How To Use Oud: A Detailed Guide

By the end of this guide you’ll learn the details of how to apply and wear artisanal oud oil, EO attars and essential oils. And you’ll read about an innovative way to use oud oils to enhance memory and improve your recall capabilities.

You’ll learn how to properly load the applicator. Several methods and styles of application. And techniques to enhance sillage and projection as well as a word on the etiquette of scent.

If you’re just getting started or transitioning into the world of natural fragrances and oud oils to receive a bottle of fragrance with no atomizer can leave even the most seasoned frag-head sniffing at the cap wondering now what?!?

However, it’s really easy to use oud oil and you’ll find out in detail how to below.

Loading the oud applicator

The sturdy glass bottles come with crystal applicators and a slight twist breaks the seal allowing for smooth extraction of the applicator.

To ensure less leaching of plastic into your artisanal oud oil, we use crystal glass applicators. This is especially a consideration when you’re planning to age the oud oil, maturing it like fine wine in a cellar potentially for decades.

Plastic does not leach into the oud in a short period of time. But it’s of concern with oils that have caustic attributes such as camphor, clove, and cinnamon. So either way your oud is safe!

Sample vials are even easier to open. Just peel them open as you would a crisp banana….

Click here to view our sampler sets.

Once you take the applicator out, load it with the right amount of oud. The amount depends on your preferred method of application and your style of scent appreciation.

Slowly extract the applicator from new bottles. Some ouds are thicker than others. So depending on the viscosity of the oil, might drip as soon as it comes out.

Slowly extract the applicator, and “rim” the excess within the bottle. This will save you the grief of wasting oud oil. And from olfactory overload in the case of the more potent oud oils.

After rimming the applicator (as in the above video) submerge it to the desired depth.

Use just the tip for training and studying the aroma, or to sip on throughout the day. Or load the applicator with full depth to apply using spot distribution for when wearing as a fragrance.

You may need to tilt the sample vials to allow the oil to coat the applicator for sufficient amounts.

Then you’re ready to apply the oil.

Click here for a selection of our first choices when getting started.

There are several methods of application based on your style.

Common uses are as a fragrance, to enhance meditation, therapeutically, or to study it as a connoisseur of oud.

How do I apply oud?

You can dot, swipe, and dab your way to oud bliss…

The most common method of application is the ‘swipe.’

The Swipe:

To swipe, apply the full length of the applicator to the skin in a linear motion.

For spot distribution or therapeutic use, roll the applicator while in contact with your skin. Rolling it transfers the entire contents onto that one spot.

Then apply the excess to various locations. Rub it in, or allow it to sit on the surface of the skin.

Applying the oil as a swipe is the most common method for use of oud oil as a fragrance. A full swipe allows you to put on quantities ideal for projection and sillage.

Keep reading to find out tips to maximize performance factors below.

The most common ouds used as a fragrances are Organic Ouds.

Follow this link to see available Organic Ouds.

Applying oud

There’s more to it than just spreading it out or rubbing it in.

In fact, there’s known benefit to not rubbing in an oud when using it as a fragrance.

However, absorption is needed and beneficial when using artisanal oud oils therapeutically.

And ultimately to experience the full spectrum of the profile encapsulated within the oud.

Spot Distribution

Spot distribution is when you apply extra oud to one spot, then apply it to other spots.

For spot distribution apply a full applicator to an easy-to-reach place on your skin.

My personal preference is the back of my left hand. I use it as an artist would use their pallet, and my right pinky then becomes my paintbrush.

Then take a portion of the oil on your pinky and apply it to various points of application. Most commonly just behind each earlobe. This spot is ideal for all three performance factors and applicable to each social zone. Because you use more oud with this style these Organic Ouds are recommended.

If you’re Oudept, and enjoy observing the ornate facets and nuanced details of the scent’s profile as it evolves. Use the method simply called ‘the dot.’

The Dot:

The dot is also ideal while training your olfactory receptors.

Train your senses on microscopic amounts of oils. This will increase your ability to pick up on nuances and specific notes down the line.

Such practice takes time and dedication as do all methods of refinement.

Your olfactory receptor neurons replenish every 30-40 days. So you’ll literally be able to smell more of the scent profile as your olfactory neurons renew.

Ouds most frequently applied with this method include the Oud Legends and Oriscent ouds.

How to enhance your first experience

Before your first experience with oud and natural aromatics it’s worth abstaining from all synthetic fragrances. To prevent additional damage to your receptors, and enhance your experience. Especially of natural aromatics, Artisanal Oud oil and natural artisanal perfume.

When utilizing the dot, a single 3 gram bottle of oud oil will last for almost an entire year. But variety is the spice of life. A bottle of oud can last years and years depending on the number of bottles in your scent wardrobe rotation. Here are the best oud oils to start with.

“The dot” is exactly what it sounds like.

Simply take the applicator, rim the excess, and apply the very tip of it to your choice spot. Two common locations are the inner wrist and the back of the hand.

These locations allow you to ‘sip’ the fragrance throughout the day. Just bring your hand in range to appreciate the fine aromatic and observe the scent evolution’s intricacies.

A spot to avoid

A mistake even veterans commonly make is applying to your hand near the v of your thumb and fore-finger.

The pulse point is further back and more central on the hand. And that’s exactly where your hand will grip another as you shake it. Also washing your hands throughout the day will diminish its efficacy. So skip the v of the hand and go for the inner wrist.

To maximize effectiveness and enjoyment of your artisanal oud oil, where you apply it is crucial.

Where to Apply Oud and Performance Variables

The locations and methods you use will depend on your style, the occasion, and purpose for wearing the oud oil.

You can use oud oils for:

Fragrance
Enhancing meditation
Spiritual practice
Memory capsules
Increasing focus
Therapeutic relief

The ideal locations for applying ouds differ slightly for each.

When applying artisanal oud oil as a fragrance, there are three major factors:

Projection
Sillage
Longevity

Combinations of different locations maximize these performance variables.

Attars are masterful blends of ouds and other natural aromatics. Like concentrated perfume the give excellent performance in all variables. View the current selection here.

Applying Oud on Pulse Points:

A known technique is to apply to various pulse points. But a lot of information is available about that, so I’m only going to touch on a few key spots.

One secret to projection with natural aromatics and oud oils is surface area.

Surface area allows for the oud oil to be more diffusive thus ‘projecting’ into the air, and the keys to this are quantity and breadth of application.

Considering that in most cases we’re wearing clothing, the surfaces that are unobstructed to project the aromatic oils are our faces, neck, and hands. Application onto clothing also can and should be used correctly (as discussed below).

Techniques for performance

For projection and sillage apply generous quantities of the oud oils to the sides of your neck, a well-known pulse point. And to the fundamental spots behind your earlobe.

To increase the longevity of the oud behind your earlobe don’t rub it in. Dab it on and allow the oil to slowly absorb. This lengthens the process from opening to drydown and increases the overall longevity of the experience.

On the neck spread the oil as you would a lotion or cream. The large surface area allows the oud to project more, ideal for sillage.

Because the air flows past your neck as you walk it’s the ideal spot for sillage as well as personal enjoyment of the aromatic oil throughout the day.

You can increase the density of your sent trail by applying more oud oil. The more oud, the more aromatic molecules left trailing behind you.

Not all oud oils perform the same, so experience different amounts to find what you enjoy the most.

Blood Flow & Scent Projection:

Another variable that enhances projection on pulse points is blood flow.

The higher your heart rate the faster your pulse points pulse. The warmer your body the more the aromatic molecules will fly off into the air.

That’s why you may experience reemergence of an oud oil during an evening workout or walk, long after you thought it had disappeared.

It’s also part of the reason oud performs differently for each individual; because we all have different body types, different constitutions.

The performance of oud oil; its projection, sillage and longevity also depend on environmental factors which we have little or no control over.

Projection and longevity are opposing factors when it comes to pleasant natural aromatics.

If it projects well, usually that means it won’t stick around long and if the longevity is great usually that means it stays pretty close to the skin.

However, these vary in each phase of an oud oil: the naturally occurring top, mid and base notes.

The top of an oud can have incredible projection but less longevity, while the mid and base have more longevity. Or the top can have longevity while the mid projects more and then the base phase again has higher longevity, etc.

Applying Oud on Clothing:

Use several locations and methods for overall performance.

To enhance the longevity of oud oil, apply it to the inner part of your collar, cuffs, and just inside the placket of your shirt and jacket.

Use indirect spot distribution so as not to transfer anything from your clothing onto your applicator and likewise take care not to stain light-colored clothing.

After using your pinky or any finger to apply the oud oil to various spots, you can directly apply the remainder to the above locations on clothing. Indirect application will prevent oil stains on light-colored clothing.

Also before you button your collar apply it directly to the point that reflexologists and acupressure practitioners refer to as ‘the heaven rushing out spot’ above where the clavicles join beneath your neck (also used for therapeutic applications) or apply to the cubital fossa, your ‘elbow pits’ before putting on your shirt.

A layer of clothing usually protects these unique points of application. And the extra layer enables the fragrance to remain longer in your intimate zone. The oud’s scent projects very well even though these locations are covered. It’s aroma will also appear in those intimate moments when its most appreciated.

The two most essential spots for you are the cuff and collar because as you motion in conversation and during day-to-day activities the scent will waft out enhancing your experience and the experience of those around you.

How much oud should I apply?

If you just want personal enjoyment of the aroma, a single dab behind each earlobe is sufficient for the day, as wisps and whiffs of the aroma transport you with the scent of far-off exotic lands refocusing the mind like a mini vacation. Wild ouds like Green Papua are most renowned for this effect.

The anxiolytic attributes of oud oil help you unwind and can enhance meditation. Their profiles unfold, guiding you through ascension with presence.

How to use oud therapeutically?

Oud oil and oud wood have uses beyond the general enhancement of well-being. You’ll feel good because you smell great. And there are traditional therapeutic benefits.

Oud has uses in Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda. It treats heart conditions, stomach ailments, and possess anesthetic properties alleviating mild (and sometimes excruciating) pain, and for its seemingly endless anxiolytic functions, relaxation, and focus, as well as many esoteric properties opening internal channels of energy.

For therapeutic application, apply it liberally to pulse points such as the inner wrist and throat and to rub the oils in to enhance absorption into the bloodstream and allow the healing properties to take more immediate effect.

Aromatics absorb into the bloodstream which is why you should carefully consider wearing synthetic fragrances. Certain molecules will end up in your bloodstream and may have damaging carcinogenic properties, and adhere to your fatty organ tissues.

Always use the highest grade possible.

We use medical grade parameters are to distill Oriscent ouds.

How do I use oud to meditate, study and enhance memory?

For meditation and during study with intense focus, or perhaps non-focus, a lesser amount of oud oil is needed.

Study can be two things: one is close observation of the scent – studying the scent evolution of the artisanal oud oil’s profile, and two is when pursuing academic interests, understanding and memorizing information; New Knowledge.

Given the intensity of focus, a single dot behind each ear, under the chin, or within one’s beard is sufficient. You can apply more if you’d like higher intensity.

Meditation

During meditation, you can apply more for the fragrance to take you through its scent evolution like a guide on a journey rather than just an enhancement.

For an even more intense experience apply a microscopic dot to your philtrum, that little groove right below your nose.

Only use a microscopic dots of the oil if you apply to your philtrum, because likely it’s been left alone most of your life. Also space out applications on this spot, because it will need time to adjust and gain tolerance to stimulus. This location is prone to induce olfactory fatigue however and may have the adverse effect of your brain muting the fragrance because it’s simply too strong.

Study

While studying I don’t recommend applying a dot to your hand unless you’re solely observing the oil itself because likely you’ll end up sitting there sniffing your hand and staring off into space rather than focusing on the information in front of you.

This brings me to the technique used to enhance memory recall.

Scent is strongly tied to memory so when learning new information use an oud that you’ve never experienced before.

That scent will be associated with new information obtained while wearing it and when you wear it again for your presentation or whenever you wish to recall the information the associative memory will enable you to more easily recall the information associated with that particular scent.

This technique is especially effective with rare and unique oils like Oriscent because the scents are particularly unique unlike many day-to-day aromas and fragrances which you’ll already have associations with.

Oud application in a nutshell

For best performance apply to a variety of locations including hidden spots of one’s clothing: inside of collars, plackets and the cuffs of your sleeves as well as the ‘hotspots’ of the body known as pulse points with focus on your inner wrist, behind your earlobes and on the neck along the carotid artery for projection and sillage.

Social Zones and Scent Etiquette

There are different social zones to consider when applying oud and natural aromatic oils which I categorize as intimate, casual and familiar.

Intimate refers to scents that you want to keep to yourself for personal enjoyment and only share with those literally closest to you.

Casual refers to passing encounters through day-to-day activities.

The familiar zone is the recurring encounters with colleagues and friends.

Point of etiquette

A major point of etiquette when it comes to scent is considering your zones.

An artisanal oud scent profile that you enjoy but those in your familiar zone may not appreciate should be applied in a manner that reserves it for your intimate zone. Use single dots under your chin, in your beard or mustache, on your t-shirt or in your ‘heaven’s rushing out’ spot, just below your collar.

If you want to turn heads in your casual zone and really leave an impression, apply the oil on your neck, behind the ear lobe and to your wrist to maximize sillage and projection. More oil will magnify the effect, or simply reapply it for big moments throughout the day for those extremely potent and diffusive top notes. For the casual zone Organic ouds are best suited because they have a crowd pleasing profile.

When you first apply the oud oil it’s like letting a genie out of the bottle *poof*

It’s incredibly diffusive. The sturdy glass bottle fits into your pocket and allows it to be applied and reapplied at opportune moments throughout the day and to easily share with friends.

For the familiar zone, unless looking to make a statement, the most important consideration is the acceptable nature of the profile. Organic ouds are easy to wear in any environment, but the familiar zone has more leniency to express yourself as your friends and colleagues can talk to you about the scent. Wild ouds, Legends and Oriscent oils can all be donned in this situation.

Where to Start with Ouds

In general, we recommend that newbies start with Organic Ouds.

These tend to be more pleasant and less challenging (and almost always cheaper). For newbies, we find that Thai Ouds and Cambodian Ouds are often easier tp enjoy and so make a good starting point. Their sweet yet exotic profiles are welcoming, approachable, and widely enjoyed.

It’s recommended to start with these easier ones before getting into the more sophisticated and challenging profiles of wild oud and the more barnyard Hindi profiles.

Besides our website, you can also try ouds from OudBar, which sell exclusives ouds from us and other distillers.

The main thing is to avoid synthetic or cheap ouds as we have discussed in our Oud Guide.

To start with a variety you can also select from our Sampler sets available here.

Oud Info