The history of Oud

Oud, a fragrance with a rich history and origins that dates it back to 1400 B.C.E is steeped in culture and tradition. It is used in the form of incense where the wood chips are burnt to welcome guests at home, it is also infused in perfumes or oil. Today notes of Oud can be found in commercial perfumes world over. 

The scent, although synonymous with the Middle East, is originally from the South East of Asia. It is derived from the infected aquilaria tree that forms agarwood as a defense mechanism to the mold formed. This process is called tylosis and the agarwood formed is Oud. Today however the purest form of agarwood is hard to come by. The quality of the oud is indicative of the status of the wearer in some religions, and experts can smell the contrast almost immediately.

The first mention of Oud was in the Sanskrit Vedas from India and then in the Hebrew Bible where it was said to be used as perfume. Some literature states that agarwood was used for medicinal purposes, ayurveda and aromatherapy. In Assam they used agarwood as writing material which is continued to be practiced today. Oud is highly respected in Hinduism, Chinese Folk religion and prominently in Islam and has even become an inherent part of the Arab culture, it’s a part of who they are. The burning of agarwood has even become a custom amongst the Arabs and they practice to scent their home with Oud even today. The calming effect of the scent has made it a part of religious rituals, meditation and is even used for personal grooming prior to offering prayers. 

It invokes a sense of emotions for Arabs and is used to create a trail of scent behind them, an aura of sorts. With its many uses and forms today, Oud is clearly more than just a scent, it’s a culture of its own. 

Explore our collection of Dehnal Oud and experience the fragrance for yourself!