@Ammar Definitely true that the buyer has that right. No objections there. In fact there are vendors that sell more affordable ouds, less than even what Feel Oud offers. I have some of them myself as references and common use (being in Malaysia it's not that hard to get them). But then again, to the discernible nose, they will most probably say it's of different quality.
To me it's like, giving two pieces of identical quality raw diamond, have one master craftsman polish and cut it, and another piece to an average craftsman with mediocre skill..
Generally speaking, the end results would indeed produce two items of different price.
For normal people who have families, at the end of the day there are living expenses to cover. If the innovative techniques require more equipment, more time, more work, somebody has got to pay for all that. Rationally speaking it also should be calculated in the cost of the oil, regardless whether a majestic element was added (unless of course the distiller is willing to sell some oils at a loss, just so more people get access to it)
One thing to ponder though, like how inventors of new technologies patent their product or design, or tailor made suits/clothing, I'm sure at some point or another the price they're charging includes the hardwork they went through to reach that level.
It's like a rant from graphic designers I read a while back, which goes something like this :
Customer : I want to request a design with attractive decorations and fonts, with equally astonishing colours that fit perfectly with the picture I'm giving
Designer : Sure. The charge will be $70 for each design
Customer : I accept
*** 10 minutes later ***
Designer : All done.
Customer : Very nice! But..I paid $70 for a soft copy design which took you only 10 minutes to make? I think I'm being overcharged!
Designer : It took me 10 years of hard work to be able to produce something this good in 10 minutes.
Sorry for the boring anecdote but that's how it goes. Is the designer over charging or not? Experience, investments in learning, mastering the craft, research, all come with a price (either material or otherwise). Now this point is very very subjective. A craftsman may charge extra for his workmanship, or he may not. Now if someone purchases wholesale (just reselling.no labour etc) $80 per tola of a common, accessible to many type of oud..and sells $600 per bottle with crazy marketing hype (which in this case is pure hype), yes that is indeed overpriced IMO. My current collected info on oud is unable to calculate justifiable factors that could reasonably add up the price that much.
But in the end, generally speaking, quality and rarity of wood does take a big chunk out of the cost, and this is usually the case.
Another thing to note.. I've found sellers saying a particular wood they're selling is a certain grade, but it's of a different grade to another oud trader. Incense grade to one,
may not be the exact same to another..Just another factor to think about before purchasing first time from sellers with less known reputation and exposure.
