Aasifah

O Hindi Oudh, what can we say about thee?

We adore Hindi Oudh.

No really, for us they are the piece de resistance of the whole Oudh genre, more Oudhy than just Oudh itself. Hindi Oudhs are brutal, dominant and encompassing with the ability to pierce your whole being regardless of what mood you are in. For this reason it is no surprise that in most of the subcontinent and Middle Eastern traditions this particular type of Oudh is revered so dearly.

The Hindi Oudh has it all – it is extremely robust and versatile – it just depends on the distillers’ skills as to what facets they can bloom from it. In the hands of a true skilled artist it can produce a beautiful, delicate and refined oil like Qandahaar I, or a more fully bodied dense and darker oil such as Qandahaar II and  even the tantalising Chocolate, dark tobacco of Hudhayl.

‘Aasifah in Arabic means storm. Powerful yet serene. Lethal but gentle. It is an Oudh humming with strength and brutality but bringing both serenity and calm. Distilled from what is known as ‘Natural Home Grown Agarwood” (where the trees are planted in the homes of villagers and then allowed to age naturally many of which pass 50 years) it is an Oudh full of captivating energy.

Top: Thick dense lemon molasses infused with ripe mango pulp, tamarind crush and the slightest hum of caramel

Middle:  Brushes of tobacco, coffee, old leather and rose petals sprinkled with ambergris

Base: Ethereal woodiness with a barn that has been lifted to give an ethereal airy feel, floating up and down in waves making you eager to hit the end but then bouncing back. ‘Aasifah is not boring nor easily predictable – it is an Oil full of olfactory gymnastics. Then finally a sweet tobacco appears with a slightly fruity acidity, simply mesmerising.

This oil is a gem and for just $275 per bottle it is a true steal.