For those that don’t know Ive been selling Chinese tea for a while before 2016 when I discovered…Agarwood and Oud!
Since my initial foray into tea in 2014, I've unconsciously embraced a purist approach in both the personal enjoyment and what I offer to others. There's a profound beauty in appreciating raw materials for what they inherently are, a sentiment that resonates in the worlds of tea, incense, and the realm of fragrant oils.
A brief jot about tea:
When it comes to tea (proper tea), I exempt the Dan Cong roasters, Ripe Puerh blenders, sheng pressers, shou stuffers, and jasmine pluckers from my minimalist stance, acknowledging their craft. However, anything straying too far from this seems sacrilegious to the essence of the leaf. Mainstream loose-leaf culture often incorporates various additions, deviating from the true essence of tea. I find the vast spectrum of character in different sheng regions, the subtle mountain-to-mountain nuances in Taiwan, or the refined roasts of Da Hong Pao to be the true beauty in tea, not frankenblends!
In the realm of fragrance and incense, I've unknowingly applied the same habits as in the tea world. While I respect Japanese incense and artisanal blends, I naturally lean towards understanding and appreciating the notes and nuances of regional materials. Whether it's exploring the various sub-regions of Indonesian agarwood or experiencing the diverse scents of sandalwood from different islands, I find this exploration genuinely fascinating.
Fragrance:
Now, my journey extends into the captivating world of fragrances, essential oils, and Oud. Starting at the pinnacle of the pyramid with oils derived from some of the most expensive materials in perfumery, such as Agarwood, sandalwood, musk, and vetiver, has been a delightful experience. Testing out single-origin oils has added another layer of appreciation to this aromatic exploration.
The nuances of sandalwood oil, often discreet and dependent on origin and batch, take an intriguing turn when used as a base for attars. While raw deer musk pellets might initially present a bold and off-putting animalic scent, the transformation when blended with sandalwood over time is nothing short of enchanting. It's a harmonious marriage where the raw animalistic notes mellow and intertwine with sandalwood, creating pure magic. I can understand how a drop of 'M16'—a 16-year-old blended Mysore sandalwood musk—became a testament to this alchemical fusion.
As your purist foundations crack and evolve, the journey of discovery around the next olfactory corner may well rupture the fault lines to reveal unexpected delights and fragrant revelations. The world of scents is boundless, with surprises awaiting at every turn.
Indeed, the journey through taste and smell is a delightful, educational, and occasionally fleeting experience. Enjoy and reflect on each step, savoring the richness of every aroma and flavor along the way.