Pailin Atiq

Wow! That was my immediate reaction upon encountering this extraordinary oud. The turpentine-like fumes were utterly arresting, instantly transporting me back to memories of the highest-grade Bornean oils I discovered over 17 years ago at the very beginning of my oud journey.

These days, the Thai and Cambodi oud landscape has become rather uninspiring—a sea of cloyingly sweet organic oils, with the occasional gem like Asali II breaking the monotony. That said, there’s certainly nothing wrong with many of these organic oils—we’ve offered some of the finer distillations ourselves in the past. Our Thai Zamzam, for instance, was crafted using incense-grade material of this very type. The key difference, however, was that we distilled that oil in-house—and the craftsmanship was plain to see.

But I digress—back to the matter at hand. The contrast between this vintage wild Pailin and our organic Pailin is so dramatic, you’d be forgiven for not realising they hail from the same region, let alone the same country.

This oil opens with a sublime burst of ethereal top notes, swiftly giving way to a majestic wild Cambodi (but not as you know it)  heart—laden with heavy resin and laced with hints of clove, cinnamon, and the rich, velvety aroma of smooth incense. It oozes quality and refinement.  The drydown is peppered with a gorgeous spicy glow and jungle scent that evokes the smell from dense tropical foliage after the rain. What a ride! This oil takes me back to why I started this oud journey in the first place. 

In all honesty, there is nothing in our entire collection—released or unreleased—that comes close to this in terms of scent. The only oil that matches it in sheer quality is our Fiet Atiq.

And yet, even these words barely do it justice.  I’m convinced that with certain vendors, a bottle of this would be priced at a four-figure sum starting with the number 5.  That’s the calibre of oil we are talking about here. 

Although Angkor Wat is not geographically in Pailin, it was the only Cambodian site grand enough to visually capture the gravitas, majesty, and timeless spirit of Pailin Atiq. Like the temple complex itself—etched in stone and suspended in myth—this oil possesses a soul that feels ancient, regal, and utterly transcendent. It is not merely oud; it is a relic in liquid form, whispering of forgotten dynasties and sacred smoke rising into jungle canopies.

Available in 1g and 2.5g bottles