What Is Oudh Fragrance?

Oudh (or Oud) is by far one of the rarest and most exclusive raw fragrance ingredients in the world. Also known as agarwood, this essential oil is extracted from the heartwood of the agar tree, which is primarily found in the forests of Southeast Asia, India and Bangladesh. It is either extracted by distillation from the wood or by melting the resinous heartwood.

Perfumers seek out these older trees because of the superior richness of the resin’s aroma. 

The Value of Oudh Essential Oil

The fragrance is comprised of many diverse aspects. It is simultaneously pungent, yet very pleasing, invoking warm, smoky notes with tinges of dampened wood. Although subtlety blended with touches of floral and fruit, the predominant scent is musky and sensual. The complex and exquisite fragrance of Oudh is a precious, rare and intriguing gift of nature that when blended with other essential oils creates an olfactory experience that permeates any interior environment with a sense of opulence, luxury and supreme comfort.

A Brief History of Oudh

Historians can trace the use of Oudh back to ancient times and incontrovertible evidence lies within the scriptures of various ancient cultures. The Prophet, Muhammad, held the tradition of fumigation with agarwood, which is a practice that continues in the Muslim world to this day. The Holy Prophet referred to agarwood as a distinct item found in Paradise. In Hebrew tradition, The Song of Songs describes Oudh as a form of incense, and King Solomon as “coming up from the desert like a column of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and incense.”

Early records in central Vietnam dating back to the third century A.D. mention the extraction of agarwood and the export of Oudh to China and Japan where it was burned for centuries as incense. Wealthy Chinese ancients were known to make their coffins out of this resinous heartwood. There is also a strong association with the use of this aromatic substance and the tradition of Fengshui, a discipline of governing the flow of energy in a particular place. 

In Buddhist tradition, the most precious string of beads numbering to 108 is made of agarwood. Historically, the Islamic world valued the precious resin as both an essential oil and a personal perfume. As the use of Oudh spread to Europe, the royalty of France, particularly Louis The XIV (The Sun King) who was known for his outrageous indulgences, loved the fragrance so much that he washed his clothes in Oudh.

The Use Of Oudh In Modern Perfumery

In today’s world of complex fragrance formulations, Oudh has gained considerable interest and popularity. In recent times, some famous designers have launched their own fragrances utilizing this cherished essential oil. Some examples include: Giorgio Armani’s Oud Royale and Tom Ford’s Oud Wood. 

When used in a perfume composition, Oudh is most often a base note, which tends to remain on the skin long after the others dissipate. Since they form the perfume’s foundation, base notes are very rich, heavy and long-lasting (up to six hours and more). They serve to enhance the scent of other ingredients; and, in some cases, they impart a fragrance all their own.

Numerous Benefits and Uses of Oudh

This exquisite essential oil has many applications that range from spiritual to therapeutic and medicinal. It is often associated with harmony, serenity of spirit and when applied regularly, the removal of destructive and negative energies in the home. A highly effective aid for meditation, it is also known to enhance mental clarity and ease neurotic and obsessive behavior. 

In the Middle East, both men and women burn Oud wood chips to scent their houses and their clothes. Many Muslims believe that their prayers rise with the scented smoke of agarwood and are carried straight to the Creator.