Grade Inflation — When "Grade A" Means Nothing
A phenomenon costing buyers billions: quality label inflation in the oud market. Oud Index documents the causes and proposes the solution.
01Grade Inflation — Defining the Phenomenon
Twenty years ago, "Grade A" in oud meant something specific: exceptional quality, high resin, complex scent. Today, every merchant has a "Grade A," many even have "A+", "A++" and "Royal A". The term has lost its meaning — and this standards vacuum costs buyers billions annually.
02Types of Grade Inflation
Oud Index identified four main patterns of grade inflation in the Gulf and Asian markets. Each pattern has a different mechanism and different impact on the buyer:
03How Does the Smart Buyer Protect Themselves?
There is no 100% guarantee — but there are tools that significantly reduce error. The smart buyer does not rely on the merchant's grade — they create their own evaluation standard.
04The Future of Quality Standards — Toward OIBP Standard
The long-term solution to grade inflation is a unified standard independent of any specific merchant. Oud Index builds toward this goal through OIBP — the reference price index updated weekly reflecting actual market data. When the market has an accepted reference, phantom grades lose their power.