What Is Meant by Rare Oud?
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"Rare oud" is a description applied to an oud that is scarce and hard to obtain, so its price and value rise. But what actually makes an oud rare? And how do you distinguish between documented rarity and claimed rarity? In this article — the conclusion of the grade names — we show the meaning of rarity, its causes, and why it is the most tempting of descriptions to exaggerate.
What makes oud rare?
Rarity in oud has real causes:
- A depleted source: like the oud of the ancient wild regions whose production became scarce (like Hainan or wild Assam).
- A rare high grade: pieces rich in resin whose formation was prolonged in nature.
- An exceptional character: a rare scent that does not recur much.
- A documented age: aged oud whose like is hard to find today.
For true rarity arises from a scarcity of supply against demand, and it is an understandable value. But the important thing is that this rarity be documented with a known source and a clear grade, not merely a description applied to raise the price.
Documented rarity vs. claimed rarity
"Rare oud" is among the most tempting of descriptions to exaggerate, because rarity raises the price directly and justifies high numbers. And so the description is sometimes applied to an ordinary oud to raise its value, or an oud is attributed to a rare source it is not from — as we showed in oud types by origin about Hainan and the Vietnamese.
So the difference between documented and claimed rarity is the evidence: where did the oud come from? And what are its indicators that confirm its rarity (an exceptional grade, a known source, a truly rare character)? For the genuine rare is testified to by its qualities, and the claimed rare does not withstand the question and the sample.
Because rarity raises the price, the rare names (like the ancient wild) are the ones to which an oud that is not from them is most attributed. And so "rare oud" is the description most in need of documenting the source and verifying, not merely believing.
Is the rare always better?
Rarity raises the market value, but it does not necessarily mean that the piece is finer in scent for you. For an available oud may have a scent that pleases you more than an expensive rare one that does not suit your taste. For rarity is a value for the collector who looks for the unique, but it is not a guarantee of aromatic pleasure. And the measure in the end is your taste and your purpose: do you acquire for the rarity or use for the scent?
And with this we conclude the group of grade names. And in the following article we pose a question that gathers them all: are the classifications globally standardized?
The rare is often more expensive by virtue of its scarcity, but the beauty of its scent remains a separate matter of taste. So do not assume that the rare necessarily pleases you; try it with your nose, for the aromatic pleasure is other than the collectible value.
We state the source of the oud and its grade honestly, so you know its rare from its available with clarity. Begin with a sample by which you assess the oud yourself.
Browse natural oudRequest a sampleThis is the conclusion of the "grade names" group in oud grades and classification, and it is preceded by what is meant by the Royal grade?
And for the question of standardizing classifications see are the classifications globally standardized?
