atlas
Oud Atlas
The word 'oud' hides radical differences. Hindi oud is nothing like Cambodian, and neither resembles Laotian. Geographic origin, Aquilaria species, tree age, and degree of fungal infection each shape a distinct profile. This atlas breaks them down.
Oud is a resin produced by the Aquilaria tree as an immune response to specific fungal infection. Without infection, no oud — just ordinary wood. Wild infection is rare, so most modern plantations induce it artificially. The result: oud is cheaper and more available than ever, but with less diversity than traditional wild-harvested oud.
five origins
origin
Hindi Oud (Indian)
Animalic, leathery, barnyard, intense
origin
Cambodian Oud
Sweet, resinous, fruity, fermented plum
origin
Laotian Oud
Balsamic, cocoa, dry, rarely animalic
origin
Indonesian Oud (Borneo, Sulawesi, Papua)
Green, citrusy, woody-fresh
origin
Tunisian Oud
Dried fruit, woody, soft, Mediterranean warmth