Chinese Zen (Super Premium CO2)

This is our very special wild Hainan 2022 carbon dioxide total extracted oil, acquired directly from our Japanese sources, this is a very very special oil.

Production Date: 2022

Aquilaria Sinesis

 
Scent Profile/ Appearance:

This is an extremely viscous oil almost semi solid, thicker than labdanum oil. The smell is a very sweet, green, herbal, spicy. The good thing about CO2 oils is that they do not tend to age at all, because they have much less terpenic content which usually causes most of the change during ageing, so, its like its aged already, thats how its going to smell for a very long time. 

Chinese Hainan agarwood oils are highly esteemed for their unique and elegant scent profile, often described as refined, complex, and deeply aromatic. Hainan, an island in southern China, produces agarwood with distinct characteristics that set it apart from other regional varieties. The scent profile typically includes:

1. **Soft, Woody Base**: A smooth, mild woodiness forms the core, often described as dry and clean compared to the more intense woody notes of other agarwoods. The woodiness is subtle, with a polished and almost silky texture.

2. **Cooling, Camphoraceous Notes**: A hallmark of Hainan agarwood is its cool, camphor-like quality, which imparts a refreshing, almost minty crispness. This cooling aspect gives the oil a light, airy feel and contrasts beautifully with the deeper elements.

3. **Sweet, Resinous Accents**: While not as sweet as some Southeast Asian agarwoods, Hainan oud offers a mild sweetness, akin to soft amber or dried fruits. The sweetness is gentle, enhancing the overall balance without overpowering the woodiness.

4. **Earthy and Herbal Undertones**: Subtle earthy notes with a hint of herbs or green moss can emerge, providing a natural, grounded layer. These nuances evoke the freshness of a forest, with a quiet, meditative quality.

5. **Subtle Smokiness**: The smokiness in Hainan agarwood oils is usually soft and refined, more akin to the delicate scent of distant incense. It is less prominent than in other agarwoods but adds warmth and depth.

6. **Spicy and Balsamic**: Light touches of spice, such as clove or cinnamon, and balsamic undertones may be present, adding a soft warmth to the composition. These nuances contribute to the oil's depth without being too bold or dominant.

Overall, Chinese Hainan agarwood oils are known for their balanced, smooth, and cooling profile, offering a subtle interplay of woody, sweet, and camphoraceous notes. This makes the oil feel sophisticated, meditative, and elegant, ideal for those who appreciate a more understated and refined oud.

Scent Progression 

2-1-5-4-6-3

The Wood:

Wild powdered very high resin content, and very pleasant smelling as raw material before making it into an oil. The smell of wild woods from Hainan are very similar in general, Yunnan would be the other Chinese region that produce totally different scent profiles which have more sour Nha Trangish medicinal top notes, while Hainan is more tea, herbal, spicy green with subutism smoke trails. This wood when powdered is fragrant with the same scent of the wood exactly at room temperature (wood sample will be sent with 1 ml or 3 ml of the oil).

The Cook:

The cook for this oil is a total Co2 extraction, total and select yield very different results with agarwood, and the total captures a very whole scent profile with absolutely stunning results. Japanese sources and Chinese distillers mastered CO2 technology with agarwood i would say more than anyone else, like Omanis mastered CO2 of frankincense more than anyone else.

I would NOT cook this oil any other way than CO2, which is as we believe will be the future of distillation generally due to the much easier to control parameters and much lesser reliance on the artisanal variables of the “artist”, you get the smell of the wood as is, and with our source, you got it multiplied exponentially. Its a powerful oil. 

The other good thing about CO2 is that it prevents any burn, extra soak, etc, none of that potentially exists.

The Cost:

We have come across oils that smell awfully close to this oil from China for multiple times the price, i kid you not, this oil is a bargain. Our ability to offer it at this price comes from the fact that this is a CO2 with a higher yield than hydrodistillation.

Who is this oil recommended for?

Any agarwood users who wish to try a complete oil from Hainan. Much better than plantation Chinese oils, this oil is a very nice representation of Hainanese agarwood scent profiles.