It takes about 200 years to be ready for harvest. Treasured across cultures and civilizations, and venerated by almost every faith for thousands of years, what is it about Oudh that makes a century or two worth the wait? Rasasi, purveyors of the finest Oudh for connoisseurs and royalty for over half a century, shed light on the mystique of Oudh.
What is Oudh?
Contrary to popular belief, Oudh isn't a wood at all. It is the product of the rare Aquilaria or Gyrinops tree, now found occasionally in the jungles of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Indonesia. This rare tree is sometimes infected by an equally rare fungal parasite. In response, the tree's immune system produces and aromatic resin to protect itself from the fungus.
The fungal attack and the tree's defense process continue very, very slowly over time - typically stretching several decades - all the while generating a rich, dark resin, deep within the heart of the tree. It is this rare resin that is harvested and Oudh - the Earth's most valuable 'wood' is produced from it. The longer nature is allowed to take its course, the more precious the Oudh.
Origins of OudhOudh has been traded and highly appreciated for thousands of years. Resinous wood is used as incense, for medicinal purposes, and pure resin in distilled form is used as perfume and perfume component. The wood of the infected Agarwood tree (Aquilaria Thymelaeceae) produces this sweet, sensual and intoxicating fragrance - usually, a lightly infected tree will be used for oil whereas a tree that has died of the infection will produce the most sought after, high quality wood. Extinct in India and Bangladesh and now found only in some jungles of South East Asia, the demand for Agarwood is pushing the prices of Oudh ever higher.
Outside native countries it is most widely known in the Middle East, China, Taiwan and Japan. A strong connection exists between use, religion and curative properties, and elaborate traditional and religious ceremonies are known from around the world. Faith healers in the Middle East use it at curative ceremonies, Japanese pilgrims donate flowers and Agarwood oil to Shinto-Buddhist temples, and Vietnamese religious groups are obliged to bring Agarwood to ceremonies at their temples in Mekong delta communities.
Oudh's cultural significance
The deep relationship between Oudh and its use across several cultures is well known. It is said that this is the legendary tree from the Garden of Eden, which perhaps explains its extraordinary rarity and man's reverence for it since time infinite.
Various sources have reported that from ancient times, Oudh has been used not just as a fragrance but in several other ways. One quote from Arabia describes this: "Treat with Indian incense ('Oudh al-Hindi), for it has healing for seven diseases; it is to be sniffed by one having throat problems, and to be put into one side of the mouth by one suffering from pleurisy." From medicinal purposes to welcoming guests, from marriage to the birth of a newborn, Oudh is present in one form or the other at life's most important moments from Arabia to Japan.
"Life without Oudh is impossible to imagine in several ancient cultures, including across Arabia," says Saleem Kalsekar, Managing Director of Rasasi, vendors of some of the finest Oudh in the world. "Sought by high and low from the Far-East to the Arabian Gulf, Oudh has had centuries old fascination for mankind and is intrinsically woven in the daily lives of people."
Priceless
Rich, precious, even priceless, Oudh is so rare its price makes gold and diamonds eminently affordable in comparison. Prices range from a few dollars per kilo for the lowest quality to over thirty thousand US dollars for top quality oil and resinous wood. Determining the quality of Oudh while buying is similar to judging the value of a diamond - only a few have the expertise for it.
"A layman may be able to assess the quality of diamonds, or the purity of gold and for that matter purity and value of honey, but only few wise and long-term users can ascertain Oudh and the quality of its oil," says Saleem. Buying from an unknown vendor can result in a buyer being given an inferior product at a very high price. "Tricks such as making Oudh wet with water add extra weight and since Oudh is bought by weight, what you think is a cheaper product may actually cost you more," adds Saleem.
The oil content of Oudh determines its price, which is directly related to the quality of the fragrance and its lasting qualities. Physical and chemical testing as well as Gas Chromatography and density tests can determine the quality in a lab. But usually the appearance of oil, the quality of fragrance and its lasting strength are used as benchmarks for price determination. "Buying from a trustworthy source such as Rasasi is always safer as we are very conscious of the quality," explains Saleem. "You can be sure that for a given price, you are getting the best quality product, which cannot be matched by someone sitting in the market who will definitely charge a higher price for it."
Oudh at Rasasi
With access to the best ingredients from genuine harvesters, trusted over generations, Rasasi selects only top grade, mature material, irrespective of costs. This precious material is then cured and nurtured by master perfumers, skilled in the knowledge of bringing to life Oudh's secrets and mysteries. This is what makes Rasasi Oudh the world's finest.
-Ends-
About Rasasi:
Rasasi Perfumery is a leader in the region's retail industry offering a wide range of oriental and western fragrances. With over three decades of experience, Rasasi today also has its own sourcing, as well as research and development facilities to deliver outstanding value and unique blends. To cater to its discerning consumers Rasasi spares no effort in scouring the globe to uncover the finest ingredients for its reputable dhan el oudh oils, and oriental blend perfume sprays. In the western perfumes category, Rasasi has also achieved outstanding success for its creations. Rasasi has a very strong presence with company owned outlets in all the prestigious locations of major countries in GCC region. Also exporting to over 50 countries Rasasi fragrances are available in over 1000 outlets in major fashion capitals across the globe. Founded by the Kalsekar family, Rasasi is headquartered in Dubai's Jebel Ali Free Zone, in the United Arab Emirates, and remains a privately-held family business.
For further information, please contact
Sana Lababidi
Raee Public Relations
Tel: 04 341 5558
Fax: 04 341 5559
Email: sana@raeepr.com
www.raeepr.com
© Press Release 2007
