Nepalese oud smells like walking into an ancient temple after incense has burned for hours—smoky, resinous, and deeply earthy. Imagine aged leather mixed with burnt wood, a touch of animalic musk, and something almost medicinal, like camphor or aged tobacco. It's warm and slightly bitter, with an underlying sweetness reminiscent of honey or molasses. The scent has a velvety thickness to it, coating your senses like smoke clinging to fabric. It's simultaneously comforting and slightly imposing—definitely not a fresh, cheerful smell.
Nepalese oud comes from the heartwood of the Aquilaria (agarwood) tree, primarily harvested in Nepal and neighbouring Himalayan regions. The tree produces this fragrant resin only when stressed—typically from fungal infection or physical damage. Harvesters fell mature trees and extract the dark, resin-saturated heartwood through traditional methods, which they then distil into essential oil. This process is slow: a tree may take decades to develop sufficient resin. Genuine Nepalese oud is exceptionally rare and expensive; many versions today are synthetically created or blended with other woody materials to meet demand.
Nepalese oud serves as a powerful base note and emotional anchor in fragrances. Perfumers use it sparingly—often just 2-5% of a composition—because its intensity demands respect. It grounds lighter notes, adds complexity and depth, and lends an air of luxury and sophistication. It bridges traditional and modern compositions, equally at home in niche orientals or contemporary minimalist fragrances.
Surprising harmonies