Ktan II

416 Ktan II

Ktan II is a continuation on the theme of attar 339 Ktan. It is a Myrrh oriented attar with a steampunk incense theme. I have been quite obsessed with Myrrh recently, after making several absolute resinoids from raw resin, some of these feature in Ktan II.

By far the best Myrrh absolute from the new materials I have made is Guggul (Commiphora mukul), which is a main note of Ktan II, It has a very deep resinous earthy note with a warm, bitter, caramel profile.

I also used a Somalian Myrrh Absolute I made which is also a very dark resinous scent, but not quite as deep as Guggul.

Also an Omani Myrrh which has a very warm and rich spicy, caramel Myrrh scent with an oriental feel, much less earthy than the Guggul and Somali.

I also used a new material made with Kavala Smyrna kindly made and sent by Alexander. This has a really interesting aroma with an industrial feel, akin to some pine resins, but with a more radiant and varied profile, it seems to be a local made resin combining benzoin and myrrh.

Alexander also sent me some raw Red Smyrna resin, which I made into an absolute. This has a more papery, dusty profile, very clean and interesting, as not many natural materials display a papery facet.

These materials, along with many others combine to make a smoky, metallic incense profile that feels like a machine mining ancient resins.

Smelling from the applicator, Ktan II has a bitter, smoky, resinous scent, I get mental images of an industrial machine leaking resinous fuel, metal soaked in oils from the earth and heat from the toiling machines creating smoky fumes. Old timbers propping up the ceiling of ominous earth hanging above.

I feel this can be seen from more than one perspective, it is made with all natural materials, so those with a trained nose can likely spot the source aroma's as woods and resins and may see it as a more nature themed scent of earth an tree resins.

Smelling on the skin, Ktan II opens with a warm, bitter resinous note, with a smoky, woody background. Ktan II feels more breezy on the skin, like the smoke is riding on the wind, past bubbling tar pits and old machines rusting in neglect. There is a strong woody foundation in Ktan II, it brings to mind again The Moonlit House, although the woody elements in Ktan II do not feel as dilapidated, it has the atmosphere of a mining outpost with the aroma of fuel in the air.

After around 10 minutes on the skin, Ktan II settles a lot more, becoming a smooth and more natural feeling aroma of simmering agarwood and myrrh on an incense burner.

I used several different agarwoods in this attar. Pursat 2017, Surat Thani, Burmese Super, Malaysian Prince and Trat Firewood . These combine to make a smoky, resinous backbone that ooze warm coppery qualities.

Materials used, from approximately most noticeable to least:

Front Notes:

Guggul (Absolute: Bitter, resinous, caramel)

Somalian Myrrh (Absolute: Bitter, earthy, resinous)

Somalian Myrrh (EO: Bitter, resinous, earthy)

Amber Sweetie (EO: Smoky, industrial, resinous)

Kavala Smyrna (Absolute: Chalky, metallic, resinous, warm)

Malaysian Price Oud (EO: Resinous, dry woody, incense)

Burmese Super Oud (EO: Deeply resinous, bitter, woody)

2015 Himalayan Cedarwood (EO: Woody, asphalt, tar)

Choy Nakh (EO: Smoky, musky, ceramic)

Mid Notes:

White Murray Cypress (EO: Ripe green wood, resinous)

Red Smyrna (Absolute: Papery, dusty, dry, resinous)

2017 Pursat Oud (EO: Warm, resinous, woody)

Rose Oxide (Natural Isolate: Metalic, floral, sheer)

Priprioca (EO: Exotic woody, spicy, nutty)

Trat Firewood Oud (EO: Warm, rich, woody, coppery)

Omani Myrrh (Absolute: Warm resinous, spicy, caramelic)

Greenheart Wood (EO: Dark hard wood, musty, earthy)

Castoreum (Tincture: Leathery, musky, resinous)

Back Notes:

Surat Thani Oud (EO: Dark woody, musky, resinous)

Bouya Wood (EO: Dry woody, peppery, atmospheric)

Ambergris (Absolute: Creamy, smooth, soft musk)

Somalian Myrrh (CO2: Rich, warm, resinous, earthy)

Civet (Tincture: Animalic, pungent, musky)

Australian Sandalwood (EO: Light woody, musky, spacious)