About eight years ago, I took a chance and bought 24 grams of Laotian oud, sight unseen, to use in an upcoming formulation of Brooklyn Perfume Company’s Oud. I wanted to have a fair amount on hand so my oud would be consistent until I ran out of the oud and had to reformulate. I chose Laotian oud because it is known for its barnyard funk, an element I was looking for. When it arrived, it was far finer than I had expected, and had no funk at all. While left in pursuit of something more animal, I got something quite lovely in return. This oud has a striking clarity and presence with a sweet, almost floral, edge. In my own admittedly limited experience, it has many of the same qualities and charms of far more expensive ouds. Were it not for its uncertain provenance, I’m sure this oud would be far pricier.