Description

The scent is heavenly. The colours of the soap are a visual feast. A beautiful gift, which can be combined with the Sacred Body Butter, Decadent Goat Milk bath salts, Bath Truffles and the Sacred Body Polish and Soak.

Each soap is handcrafted and unique. They will never look exactly the same

Part of growth of our souls is making time for ourselves. A meditative bath with candles, a glass of wine and the aforementioned goes a long way in relaxation of both body and soul. Time to treat yourself.

The lather on all my soaps is far greater than a commercial soap. This soap due to the inclusion of dark chocolate has less lather than my others. If you still use commercial soap you won’t notice

MYTHS, STORIES & INSPIRATION

I fell in love with the strong mystical, spiritual scent of Oudh and can deeply inhale it all day. I had to use it. It pairs so beautifully with Rose as you will read below in the historical use….and even better with Rosewood which I decided, after experimentation, was what I wanted to create to showcase the ancient wonders.

The idea of using top quality phthalate free fragrance of 2 majestic, highly threatened and ancient trees whose scents blended so beautifully, gelled for me and I’ve called the range SACRED RITUALS OF OUDH (Oud meaning old in Afrikaans)

I’ve also used gold mica in the soap as a reminder of the value of Oudh and a floral rose top due to one aspect of the complexity of the scent along with historical use..

Oudh (Arabic) is well known and widely used for the spiritual and psychological benefits and popular for its calming properties. Moreover, it is known to remove the negative and destructive energies that surround the human aura. We all need that in this crazy world.

The oil is derived from ancient Agarwood tree resin and demands a far higher price than gold. It is one of, if not the most expensive natural resource in the world and quality oil sells at around US$ 100000 per kg. Yes, you read it correctly…100K US$ per kg!! That is R1.8 Millionty SA RONDS per kilogram!

It is one of 6 of the rarest essential oils on earth. I use 2 of them in my products, being Myrrh and Vetiver and imported phthalate free fragrance of OUDH as opposed to the real thing. The price is clearly a factor, but additionally, we have a moral responsibility…..the Agarwood Tree is a threatened species.

Fascinating to know that the OUDH scent only occurs in the heartwood resin of trees that are naturally infected with a kind of mould. It has no scent whatsoever in a tree that is not infected.

The scent of agarwood is very complex with few or no similar natural analogues. It is mainly distinguished by a combination of “oriental-woody” and “very soft fruity-floral” notes. The incense smoke is also characterized by a “sweet-balsamic” note and “shades of vanilla and musk” and amber.

The genuine oudh oil is psychoactive and its essential oil has a deep cultural and religious significance and history in ancient civilizations around the world, being described as early as 1400 BC.

The psychoactive properties make it extremely useful for relieving stress and boosting cognitive function. Moreover, it helps to reduce obsessive and impulsive behaviour, resulting in harmonious relationships.

OUD and OUD-based products are known to eliminate negative energies around the house. Moreover, it is believed that the smoke created through burning OUD carries prayers to the Creators. Burning OUD is especially famous among Muslims who strongly believe that Agarwood carries spiritual benefits.

OUD is helpful in clearing disorders related to the nervous system. The scent of Agarwood can provide ease during illnesses like cancer, colic, diarrhea, nausea and breathing illnesses

They are mentioned in the oldest spiritual texts.

It is said that Buddha described the burning fragrance of Agarwood as the “scent of Nirvana” (the state of attaining Divinity). Additionally, the string of 108 beads in Buddhism is made up of Agarwood. It also plays an important role in meditation.

The Bible mentions that Jesus Christ was scented with Aloeswood (Agarwood). In the Hebrew Bible, “trees of lign aloes” /agarwood are mentioned in The Book of Numbers 24:6 and a perfume compounded of aloeswood, myrrh, and cassia is described in Psalms 45

It is also said that the Samurai warriors used Agarwood smoke to perfume their armour as a lucky charm before going into the battle, and the celebrated king of France, King Louis XIV, had his garments washed in a blend of water boiled with Agarwood and rose for lasting fragrance and energy.

Agarwood’s use as a medicinal product was also recorded in the Sahih Muslim, which dates back to approximately the eighth century, and in the Ayurvedic medicinal text the Susruta Samhita.

During the sixth century CE in Japan, in the recordings of the Nihon Shoki (The Chronicles of Japan) the second oldest book of classical Japanese history, mention is made of a large piece of fragrant wood identified as agarwood. The source for this piece of wood is claimed to be from Pursat, Cambodia (based on the smell of the wood). The famous piece of wood still remains in Japan today and is showcased less than 10 times per century at the Nara National Museum.

Agarwood is also highly revered in Hinduism, Chinese Folk Religion and Islam