Some know it as Aloeswood, some as Agarwood, while others know it as Oud. But by whichever name anyone knows it, they’ll know that this wood is a prized commodity that is possibly even the most expensive wood in the world.
Cited as the “Wood of the Gods”, this resinous wood is has been valued for thousands of years by various cultures for its rich and wonderful fragrance. The resins of the Agarwood poses cultural and religious significance across the globe. Amongst its many uses, Agarwood is popularly:
- used as incense,
- for medicinal purposes (prominently used in Chinese, Unani, Ayuravedic, and Tibetan applications ), and
- its pure distilled resin used as perfume and perfume component (The Middle Eastern and Japanese are famous for it).
Belonging to the genus Aquilaria and to the species Agallocha, Agarwood is native to Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia and Northern India. It is an evergreen tree that grows up to 40 meters high and 60 centimeters in diameter, bearing fragrant, green and yellowish-white flowers.
What’s special about Agarwood is the origins of its prized resin. You see unlike other trees, where resin is the natural occurring hydrocarbon secretion of the plant, the resin of Agarwood is the born out of the response to an attack from Phialophora Parasitica, a parasite fungus or mold.
The fungal attack triggers an immune response from the tree whereby a very rich and dark resin forms from within its heartwood. This resin is commonly known as agar #1 is and used in the making of fine incense and perfume. A more inferior quality resin called agar #2 is created by the wounding of aquilaria trees.
Like fine wine, the resins with the longest maturing time have the greatest aroma and the highest grade of Agarwood called Kyara (means “precious” in ancient Japanese), fetched more per ounce than gold.
Agarwood is precious because it has become so rare. It is near extinction of in places such as Vietnam where it (Aquilaria crassna) is now listed as a protected species. Aquilaria malaccensis is a CITES red data book listed tree! The driving force behind this extinction is the unsustainable Aquilaria haversting
There are attempts to cultivate the wood in plantations in India and other places around the world, but they are no replacement for the wild and natural occurring ones.
