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What is Agarwood?

Agarwood is known under many names in different countries. It is known as Chén-xīang, 沉香, in China or Trầm Hương in Vietnam and Jin-koh, 沈香, in Japan, all meaning "sinking incense" and alluding to its high density. Both agarwood and its resin distillate/extracts are known as Oud (عود) in Arabic, Middle East countries. In Europe it was referred to as Lignum aquila (eaglewood) or Agilawood. In Tibetan, it is known as 'agaru' and there are several species used in Tibetan Medicine for example, black eaglewood 'arnag'. In Papua New Guinea it is called "ghara". In Thailand, it is known as "Mai Kritsana" (ไม้กฤษณา). In Laos, known as "Mai Ketsana". In India, Assamese language, it is called as "ogoru". The Indonesian and Malay, call it "gaharu".

Agarwood is the heartwood produced by Aquilaria trees which has several different species in Southeast Asia including Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and Papua New Guinea as the main agarwood producing countries. The resinous heartwood is fragrant and due to this reason it is highly valuable. It is also called Aloeswood or Oud or Gaharu, depending on user countries and agarwood species.

Tradtionally In East Asia countries like Japan, Korea, China, most agarwood chips are used as religious agarwood incense offering and aromatic fragrance or aromatherapy. Also, agarwood are used as agarwood carvings and chanting as well as decorating agarwood beads in these countries.

The agarwood oil is mainly used in the Arab world where it is in high demand. It is by far the most precious essential oil with prices reaching as much as ten times that of India sandalwood (Santalum Album) oil, the King of all Sandalwood.

Many countries now solve this problem by exploring cultivated agarwood which can improve harvest and reduce destruction to natural rainforests.

The downside of cultivated agarwood versus wild natural agarwood is its inferior resin quality and content. This is due to the way and time the resinous agarwood is formed. It takes a 3 year old cultivated tree to start forming agarwood over 2 years to harvest. This is the main reason cultivated agarwood is usually traded in a much lower price compared to wild natural agarwood. But the demand for cultivated agarwood is less due to its limited applications. Cultivated agarwood is used mainly in incense making and in some case as perfumes, but not for food / medicinal applications.

Wild Natural Aquilaria Crassna Agarwood (Vietnam)

Agarwood is also commonly known as ‘sinking wood’, ‘Chen Xiang’ (沉香) or ‘Tram Huong’ in Vietnamese. The word ‘沉’ or ‘Tram’ is pronounced as sinking. Throughout history, an aromatic material that can be sunk in water is called Agarwood. Why does agarwood sink? It is due to the resin which is denser than water that is in the agarwood material. The more concentrated the resin, the higher quality the agarwood, the heavier the agarwood.

To find a genuine Agarwood piece that can sink in the water is really rare these days especially the Aquilaria Crassna species (most valuable and precious Vietnam species). Most are fake or adulterated agarwood (impregnated by oil or plunged by metal piece).

The most commonly traded "sinking" agarwood these days belong to Aquilaria Malaccensis and Filaria which is almost black in colour due to the high resin content. As Aquilaria Crassna sinking agarwood (Vietnam species) is almost extinct in the wild jungle. The next choice, sinking Aquilaria Malaccensis and Filaria can be found more easily in Malaysia and Indonesia (Kalimantan), it can fetch a high price in the market as it is the best agarwood grade among the species.

Agarwood is the infected wood of the Aquilaria tree. When Aquilaria tree is damaged and infected with bacteria, a resin flows naturally from the tree to cover the wound, a natural defense mechanism of Aquilaria tree against infections. The Aquilaria tree can be damaged and get infected by lightning, thunder storm, humans, animals or insects in the forest. The resin will be slowly formed on the infected part of the tree over many years forming a resinous wood called Agarwood / Aloeswood / Oud / Eaglewood / Jinko or Gaharu.

Agarwood is considered very rare as not all Aquilaria trees produce resin and it is extremely difficult (or even impossible) to judge from the outside of a tree whether or not it is infected. Cutting the tree is the only way to find out whether the tree contains the resin. Only about 10% of wild mature Aquilaria tree can naturally form this resin.

India Sandalwood (Santalum Album)

Sandalwood Trees in the forest

Sandalwood Chips and Sandalwood Logs

From ancient times in India, Sandalwood is widely used in religious ceremonies and regarded by royal families as a precious medicine for sickness and poisons. There are various species available and the best authentic sandalwood is found in India, called Santalum album. It is presently declared endangered and is Indian Government’s controlled harvest and export product. Sandalwood can be found in India, Pacific Islands, Indonesia and Australia. Sandalwood can help to relax the mind and nervous system. Sandalwood smells like other wood family scent, except it has a clear and refreshing characteristics. Thus it is very suitable for meditation, relaxation, de-stress etc. Enjoy and experience the famous sandalwood scent from India today!

India Sandalwood Powder

Sandalwood powder are used to make pure sandalwood incense or burnt directly to enjoy the sandalwood aroma. Sandalwood powders are also used for sandalwood oil extraction. The common method of distillation or extraction being steam distillation to extract sandalwood oil from sandalwood chips or powders.

India Sandalwood Oil

Sandalwood (Santalum Album) oil which is also called the "liquid gold" (due to its pale yellow appearance), is a popular essential oil or form of aromatic oil of India over the years. It is extracted from the roots and wood of India sandalwood. Sandalwood oil has a subtle, lingering scent that is woody, sweet, and exotic. Our Sandalwood oil is direct from source, India, and is very pure. It does not give a very sticky texture but yet very strong aromatic scent. Sandalwood oil was popular in medicine in ancient times especially in ayurvedic medicine, mostly as a skin antiseptic. Its main components are organic compounds called alpha-santalol and beta-santalol about 80% and 20% respectively, they have antibacteria or antimicrobial properties.

In terms of applications, it is often used with carrier oils (olive oil, flower oils etc.) for facial and skin applications, The strength of sandalwood oil is very strong, as such sandalwood oil should never be applied to the skin without dilution with carrier oils. But in some instances, it can be used directly in small amounts, depending on individual reaction to sandalwood oil.

Sandalwood oil has calming and relaxing effect which reduces stress or tensions. It is good alternative therapies for person with insomnia, depressions, nervousness, anxiety especially for people with busy and hectic lifestyles.