Sometimes, treasures find you...
It begins not with a search, but with a chance encounter....
Qadar....Fate!
We were at a friend's Majles, the air thick with the scent of oud smoke and stories...rutab (semi ripe dates) and qahwa (arabic coffee) rounds... great atmosphere and a greater company.
A respected dignitary, a man of quiet grace and deep history, was there. Amongst our talks, he saw the fire in our eyes, the relentless passion we hold for this art and craft. He knew we were in the game. That single, fateful meeting led to another and another. He honored us with a private, one-to-one Majles meet-up. A true meeting of minds, a sharing of passions that went beyond mere talk.
We spent hours exploring scents and talking oud, history, and reminiscing of older times...
At one point, he paused with a knowing look in his eyes and said: "I have to let you in on an old Hindy... and it's not just any Hindy...this was a gift that we (myself & other ministers) received decades ago from the ruler's court in Dubai. You will definitely appreciate this... You will know what I am talking about the moment you smell it."
He then rose and went inside to search for it. Five minutes went by... then ten... then fifteen. With every passing minute, a debate raged in my mind. "Will it be one of the legendary Hindis we all dream of finding? Or just another oxidized, tangy oil left on a shelf, mistaken for a gem?"
You see... with age, true quality always reveals itself. Aging a run-of-the-mill commercial Hindy is one thing. The result is often just… old. But when you age a truly high-grade, masterfully distilled Hindy… oh, it transcends... It becomes something else entirely.
"I hope I didn't take that long," he said humbly as he re-entered the Majles, holding a small bottle... "I've got it.... I'd like you to sample this!"
My eyes fell on the vessel. It was an old indian style oud bottle, the same shape of a traditional tola-bottle, but 5 times or so bigger... and through it, the oil glowed with a pure, amber-golden hue...
"Interesting..." I thought. A very good sign! But I held my breath. The swipe is the only truth...
And then... a single, deliberate swipe on the wrist...
Boom!
Satori. Full and total transcendence! It wasn't just a scent; it was a dam breaking, releasing a flood of memories. Instantaneous flashbacks of Deira in the 90s. Echoes of old, joyous gatherings in Bur Dubai. This was THE smell of older times—the genuine, pure, unadulterated Hindy of legends... I was in absolute awe!
This is not a "Sultani" oil... This is OLD DUBAI, habibi!
This is the buttery, velvety smooth Hindi that dreams are made of. The wild barn, once fierce, has been tamed by decades of slumber, softening and melting into a silent river of caramel and brown sugar. It’s a scent that whispers stories of a city in the making, of fortunes built and destinies written.
Experiencing that moment was a gift. Acquiring it was our quest. That one moment of Satori led to many more conversations, countless cups of qahwa, and a true test of our commitment. Convincing him to part with even a little of this liquid history... well, it came at a cost. A tribute had to be paid for a piece of the past, and for a masterpiece this profound, we gladly paid it.
This is more than an oil. It's a time machine. A direct line to a Dubai that lives on in the memories of those who were there.
Getting our hands on this felt like a victory. That chance meeting in the Majles was our moment of fortune. We believe such luck is meant to be shared... And this is an opportunity to not just own a rare oil, but to wear a piece of history...
Notes: This oil IS a traditional old high grade one, yet, it's light in character, it's not a dense heavy hindy, it's a very smooth velvety traditional hindy that has notes of peaches and is powdery in character. If you are a Hindy Oud lover, this will deliver a new savory experience!
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Below is some feedback from our dear clients:
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"That is fascinating information regarding this hindy! First, the aroma blew my mind; a deeply caramelised resinous profile, so very soft with its beautifully rounded sweetness. A gorgeous Italian leather & sun baked hay.
And secondly, the origin of the oil has now blown my mind! I’m so grateful you’ve allowed me to experience something so refined & rare. I can’t thank you enough, AT. I’m wearing it right now, it’s a glorious way to spend a Friday evening. This oil is perfection. I completely understand why the Sheikh would gift this to VIPS, he’s made a few people very happy indeed."
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