Terms to consider when buying oud or oud oil

Terms to consider when buying oud or oud oil

Oud holds a special place in the Arab and Gulf worlds, due to its cultural depth and religious and social symbolism. Because the oud market is filled with different types, grades, and names, buyers, especially beginners, can be confused or even fall victim to commercial fraud. Therefore, it's important to familiarize yourself with the basic terms in the world of oud before purchasing to ensure you're getting the right, high-quality variety. In this article, we'll discuss the most important terms you may encounter when purchasing oud.


What is the importance of the oud?

Oud is used in gatherings, occasions, and religious rituals, and is considered a symbol of generosity and good taste. It is also given as a gift on special occasions and is considered a manifestation of luxury. This high regard for oud has increased its monetary value, especially for natural and rare varieties. Among the most important benefits of oud are:

  • The scent of oud helps calm the nerves and relieve stress and anxiety.
  • It is used in mosques, prayers, and religious rituals because it adds a distinct spiritual character.
  • Its warm, deep scent gives a feeling of security and psychological stability.
  • It helps in disinfecting places from bad odors and bacteria.
  • It is used in men's and women's perfumes to distinguish personality and enhance presence.
  • Gives a luxurious impression on important occasions such as weddings.


Oud is not just a luxurious scent that fills the space; it is a complete experience that combines psychological comfort, spirituality, and personal appeal. Whether used in incense or as an aromatic oil, oud remains a symbol of authenticity and refined taste, and its benefits extend beyond its aromatic aspect to touch the body and soul simultaneously.


What are the most important oud terms?



If you're an oud enthusiast or even just trying to use it for the first time, you may encounter some oud terminology and have questions about what oud is? What are its types and which is the best? How is it measured? What are its quality levels? Below, we'll explain the most important oud terms:


First: Types of oud according to treatment

• Natural Oud: This is the original, raw oud, extracted directly from the agarwood tree without any additives or enhancements. It has not been subjected to any processing, whether chemical or natural. It is distinguished by its rarity and is often the most expensive type of oud. It is characterized by its calm, deep, and evolving scent, and is preferred by lovers of pure oud. There are many types of oud, determined by the region from which the oud is extracted, the most prominent of which are blue oud, Indian oud, Cambodian oud, and Malaysian oud. Discover the types of natural oud at Abdul Malik Oud.


• Enhanced Oud: Oud whose scent has been enhanced naturally, undergoing certain processes and additives to enhance the scent or increase quality. These processes may include soaking the wood in chemicals or adding aromatic oils. Enhanced oud produces a stronger scent and is considered a middle ground between natural and synthetic. You can now learn about the types of enhanced oud from Abdul Malik's diverse Oud collection.


• Synthetic oud: This is oud that has been chemically treated to enhance the scent or give it a shinier appearance. It is often used in cheap markets or by non-professionals. Its scent may be strong, but it is not as pure or lasting as natural oud.


Second: Terms that express the quality of the oud

  • Super Oud: This is a description that indicates that the oud is excellent and is popular among all classes of society. The oud pieces are harder than regular oud and have a better scent. It is used in mosques and religious occasions .
  • Double Super Oud : It is stronger and more expensive than Super Oud in quality, as it is saturated with oud oil and is mostly used for personal or home fragrance.
  • Triple Super Oud: It is more expensive than Sawir Oud and Double Super Oud, but it surpasses them in quality in terms of scent, density, and saturation with oud oil.



Third: Terms about the oud according to shape and appearance

  • Oud Sheets: It is the oud that is cut into relatively large slices or sheets, and is often used in large gatherings or with guests.
  • Oud shells: Refers to small pieces of agarwood, typically used for personal use or in light incense.
  • Butterfly Oud: A specific technique of cutting an oud to give it a butterfly-like shape, often used for display or marketing purposes.
  • Tiger Oud: This name refers to a type of enhanced oud that appears striped or patterned like tiger skin. The name is more of a marketing term than a scientific one.
  • Ghattas Oud: This name is given to a type of very heavy oud that sinks in water rather than floating. This is due to its high saturation with oud oil. The name is a marketing term used to indicate the quality of the oud and its richness in oils. It also has other names, such as Underwater Oud.


Fourth: Units of measurement for oud and oud oil

  • Tola: An ancient Indian word used as a unit of measurement for agarwood, agarwood oil, and musk, equal to approximately 12 grams.
  • Half a tola: equals 6 grams.
  • A quarter tola: equals 3 grams.
  • Ounce: A unit of weight equal to 28 grams
  • One-eighth (meaning one-eighth of a kilo): approximately equal to 125 grams.
  • A quarter of a kilo: approximately equal to 225 grams of oud.


Finally, knowing oud terminology helps us make informed purchasing decisions. With the increasing demand for authentic oud products, if you're looking for an exceptional aromatic experience and unparalleled quality, at Oud Abdul Malik , we offer a carefully selected collection of agarwood and refined and natural oud oil in a variety of varieties, such as blue oud, Indian oud , Cambodian oud , and Malaysian oud .

All these luxurious products, crafted with precision and high quality, come with a seamless and secure online shopping experience. Order now and feel free to immerse yourself in a world of enchanting oriental scents.