Scent of The Day

luxuryscents Black Afghano - Hashish, Cannabis, Green Notes, Resins, Coffee, Tobacco, Incense & Agarwood
Wow that sounds dark, rich and brooding, would really appeal to me, especially autumn and winter (I'm not a stoner BTW!)

I get pulled over every time I cross the border to the continent whether in a car or on my motorbike, maybe I look like a known bad guy? Maybe I won't wear that when there are likely to be sniffer dogs on duty though!
 
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Wow that sounds dark, rich and brooding, would really appeal to me, especially autumn and winter (I'm not a stoner BTW!)

I get pulled over every time I cross the border to the continent whether in a car or on my motorbike, maybe I look like a known bad guy? Maybe I won't wear that when there are likely to be sniffer dogs on duty though!

Yeah, while not as dark as many black musks, it's still a moody one. More traditionally, I think the hash/cannabis elements would simply have been patchouli. It's certainly like a dark musky oudh with a grassy notes.

On another forum, a chap was (collectively) deciding upon a stag do scent and was mulling over Black Afghano ... to which I said in no uncertain terms that smelling of hash while passing through customs for a stag do abroad was a very sure way of cutting that short!
 
Where do you source these interesting ouds and attars from Paul? I read your olfactory adventures with interest. We may have similar tastes, although the only "oudh" I actually have is "Vibrant Leather Oud" from, surprisingly, Zara. (the Hotmetalette is Spanish and loves Zara, we found it in there for about £20 and it has turned out to be a favourite). I'm trying not to get into the fragrance rabbit hole but would like to dip my toe into the pond of more accessible /affordable ouds.
 
Where do you source these interesting ouds and attars from Paul? I read your olfactory adventures with interest. We may have similar tastes, although the only "oudh" I actually have is "Vibrant Leather Oud" from, surprisingly, Zara. (the Hotmetalette is Spanish and loves Zara, we found it in there for about £20 and it has turned out to be a favourite). I'm trying not to get into the fragrance rabbit hole but would like to dip my toe into the pond of more accessible /affordable ouds.

For the short answer, I'll point you to my mega-thread: https://www.theshavingroom.co.uk/community/threads/attar-o-o-o-o.46037/

Long(er) answer ...

Proper oudh is a stinker ... and yes, you get what you pay for. £10 will get you a largely synthetic or heavily diluted oudh. £30 will get you a foot in the door, but proper oudh goes for a good amount of money and it's NOT a fragrance that Westerners "get" easily. Once you're through the first couple of hours of that almost fecal stench, it really comes through. Then you "get" it.

Because oudh is a deeply cultural thing, Eastern vendors don't mess about and try to pass off lower quality as higher. See: https://www.oudh.co.uk/en/pure-oudh-by-origin for some ideas. That's a lot of money if you don't know what you're buying into ... but they do these tiny samples: https://www.oudh.co.uk/en/perfume-samples/pure-oud-samples < one dot will be plenty for a day or more.

That's oudh ... proper oudh. Oudh in practically all Western frags is synthetic.

Eastern perfumery is about the interplay of ingredients over much longer periods of time. Think shifting sand dunes. Check the thread, but start with some of the bigger houses, like Al Haramain, Swiss Arabian and Surrati. Al Rehab are cheap and cheerful. Start with some classics, like Jannatul Firdous ("Garden of Heaven") or Hajr Aswad ("The Black Stone" of Mecca). Most will come in 3ml, 6ml or 12ml bottles (1/4 to 1/2 to 1 Tola in Arabian measures).

Start at Fragrance of Arabia on eBay, whom I have bought many, many from and been happy with service, delivery and the scents themselves. Pick a handful you sound the like of and try 'em out.
 
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