Know what you are doing when you buy Lao
Oud-aloeswood
you have to know who you're dealing with: there is a tremendous variation in quality,
price, method of extraction. I know one person who directly imports the material. The oil is picked up at the still
in Laos and hand carried back to the USA. Real premium grade Lao Oud is a moderately viscous yellowish oil with an
intense aroma and unmistakable psychoactive effects. There is also a CO2 (supercritical extraction) form that has a
deeper aroma, it is a molasses like oil that hardens at slightly below room temperature. There is, be warned, much
contaminated and stepped on Lao Oud, and some of this sold at ludicrously inflated prices to naive buyers. Some of
these types advertise on the internet too.
There are three major grades of the steam distilled yellow oil, in
my opinion only the superior grade is worth the trouble and it runs about 30-35 dollars a gram, probably more with
the weak dollar. Be very suspicious of a product that shows any sign of separation, for instance if the bottle looks
like it is part one thing, such as a clear oil or wax, and part something else, you're getting adulterated Lao.
To repeat, the Lao Oud market is infested with scammers and hucksters. Only deal with businesses that make
Lao Oud a substantial part of their catalog. If your supplier gets blustery or defensive or makes a big show of
their superior knowledge if you question the product, you're probably dealing with one of the multitudes of
bullshitters out there.
There's an ancient ritualistic thing about it
probably many of the ritual nuances would be lost on someone who hasn't spent a lifetime in an incense
culture... ultimately you have to decide what you want from the experience. I was combining fragrances from Santa
Maria Novella and Lorenzo Villoresi, added in a shot of Lao Oud and some concentrated androstenone, which also has
an interesting perfumery use as well as a pheromone, it can add an authoritative musky punch to the mix...anyway,
this combination was unusual to say the least... totally masculine in way that other male fragrances rather paled
next to, although it was only a bit Lao Oud.... Lao and Patchouli seem to work out nicely together...