asia. The wood found inside these trees gets a particular mold, which gives it a unique fragrance. The initial scent of Oud is quite strong but over time it becomes subtler and is quite long lasting. Oud has always found a mention in history. During the time of the pyramids and the pharaohs, the Egyptians used it in their rituals to embalm the bodies of privileged families. Between 800 and 600 BC. Gaharu is mentioned in the Sushruta Samhita, which is a Sanskrit (ancient Hindu) text about the medicine and surgery of the time. It is also mentioned in the biography of an emperor of North India (Harshacharita) in 700 BC. J.-C. Around the same time (600 BC), Xuanzang, a Buddhist monk from China, described the use of aloe wood and its oil for writing sacred texts. In 600 BC, in Japan, the Chronicles of Japan called "Nihon Shoki", the second oldest book on the classical history of Japan, mentioned the existence of aloe wood, following the discovery of a piece of wood identified as originating from Pursat, Cambodia, due to its typical scent of aloe wood from that region. In 300 BC, in Ancient China, the chronicles of “Nan Zhou Yi WU Zhi” (“Strange Things from the South”) written by Wa Zhen of the Wu Dynasty mentions aloewood (agarwood). The use of oud wood for its medicinal properties is also mentioned in the Hadith Qudsi (Sacred Words) of Sahîh Muslim. Historically, fragrances were oil-based. There is an old distillation style predominant in India where materials are distilled into Sandalwood oil – better known as Attar-style distillation. In Muslim cultures, where alcohol is not used – there is a style of perfume compounding that is alcohol-free, and composed entirely of oil extracts, or Sandal or Oud oil as a base (rather than alcohol or carrier oil). These oils are generally referred to as Attar or Mukhallats. The GCC, today, is one of the largest perfume and incense markets in the world and is the strongest market for Natural Oud (Aquilaria) and Natural Incense (Boswelia Cartesia) in the world. HERE’S A LIST OF THE DIFFERENT KIND OF OUD PRESENTATIONS • Oud Oil, pure, as perfume material. • Oud Chips, as burning incense particularly for Middle Eastern countries. • Agarwood base wooden accessories such as wooden keychain, bracelet, liontin or pendant. • Oudh block or chunk for any purposes such as sculpture, wooden home decoration, vintage. • Agarwood tea