Hindi Oud, ultimately where every Oud journey comes to an end. The reason? Most other Oud producing regions can share similarities in aroma/notes, however what you discover in Hindi Oud rarely can be found anywhere else away from South Asia, other than maybe a barnyard opening. Very rarely do people say my oil from X region smells like a Hindi. The unique species of aggalocha tree is only found mainly now in northern India, and its uniqueness is due to this species. Indian Oud has a very ancient history, and one can only imagine the kind of oils that were distilled heading for the Middle East yesteryear

Manipur Maliki is distilled using raw materials from the far eastern state of Manipur, bordering Burma, which is easily some of the rarest and most precious woods you can get your hands on. The result is an oil that sets out to hail itself as one of the finest Hindi ouds I have ever smelt. The idea of this oil was to capture the true essence of the tree, its history, its life, and the blessings contained within it. I wanted to try and capture and envisage what ancient Hindi Oud truly smelt like, at the same time with an oil that was complex and rounded in profile. 30% of the material used was soaked for 10 days, the other 70% unsoaked and cooked in a steel pot. This oil truly embodies the highest quality of classical Hindi oil available today. If you thought Alhind Dhahab was good, this takes it to a higher level. Swipe Manipur Maliki against any Hindi oil in your collection and tell me if this oil is not truly special?

The colour of the oil is light and golden with a yellow tint, the viscosity one can only describe as silk. The complexity this oil holds is second to none; I have been studying it for weeks, and each time I smell it, I’m left confused and perplexed as I’m always discovering something new! Off the dipstick, I’m struck with citrus peel drenched in Yemini sidr honey, an almost lemon cheesecake vibe, a juicy bud of cannabis with a touch of sweet, light, smooth leather. The aroma hits you deep in the soul, mind, and nose, evoking a sense of time travel to those very ancient Hind Ouds which travelled the silk route to the middle east. For an oil which is so young it smells so mature, I am sure over time this will become one of the legends people talk about.

Once applied, the oil almost morphs off the skin like a mini Oud tornado, emitting a heavenly cloud of aroma around you, the projection is strong and the oil lasts for hours on end. The oil opens with the scent of a sinking-grade Hindi oud chip on low heat bubbling away, no smoke, just pure sweetness, ripe cherries laced with pipe tobacco, lurking in the back is a fleeting note of a vintage leather jacket, the faintest presence of clean barn, there’s a bitterness that emerges akin to grapefruit and chopped limes. The oil then moves to a spicy phase with powdered cumin, aniseed with ground pepper. Towards the base, the oil becomes floral with the scent of crushed petals, flowers, forest honey, creamy dried figs with a unique dry earthy vibe. Hindi Oud at its finest, the scent of ancient royalty, luxury, and one of the most addictive oils I have ever put my nose to.