Kelantan (the jungle that gave us Oud Ahmad, 2001), Malinau (the jungle that brought us Borneo 4000 in 2005), and the swamps along the Obaa river (the jungles that inspired our Sultan Series, 2013/14) come together in one intoxicating headscratch of an oud.
The opening whiff shoots straight into your forehead. When the piercing sweetened petrichor tone subsides (well, kind of subsides), the aroma reveals a sappy citrus note reminiscent of Borneo Kinam bound in chains of tigerwood that adds a resinous noir to the spread of vanilla and cedar freshness – the signature chord of fantastic Malinau oils (unicorns in our day…)
Sometimes, when you’ve smelled yourself blue and have become so familiar with the beautiful varieties of the agarworld, you think there are no surprises left. I’ve been there myself many times – many times because you eventually learn the secret. Just like you don’t tease the ocean, don’t underestimate the aquilaria. Â
Archipelago bursts with those deep wafts of resinous mineral-rich top notes, not salty, but layered in spice molded into a tapestry of dark-toned medicinal chords.Â
You hadn’t smelled such a narcotic tapestry of berries and smoke and rained-on-earth drenched resin before because it never existed until now. These legendary agarwood jungles in a single drop has one surprise after another in store for even the most capricious nose.
Featured Testimonials…
The smell reminds me of Green Papua, with the semi-dark green intriguing freshness that it has. Also shares the smooth minty coolness of some Borneo oils. It’s like a harmonious mix of the best of both worlds.
Complex and intriguing blend of green, piercing pristine incensy smoke and minty coolness. I say complex because at various intervals you get either-or scent profile, more often than less a combination of two or more of these profiles intermingled together. Has a dark green/mysterious grey character to it. VERY meditative and high quality.Â