Agarwood, often known by its Arabic name, oud, or occasionally as aloeswood, is a dark, resinous heartwood derived from trees in the Aquilaria genus. The fragrant material is widely recognized as one of the world’s most costly raw materials, with its value often surpassing that of gold by weight. The unique, complex aroma is deeply woody, with multifaceted layers that can range from smoky and balsamic to sweet, musky, and subtly oriental. This highly-prized substance is foundational to a variety of cultural, spiritual, and commercial practices across Asia and the Middle East.
The Origin and Creation of Agarwood
Agarwood is not a natural component of a healthy Aquilaria tree but results from a biological defense mechanism. The process begins when the tree is wounded, allowing fungi, often from the genus Phaeacremonium, to infect the wood tissue. This fungal invasion triggers the tree’s immune response.
In reaction, the tree secretes a dense, dark, aromatic resin into the heartwood. This resin-impregnated wood is harvested as agarwood, which is significantly harder and heavier than the pale, scentless wood of an uninfected tree. Because this formation happens irregularly and can take years to develop, the natural scarcity of the resin makes genuine, high-quality agarwood extremely valuable.
Primary Use in Fine Fragrance
The primary commercial use of agarwood today is in fine fragrance, where its essential oil is known as oud. This oil is typically extracted via hydro-distillation, a process using water and heat to separate volatile aromatic compounds from the wood. The resulting oil possesses an intense, long-lasting aroma and is almost universally used as a base note in perfume formulations.
Oud is highly valued in luxury and niche perfumery for its ability to anchor lighter scents. The scent profile of oud oil is remarkably varied, often depending on the Aquilaria species, geographic origin, and the age of the resin. For example, oils from India can exhibit an earthier, more animalic quality, while Cambodian varieties are known to be sweeter and slightly fruity.
The oil’s high molecular weight compounds allow it to act as an effective fixative, slowing the evaporation rate of other fragrance components and extending the perfume’s longevity. Its rich character is frequently blended with rose, amber, or sandalwood to create signature scents popular in the Middle East and increasingly in Western markets. Due to its cost, many contemporary fragrances utilize synthetic oud accords, but these rarely capture the full, complex spectrum of the natural oil.
Sacred and Ceremonial Incense Applications
Historically, agarwood’s primary application was as incense. Small chips, shavings, or powder of the resin-rich wood are gently heated, often on charcoal burners, to release fragrant smoke. This method, which heats the raw wood, produces a sweet, balsamic vapor prized for its complexity.
In many Asian cultures, agarwood holds deep spiritual meaning and is used in purification rituals and meditative practices. In Japan, the wood is revered, with the highest grade known as Kyara or Jinkō, and it is a central element in the traditional incense ceremony known as Kōdō. In Buddhist traditions, the smoke is used as an offering to foster a calm and focused environment conducive to deep contemplation.
The use of agarwood as incense, often called Bakhoor in the Middle East, is deeply embedded in Islamic culture. It is burned to scent homes, clothing, and mosques during religious holidays and gatherings. These ceremonial applications highlight the wood’s function as a symbolic medium for cleansing, offerings, and spiritual connection. The tradition is also referenced in ancient scriptures across Hinduism and Christianity, demonstrating its centuries-old role in sacred rites.
Role in Traditional Healing Systems
Agarwood has a long history of application in various traditional healing systems throughout Asia. It is a documented ingredient in pharmacopoeias such as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), where it is known as Chén Xiāng, and in Ayurvedic medicine. These systems utilize the material for its warming and balancing properties, usually through ingestion or topical preparations.
In TCM, the wood is traditionally prescribed to address disorders related to the digestive and respiratory systems. It is used as a carminative to aid in treating abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting by warming the stomach and promoting the flow of energy. Practitioners have also used agarwood to help relieve symptoms of asthma and to act as a mild sedative. In Malaysian folk medicine, the oil is sometimes mixed with coconut oil to create a liniment for topical application against rheumatism and localized pain.