What fragrance are you wearing today?

Rania J - Oud Assam (sample, 2013)



Raw, funky and unapologetic, the quintessential Assam oud. I’ve some actual oils from this northern Indian region, renowned for their heavy-fermented style, but none of them really hit me in the face like this edp does. First 15 minutes are quite challenging, you’re basically entrapped in a huge barnyard with a thousand goats around an enormous gorgonzola cheese. But for those who dare, there’s a very nice reward made of clean vetiver surrounded by herbal spices, ending in a long, cozy amber drydown, pretty far from where things started.
If curious about Rania J’s natural playground, I'd suggest as starter something easier like Ambre Loup, where the animalic side is still there but tamed.
Bouki: since I see you’re familiar with the namesake attar from AM (pretty civil to me, isn’t it?), you can picture this like its wild liquid cousin.