I started today with Oud Dhul Q, one of the oud oil samples I picked up from Ensar Oud. Thank you to for the recommendation. As he suggested, I did a swipe on my left wrist and rubbed it in with my right wrist. I also did a light swipe on my mustache. This oud is made from Thai and Cambodian material, and I can see immediately why this style shows up in ATH creations. On my skin, it is not fecal or animalic at all. It comes across very dry, woody, and musty. To me it smells like opening an old wooden wardrobe that has been shut for years in a humid environment. There’s a dusty, aged wood quality that feels quiet and serious rather than loud or challenging.
What’s interesting is how quickly it starts to change. On my wrist, it’s already softening into a closer, skin-level woodiness. The mustache application, on the other hand, is still going strong and projecting much more clearly. Same oil, totally different behavior depending on placement.
From what I understand, Thai and Cambodian ouds are known for being drier, more woody, and less animalic compared to some other regions, and this seems to line up with what I’m experiencing so far.