Artisan Oud Sampler Pack

The Foundation:

The terroir and species form the basics of the profile. They serve as the foundation and relative constants of design. While the Artisans modify the variables to enhance and highlight certain details, adding flare and accents…Temperature, style of distillation, pot material and age are basic variables that impact the aroma.

Temperature:

From low to high heat, each temp imparts degrees of character.

Low temp distillations capture delicate notes. And so it produces ornate and ethereal profiles with effervescent nuances metamorphizing through each phase of the scent’s evolution – refined, with understated elegance.

High temp distillations compact the constituents into a dense profile, thick aromas so tightly intertwined they become one multifaceted layer of scent.

Distillation Style:

Another variable is the style of distillation, whether hydro, steam or co2. Each method captures different characteristics.

Hydro distillations yield full body, thick aromas. Like a liqueur of the wood without gaps in the profile, persistent from beginning to end.

Steam distillations yield thinner, focused profiles with ethereal gaps weaving in and out enabling our Artisans to use hybrid methods to capture complete, complex profiles.

CO2 is a method of extraction using high pressure carbon dioxide. As a result, the profile is like the scent of the wood itself. The characteristics of co2 extraction are highly valuable allowing the Artisans to add depth and layers to Hydro distillation for added effect and performance.

The Pots

The pot’s material directly impacts the oud’s profile. The pots impart auxiliary notes, ‘still notes’ or ‘pot notes’ into the oud. These notes are especially present in the opening of unmatured ouds.

Metals contain a secret. From magnetism and their affect on all surrounding elements, to the character they impart on the oils they hold and distillers leverage these effects.

Steel pots impart subtle dark hues into the profile, a slight metallic edge that deeply enhances resinous profiles ideal for Sumatran and Malaysian ouds. It also imparts unique contrasts into naturally lighter ouds from Sri Lanka and Indonesia for example.

Copper pots enhance the bright, fruity, aldehydic elements of ouds highlighting floral and sweet stone fruit tones. It also elicits unique contrasting characteristics from darker ouds. Such as the floral elements of Indian oud.

As the oil matures the still notes diminish.

Age

Like many distilled substances age has a direct impact on the oud’s profile.

Young ouds exhibit many auxiliary notes from the pots and pre-distillation methods of soaking. The auxiliary notes are some of the most lively, exciting, and unique parts of modern distillation and can be very enjoyable. However, they also can be used to cover up the quality of the oud distilled, and when aged these volatile auxiliary notes recede and only the quality resinous oleoresin of the oud remains. So bells and whistles aside, the quality of the oleoresin is what remains in the end.

The term vintage indicates the year of distillation and the level of maturation. As an oud attenuates the ‘sugary’ still notes become diminished and the body and true character remain.

Taste the difference today…

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