Assafi oud

About Assafi oud

Oud Assafi is a Firmenich-trademarked agarwood ingredient associated with Bangladesh and the Assam region, positioned in perfumery as a rare, premium natural oud material rather than a fantasy accord. Sources describe it as a wild-harvested oil from Aquilaria malaccensis heartwood, also called Oud Assam, with a resinous odour family and base-note usage.

Scent Profile

Its scent profile is consistently described as intensely leathery, animalic, woody, and ambery, with smoky, resinous, and spicy facets and a faint sweet undertone in some descriptions. Firmenich’s own formula material emphasizes richness and complexity, while secondary sources note a dense woody opening and warm spice that settles into amber-like depth.

Use in Perfumery

In compositions, Oud Assafi is used sparingly as a high-impact base note, fixative, and richness booster for woody, leathery, amber, incense, and oriental structures. It is typically paired with cedarwood, labdanum, benzoin, vanilla, saffron, rose, incense, or musks to amplify depth and longevity rather than to provide a light top-note effect.