Agarwood Quality

Expert agarwood processing companies like in Arab countries and Japan who are interested in high quality agarwood, prefer to process the raw material themselves. This also avoids the mixing of authentic high grade agarwood with wood of lower quality or even wood or sawdust that is added to make up the weight that is usually not visible to the human eye in powder form. Experienced and expert users usually do not buy powdered form of agarwood but in chips form.

Aquilaria Crassna Agarwood (Vietnam) Physical Properties and Quality Grades (General Classification):

1. High Quality: Black Wood – Heavier than water
2. Medium Quality: Brownish wood streaked with black resin
3. Low Quality: Light yellow wood with brownish wood 

High Quality Aquilaria Crassna Agarwood

Low Quality Aquilaria Crassna Agarwood

Agarwood does not have any standard grading system and usually done by sellers in a fuzzy notion without any scientific basis.  This is often misleading as each has its own standards. According to Aquilaria Crassna agarwood experts and professionals, the area of black part (high quality resinous part) of agarwood chip is a way of gauging the quality of the Aquilaria Crassna agarwood. But it needs to be seen under a microscope as some fake agarwood can be coloured and coated.

Pure agarwood resin can be seen to exude a bubble-like appearance when the wood is burnt, which is evidence of the high ‘oil’ or resin content.

Misconceptions about Agarwood Quality

Most people grade agarwood by black area/part, it is not an unique or correct way to identify good agarwood, for example, several genuine Kynam (‘Qi Nam’ ‘奇楠’) pieces (the highest quality of Agarwood) have no black area (its major colour is yellow and brown). Aquilaria Malaccensis woodchips are more black in colour than Aquilaria Crassna woodchips but Aquilaria Crassna Agarwood is more valuable than Aquilaria Malaccensis Agarwood .

Price of agarwood species varies across countries and traders. It usually ranges from USD 500/Kg to greater than USD 10,000 /Kg for agarwood chips.

Low Quality Aquilaria Filaria/Aetoxylon Agarwood, often sold as Vietnam's Aquilaria Crassna Agarwood - 'Hui An' at high prices by unprofessional sellers and cheats.

Agarwood Types and Comparisons

One of the most precious (rare) and priceless agarwood/aloeswood is Kinam or Kynam 奇楠 from Vietnam. This type of agarwood is produced naturally by a natural process where the agarwood/aloeswood is buried under the ground or soil and allowed for reaction of the agarwood resin (oil) and the wood within the agarwood/aloeswood tree. Kinam or Kynam 奇楠 can be White, Blue, Yellow and Black.

黄奇楠 ，Yellow Kinam or Kynam

黑奇楠 ，Black Kinam or Kynam

Aquilaria Filaria Agarwood also called 黄土沉 is commonly used in Fengshui in place of higher quality Aquilaria Crassna. This type of Aquilaria Filaria agarwood can be found more easily in Indonesia and lower in price. This type of agarwood is actually found from agarwood trees buried in the ground for many years which gives its chinese name - 'Yellow Earth', some called 'Red Earth' 红土 due to the different soils it is buried in.

Aquilaria Malaccensis (Malaysia, above) also called 虎斑沉 or 虎纹沉. Aquilaria Malaccensis also exist in Indonesia, Kalimantan, and the scent varies with the specie from Malaysia. The colour and physical pattern is quite the same for both country of origin.

Aquilaria Malaccensis and Aquilaria Crassna appears to look the same to a normal person. But careful physical evaluation shows the difference and burning will differentiate the scent of the 2 species. Many unprofessional sellers/cheats sell cheaper Aquilaria Malaccensis as Aquilaria Crassna to customers.

For more tips and secrets about agarwood, register with us.

Sinking Agarwood Aquilaria Malaccensis from Indonesia (Kalimantan). Physical colour is dark brown to black. Feels heavy on hand like metal pieces. Sinks in water. 100% natural, non-impregnated. We also sell this type of sinking agarwood.

Our Products

Uses: Aromatic inhalation & other Medicinal preparations

Agarwood Chips (various Grades and Species)

Agarwood Bracelet, Wrist Beads, Mala - Vietnam (Handmade)

Agarwood Bracelet, Wrist Beads, Mala - Vietnam (Hand Strung)

Genuine Natural Agarwood Beads (non-processed, various Grades)

Fake Agarwood Beads (processed artifically - man-made)

Note: Some fake agarwood beads are painted and coated to make it shiny, also impregnated with agarwood oil or perfumes. For more genuine agarwood beads, it is recommended to buy non surface-processed agarwood beads. It has real woody feeling with smooth finishing only, nothing is added or no shiny coating. Even for real agarwood beads that are coated, it will not be nice smelling as the coating has blockout or covered all the wood grains. Also, energy of the agarwood beads will be greatly reduced after processing/coating. Please note that note that High Grade agarwood beads if polished by machine or used by user over time, it can look shiny due to the oil in the agarwood. This is NOT coating. This shine is light shining and NOT very glossy shine. Testing by an expert or experienced user can tell the difference in coating and natural oil shine.

Agarwood Charcoal

This special silver coated charcoal is made specially for enjoying agarwood. It lights up easily and last long. Just light and place onto the burner with ash as foundation. For more information on how to use, see "How to Burn Agarwood Chips using Japanese/Arabic Incense Charcoal method".

Eacb box comes with 20 pcs (5 Bar x 4 pcs).

100% Made in Japan.

This charcoal is safe for use as it is even used in Shisha in Middle East countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain etc.