Category: Agarwood Guide

Agarwood is resinous heartwood from trees of the Aquilaria genus. When an Aquilaria tree is wounded or infected, it produces a dark, aromatic resin as a defense — over years, that resin-saturated wood becomes agarwood.

Not every tree produces it; in the wild, only a small share of mature Aquilaria trees ever do. That rarity is why agarwood has been traded and treasured across Asia and the Middle East for centuries, and why the finest grades command extraordinary prices.

All Aquilaria species are listed under CITES Appendix II, which means international trade is regulated and requires documentation. It is legal to trade with the right paperwork — and it is why some items on this site are inquiry-only while we complete export documentation.

“Oud” is the Arabic word for wood, and in perfumery it refers to agarwood and its oil. Same tree, two vocabularies: in East Asia the material is usually called agarwood or chenxiang (“sinking incense,” for resin-heavy wood that sinks in water); in the Middle East and the West, the same material is oud.

You will also see “oud” used for fragrances inspired by the note — synthetic or natural — which is not the same as the raw wood. If you are buying wood, chips, coils or oil, what matters is the material itself: species, resin content, origin, and documentation.

Sticks. Light the tip, let it catch, then gently blow out the flame so the tip glows and releases a thin ribbon of smoke. Place it on a holder that catches ash.

Coils. Same principle — light the outer edge, extinguish the flame, and set the coil on a stand. A coil burns longer than a stick, so it suits longer sessions.

Charms and tags. Aromatic charms are not for burning; hang them in a wardrobe or a small room and let the wood scent the space quietly.

Safety. Always burn incense in a ventilated space on a heat-safe surface, away from flammable materials, children and pets, and never leave it unattended.

If you are new to incense, start with sticks rather than rare woods. A sandalwood stick is warm, round and friendly; mugwort is greener and herbal; thuja (juniper cypress) is resinous and brisk.

Burn time matters more than beginners expect — around 45 minutes per stick means one stick covers an evening. Weight tells you how many sticks you are getting: our boxes are 10 g, roughly 20-30 sticks depending on thickness.

Once you know which aromatics you like, graduate to agarwood coils. They are subtler, more complex, and reward slow attention — that is the pleasure they are made for.