Is is perfume? Is it a perfume ingredient?
No, it is a place in Issan. Issan is the North East area of Thailand. Sakon Nakhon is close to the borders of Laos and Viet Nam. I am on a fragrant-fact-finding mission about a perfume tree which is two steps away from extinct in the wild. So far I have found out that 38 degrees Celsius / 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit means that it is to hot too think, write or read.
You can read more about this tree planting expedition next month on Fragrantica. I found a perfume that blew me this way.
If you can correctly identify this perfume tree then your good name will go in a draw for a sample of the yet-to-be-revealed perfume from the yet-to-be-revealed perfume house whose operation I am exploring from soil to oil to perfume.
Free WiFi in this area has been more like a Free WiSh!
Thailand map via Wikipedia
Sakon Nakhon Map via Google Maps
The Fragrant Man 
Hey Jordan. I was wondering where you’d got to. I haven’t got the foggiest idea what tree you’re talking about. But I have a good name, so pop it in anyway huh? ;). Bussi. xxx
Ha, you do have a good name but it is not going into this draw! Has it really been a year since our spikenard encounter?
A little longer than a year.. Agarwood???? How can the answer be that simple. I Googled myself into a coma, coming up with banyan orchids to who knows what. Hahaha!
Hugs. xxx
xxXXXXxx
There you are! I was just wondering the other day what happened. đ
The only perfume tree that comes to mind is oud…
Good name , good answer and into the hat you go.
You absence has been noticed my friend and here you show up in Thailand. I chose Agarwood and I’m glad to see that you’re back. I can’t wait to see what you this new project is all about đ
Good choice Houndy. Thank for your caring words too. You are in the draw.
You’ve been missed Jordan, but this sounds like a fascinating mission.
Not sure about the answer but guessing the aquilaria tree, knowing your taste in perfume.
En pointe Tara. Thank you for your sweet words.
I would opt for Palisander Rosewood đ
Ah, Lucas, I am looking forward to catching up with the interview you gave on Olfactoria’s Travels. No draw for you though, lo siento.
Hmmm, Thailand, endangered, and from the pictures of the baby trees, it must be Agarwood! BTW, I know how hot and humind it can be in Thailand. đ
Magpie eyes! You are in with a grin.
What a great trip! I’m really looking forward to all of the details! I guess the Agarwood.
Your guess has put you in the draw SallyM. Have a great day ahead.
Link to Fragrantica in this article suggests agarwood. Have a nice time.
A fragrant sleuth! In the hat you go Mister.
Hi Jordan, very good photo with country people in Thailand. Reminds me of places like Puerto Maldonado in Peru with 75% humidity. With much interest I will follow and read your article at Fragrantica. Greetings.
Hello Walter. Country people work so hard in the heat. I have yet to find an air conditioned jungle or forest. Hola to Peru, a place I have not yet visited. I believe that they have their own perfume tree/s; copahu and rosewood; probably many more. I think you have inspired me here. Thank you Sir.
Hallo, Mr. River,
Agarwood was too obvious and I suppose that I am late for the draw. But I should say it didn’t just dawned on me – I took a closer look at your photos to search for clues, and the leaves of the saplings revealed the species to me – Aquilaria! Well, after all Botanics and Plant Physiology were my major at the university… đ
However, I have some more suggestions for you to look after in Thailand. Aquilaria is not the only threatened species! Bakula (Mimusops elengi) with its unpresentabe but strong vanilla-scented flowers, the Thailand Rosewood (Dalbergia cochinchinensis), the Lao Benzoin (Styrax benzoides or S. tonkinensis) and Khao lam dong (Goniothalamus laoticus, again – the flowers are intensely aromatic), not to mention the Asoka tree, the wild mango and the Pride of Burma (Amherstia nobilis). So many have to be saved, so little time…
Great leads here. I have never met a tree I didn’t like. Thank you for the specifics Lyubov. And, yes, you are in the draw. The perfume includes a sustainable ingredient from these very plantations.
Thanks! đ
this may be agarwood given your article but one of the guesses i would like to add is Southeast Asian ganja plant
Peace Fazal, you are hilarious! I have tried the second plant that you mention in some local traditional dishes (rather than the tourist-geared pizza of the same name). I have not come across planatations of that though! In the hat you go for this draw.