Oriental

Imagine walking into a candlelit room where incense has been burning for hours—that's your first impression. Gurjum balsam smells warm, resinous, and faintly medicinal, like a cross between cedarwood and benzoin, but earthier. There's a subtle sweetness underneath, almost vanilla-like, paired with a slightly woody, almost smoky character. It's dense and enveloping, reminiscent of old libraries or temple interiors—comforting yet slightly austere, never cloying or aggressively sweet. It clings to your skin with intimate warmth rather than announcing itself loudly.

Woody

Oud is profoundly complex—imagine walking into a centuries-old wooden temple where incense has smouldered for generations. There's dark, animalic warmth reminiscent of leather and tobacco, threaded through with something almost medicinal and slightly funky, like aged wood that's been touched by earth and time. Some describe it as smoky-sweet, with whispers of honey and spice lurking beneath. It's neither floral nor fresh; it's introspective and dense, filling your senses with contemplative richness.