Oud: Scent of Timeless Traditions

The art of perfumery has a long history in the region, dating back thousands of years. Over time, perfumes and fragrances have become much more than forms of adornment, they are now an integral part of our traditions and cultural heritage tapestry.

Oud is said to be one of the most exotic and fascinating ingredients on a perfumer’s palette, and has been considered a cultural touchstone, especially across the Middle East. Today, Oud is a representation of Emirati cultural identity.

Oud, known as gaharu, aloeswood, or agarwood in English, is a pungent and prized fragrance ingredient that comes from one of the rarest and most expensive woods in the world, originates from the barks of Aquilaria trees that only grow in parts of South East Asia.

A resin produced at the of Aquilaria tree trunks. The fragrance is a result of this resin, which the trees produce when infected by a fungus. The fragrance is, therefore, a by-product of the tree’s effort to conceal damages in self-defense.

This piece of Oud, from the personal collection of the late Sheikha Shaikha bint Saeed bin Maktoum Al Maktoum, is a masterpiece of nature. The “Perfume House” used to be her home; gifted by her brother, the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai (1958- 1990).

The late Sheikha Shaikha bint Saeed, an avid collector of perfumes and a distinguished perfumer herself, had this majestic piece displayed in her private 'majlis' (place of gathering) at her residence during her lifetime.

The late Sheikha Shaikha bint Saeed donated this Oud to Al Shindagha Museum. It is on display along with a stunning collection of artefacts at her former residence, now open to the public as the Perfume House.

Dedicated to highlighting the importance of Emirati perfumery and its history in Dubai, Perfume House features archaeological and historic artefacts related to perfume making, reflecting the creation process, the journey of a perfumer, and bearing testimony to how traditional perfuming has molded Emirati values and customs.

For thousands of years, Oud has been used in the form of wooden chips, burned as incense or used for oil extraction when boiled, or in the form of Oud oils, Dehn Al Oud. A high quality oil extraction and ageing process gives Dehn al Oud a longer life span, intensifies its fragrance and increases its scent.

One of the main reasons for the relative rarity and high cost of agarwood is the depletion of the wild resource. Only seven out of 100 Aquilaria trees produce Oud and it may take decades for a tree to harvest a good amount of Oud.

A whole range of Oud qualities are available, varying in quality with geographical location, botanical species, the age of the specific tree and the section of the tree where the piece of agarwood stems from.