Malay Zen

Malaysia is more diverse than most of the other agarwood-producing regions; there are some species that are rare and extinct, and some are about to be. I always try to distill or at least manage to source these types of oils for the oud connoisseurs who appreciate and admire the beauty of nature’s most precious gift. Proud to present you all another oil from the Zen series, the ‘Malay Zen.’

MZ is a unique oil distilled almost 12 years ago from the wild incense Aquilaria Beccariana species which was sourced from the south of the Malay peninsula. It’s rare or almost impossible to find such species anymore. Many typically think of the Malay profile as a cola or some sort of green jungle profile. This oil defies everything we know about Malaysia. Not all Malaysians smell similar, as we have Malacensis, Microcarpa, beccariana, rostrata, Hirta, to name a few. What this oil smells like is very similar to Vietnamese or Laotian sinesis oud oils, yet it has some similarities with Malaysian oud oils in its core, and let’s discuss that now, and I’ll keep it very simple.

Smell:

Opens with a gentle citrusy brightness that quickly gives way to sweet honey and the damp autumn leaves. Soft floral tones add lift, while a rich, addictive woody heart provides depth and balance. Golden honey undertones persist throughout, creating a smooth, warming trail. The drydown reveals a bittersweet, resinous character with subtle medicinal facets; it is elegant, enduring, and deeply meditative. No barn, funk, or off notes. It’s thick and one of the very long-lasting oils; a small dot will probably last 12+ hours on skin and will take you to the Zen mode.