Smell Oud or Play the Oud?
For many people, Oud isn’t an instrument, but a fragrance.
Yes, Oud is a highly valued perfume. It’s in use mostly by fans from Saudi Arabia and the gulf countries.
Why is Oud so expensive?
It’s an interesting fact, that only 2% of the Southeast Asian agar trees actually produce the desired oil (Arabic: ‘Dehn al oud’).
It is also said that the most strong and aromatic Oud fragrance, is extracted from the older trees.
The origins of the word Oud
It’s not a coincidence that Oud perfume and Oud the instrument, share the same word. It’s the origins of the Arabic word that makes these two different object have the exact same name.
In Arabic, the word ‘Oud / عود’ simply means “wood”.
Yes, as the Oud has evolved it was named Oud, after its main material, wood. The oud perfume is made of agarwood which is also known as “The wood of the gods”.
For many, it is the world’s most extravagant perfume.
The culture around the Oud perfume
For centuries, Oud perfume has been an expensive and rare material.
In the Islamic world, it has taken a place of holy incense, used in mosques and in religious ceremonies.
Nowadays, the Oud is used as a precious object one can give as a gift to his client, boss or wife.
To the elite Saudi business people, it’s not only a matter of smell but as a prestige luxurious way of showing their social status.
Why is Oud so expensive?
You might be asking why only 2% of the trees can be used for extracting the oil. The answer bares in an amazing way that the agarwood is created.
It happens when some trees get infected by an insect fungous.
Termites and other animals are attracted to the tree and try to penetrate its shell.
Once they succeed, holes are created inside the tree.
The tree tries to protect itself and produces a unique resin that fills the small hole that was created.
As the resin ages and slowly matures, the smell and the sophisticated aroma are then created.
Oud has many uses, besides the religious and Arabic rituals.
It is said to be effective for many health-related problems such as spasms in the digestive and respiratory systems, fevers, abdominal pain, and even asthma.
Some are using the powerful perfume for soothing and relaxation, and it’s widely in use in aromatherapy.
These facts and its prestige position have made the Oud, a very expensive material.
Let’s look at today’s prices up prices.
Prices of Oud perfumes
As to 2020, the price range is pretty wild.
The cheapest oud oil is distilled from aloeswood that costs as little as $20 a kilogram, If you are looking for the best you can get, then the prices raise dramatically.
For the finest oud out there, you can expect to pay a starting price of $50,000 per kilogram.
According to the Oud Oil Trading site, the average price of 12ml (a ‘tola’ in the local jargon) in Q4 of 2019 was 513$ (!).
Start saving today 😉
Prices of the instrument Oud
When it comes to the Oud instrument, prices vary as well.
184 years ago, in 1835 a very special oud was made. It was made by Abdo Nahat.
It is currently in Arizona, reputedly owned originally by Farid Al Attrash.
Such oud has an estimated value of over 210,000$. On the other side of the price scale, in case you are walking in Cairo, Mohammed Ali street, you can find ouds for as low as 50$!
You are welcome to browse through our Oud catalog and find great handmade ouds at very reasonable prices. For example, a Syrian Oud starts at 380$ only!
