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Rising Phoenix Perfumery

Nungkhal 3 - 2023 : Pure Manipuri 170+ Year Old Single Tree Oud Oil - Hindi Dehn al Oudh - Rising Phoenix Perfumery - Nungkhal Series 3 of 4

Nungkhal 3 - 2023 : Pure Manipuri 170+ Year Old Single Tree Oud Oil - Hindi Dehn al Oudh - Rising Phoenix Perfumery - Nungkhal Series 3 of 4

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Jungle : Nungkhal Forest Preserve, Manipur - India
Class : Wild Agallocha - 170+ Year Old Tree
Distillation : Traditional Wood-fired Copper Deg and Bapkha, 20 Day Soak / Fermentation
Distillation Date : July 2023 - Distilled for 20 Days
Distillation Type : Aged Shou Pu'Er (Chinese Fermented Tea), Strawberries, Yogurt, Sweet / Sour - Gentle Incense Smoke, Cup of Cocoa

**This is a super cool Series of Oils - totaling 4 Nungkhal oils, all distilled from the same tree, in the same equipment - but under 4 different conditions.

THE BACKSTORY

Back in June and July of 2022, I was working with the local forestry department in the Nungkhal Forest Preserve. I was approached to purchase a tree estimated to be around 165 years old (we counted over 170 rings when we took it down - so it's at least 170 Years Old - possibly older). It was an old tree and very obviously heavily infected, which is what prompted the forestry department to reach out to us.

The funds from our purchase were used to update one of the forestry outposts there in the preserve, and to construct a new outpost. So we helped do a lot of good in purchasing this tree with their help.

It was quite a large tree, fully wild, and I was given a guarantee that it would contain "at least X kg's of premium wood". Needless to say ... it did.

I took and set aside roughly 14kg of premium and sinking wood from the tree, and decided the rest of the incense woods and shavings would be used to produce oil. 4 of them, to be exact.

This is way out in the countryside, and there's no real way to get the wood out to distill elsewhere in any large quantity - so I rented a well-kept local setup to put to work. Over $9,000 of firewood was purchased and used to distill these 4 oils, on top of the cost of the tree, plus the cost of cutting out and cleaning all the wood - which took more than 2 MONTHS just to carve it all out. This was not an inexpensive undertaking. Tens of thousands I put in to this experiment, and that's money all spent up front. I was terrified, to say the least. haha

It was July of 2023 before I had the funds to start the distillation (had to buy all that firewood!) - so the woods were good and mature and dry. Perfect for the project.

**In each of the 4 oils, I tried to evenly distribute shavings and the various grades of incense woods. The differences between the oils lay in the soak / fermentation lengths, and the length of time I distilled the oils, along with some other tweaks during distillation.

THE SCENT

Nungkhal 3 is the second longest soaked / fermented batch we made. Soaked for 20 Days. Interestingly - the longer the ferment, the smoother the oil. Nunkhal 3 is like a fine aged Pu'Er - a Tea Drinker's Delight!

Imagine the earthy tonality of a Pu'Er, with a Tart Strawberry Twist!

If you have tried any of my Ateek Series of very old Oud oils - you'll recognize that characteristic strength, and even though this is a new oil from 2023 - you'd easily think this was one of the oils from the Ateek Series. It smells OLD ... likely due to the sheer age of the material used.

Nungkhal 3 is decidedly LESS potently animalic - it smells very clean and smooth - loaded with Umami and an almost Tea-like Pu'Er kinda vibe to it. For those that know me - I have a special place in my heart for oils with Tea nuances to them. Some of my personal faves!

The feedback I've gotten from non-funk lovers have told me that the Nungkhal oils are weirdly addictive. Sticking in your nose, haunting you with warmth for hours. And now ... a warm cup of umami-laden Pu-Er Tea and Strawberries.

That punchiness found in Nungkhal 1 and 2 is dramatically muted here in Nungkhal 3 - and like the others, that opening lasts all of maybe 5-10 minutes before it begins transitioning into pleasant florals and tart berries - all the things lovers of Clean Hindi oils love about Hindis.

There's some Smoke I detect in this oil undergirding the Leather and Berries. In the Drydown - the scent undergoes a significant change. The oil morphs into a mouth-wateringly chocolatey, incensey, and gently smokey scent, while simultaneously retaining an old book-like warmth and sweetness. Like pulling out an old book and reading it by the fire, warm cup of cocoa in-hand.

Weirdly addictive, and hits all the sweet spots that Hindi lovers usually look for, with some dramatic twists from the first two versions. I suspect the additional fermentation has yielded the additional layers and depth, not unlike what we find in superbly aged specimens of Pu-Er cakes. Layers and layers to be explored and enjoyed.

Nungkhal 3 is more Tea-like than the first two oils. The Funky Leather and Animalic tonalities are dramatically toned down - and that Jamminess has turned to Sweet / Sour Strawberries and Cocoa. It's very enjoyable...almost like a cup of Tart Tea on the front end, and a cup of Fireside Cocoa on the back end.

This was a passion project and a HUGE risk I took - from harvest to distillation. Many more like it I've already undertaken ... but that's a story for another time.

If you're interested in some woods from this tree, please do reach out. It's excellent stuff.
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