Agarwood Oil (Oud Oil, Aloeswood Oil, Eagleswood) is an extremely rare and precious natural Oil obtained from several species of Agarwood trees. This, which originates in North Eastern India, Bhutan and parts of South East Asia, has a very long history of use as a medicine, incense and as an aromatic Oil. Agarwood is a very complex, deep woody fragrance, reminiscent of amber. It has a balsamic, ambergris, woody, deep fragrance. Agarwood trees must be infected by a fungi, prior to producing an oleoresin which saturates the wood. Please realize that this Oil is from cultivated trees, and is not considered a high quality agarwood Oil. It is a very nice Oil (pure and unadulterated) at a very affordable price.
Oud Oil from the Agarwood Tree
Few perfume Oils have the mystique of Oud (this is also referred to as Agarwood, Aloeswood and Eaglewood). It has been loved and treasured for thousands of years, by mystics (as an aid to spiritual meditation) and romantics alike (as an aphrodisiac). Indeed, the hunger for Oud is so great that in most parts of the world Agarwood trees are nearing extinction. Most of the Agarwood on the market is now obtained through poaching (while trees dwindle, the demand keeps growing) because it exceeds $27.000 per pound.
Several decades ago, enterprising farmers in Thailand began a major replanting of Agarwood trees throughout the region. Agarwood nurseries have produced tens of thousands of healthy seedlings for Agarwood plantations, and everyone is being encouraged to once again plant these beautiful trees in their yards. Practicing organic, sustainable harvesting methods, these Agarwood plantations and extraction centers are providing good livings for honest families, and insure that these amazing trees will survive for generations to come. The Agarwood Oil they produce is extremely high quality. All the work is done by hand, with sincere respect and dedication for the trees and the land.
Another recent development to conserve the precious Aloeswood is the use of CO2 extraction instead of distillation. CO2 extraction does not use any solvent chemicals, making it environmentally-friendly. Instead, it uses the same carbon dioxide that is in soda pop. And because it doesn’t use any heat, Aloeswood CO2 extract has a much more vibrant fragrance that is truer to life. Aloeswood Oil from CO2 extraction smells earthy, woody and sweetly balsamic. It is rich and complex, not burned or musty-smelling like some heat-distilled Ouds. A good perfume house will provide affordable samples of their Oud. So as you shop for Oud, remember to find out how it was obtained, and how it was extracted. Support the people who truly love the Agarwood tree, not those who merely exploit it. Buy from a supplier with a good reputation who makes samples available.
Oud from a Agarwood tree is a many singular and dear redolence oil in a world. Overharvesting and poaching has brought a Agarwood tree tighten to extinction. Agarwood Oil is famous by each sacrament given ancient times.. People of Egypt Its monument has caused agarwood to turn a preferred and intensely costly oil. Agarwood has also been used in scarcely each eremite tradition around a universe The many costly Attars will use Sandlewood oil as a bottom as a pristine Frankincense and of march a many costly after deer redolence is oud or Agarwood oil.
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Applications of Agarwood:
The quality of Agarwood growing in different regions of the world used to vary a lot. However Agarwood products including Agarwood Incense, Agarwood oil & Agarwood chips produced are always considered the best in quality. It is the holy occasions where Aloeswood oil, Jinko Chips Oil & Oud oil find maximum use. These oils are so aromatic that they instantly create a spiritual atmosphere around.
Agarwood is cultivated in Singapore, Indonesia, China, Tibet & several other countries in the world. A wide array of products starting from Aloeswood beads & incense sticks to oils are made from them. Though oil is produced everywhere but the Indian Aloeswood oil is considered best among them. Due to its high quality & enduring aroma, India continues to draw the attention of international community till to date. While purchasing for Agarwood oil many fail to identify the pure oil & pay more price than it deserves. If the oil made from Aloeswood continues to smell the same even after 24 hours then it turns out to be of high quality.
Cosmetics Industry: It is commonly used in the day to day cosmetics products including soaps, candles, incenses, toiletries, cosmetics, perfume, & flavorings etc.
Alternative Medicine: Some of the alternative medicines like Traditional Chinese Medicine, Traditional Vietnamese Medicine, Tibetan medicine, Aromatherapy, Ayurveda, Aphrodisiac & Efficacious sedatives have been seen using Agarwood for years.
Indoor Air Quality & fumigation purpose: Agarwood based revitalizing solutions help us improve the indoor air quality and leads to fumigation.
Religious occasions & Spiritualism: The sweet fragrance of Agarwood encourages Hindus, Muslims, and Christians & Buddhists alike to use them in religious occasions, yoga & Deep meditation.
Additional uses: ornamental Agarwood Bead strings, statues, Carvings, Teas, Wines, Teas, Prayer rugs, Burial & Cremation are some other areas where Agarwood finds application.
Aromatic treatment using scents, is one of the fastest growing fields in alternative medicine. Fragrant oil is important and indeed innocent. Essential Oil complex. More aromatic substances and volatile changes in the degree of complexity,. Aromatic and volatile. Hom stimulate immune system.. Strong resistance to disease and help. Next battle. Are widely used at home, clinics and hospitals for a variety of programs, such as Pain Relief for women in labor pain,. Relieving pain caused by side effects of chemotherapy. The level of cancer patients and rehabilitation patients. Oil major also has excellent Skin Care agents. – Balance sebum and surface noise – and can treat athlete’s foot. Cold sores ringworm and scabies.
Hom also useful as a first aid measures for small accidents often occur at home. – Small combustion and reduce – and common problems such as sore throat, blocked or stuffy nose, etc. The benefit of using agarwood oil will vary according to the oil itself. Physical pain may be caused by stress and anxiety,. Such as muscle pain or arthritis is a small problem with the idea to respond well. Onion can be used in different ways. Pourrie pot can be used as “fragrant odor relaxed style to the air. It can also be used during massage for total relaxation. It is important that service providers are experienced in massage. Technical onion. Roses, jasmine, lotus flower blooms, such as lemon and lavender flowers are only used to create a great fragrance of sweet.
Hom also use medical devices to treat people experiencing anxiety, stress and strength. Asked for how people benefit from at home with fragrant aroma massage. Large onion outcomes stress related problems such as insomnia. It has proven to work quite well in most of the people. Benefits of onion can be dated back to ancient Egypt,. Rome and Greece. These cultures have known for generations that will feature many sweet benefits and mental health. Today’s most fragrant flowers used in the. Egypt growth estimates. Recent oil discoveries is increasing, which is always the innocence and purity. Can be used as aphrodisiac with the right combination of oils to the right. And has proven to be quite effective in that role.
Hom also used by major agarwood oil absorbed in the skin and bloodstream. Burners can use onion or diffusers to create a soothing atmosphere in your bedroom to help you relax. Fragrant candle scent any room and have positive effects too. Benzoin is hot, relaxed and composed. Is effective for emotional exhaustion,. Bronchitis, strength, coughs and insomnia. Neroli is innocuous and bland and relax. Oil is very important for the effective wake,. Nervousness, insomnia and shock. Sweet marjoram very effective in treating anxiety,. Catarrh, muscle pain, Joint Pain, headaches. colds and insomnia. Jasmine is soothing and relaxing. Some important oil. Must be strictly avoided during pregnancy. Those with high blood pressure should avoid hyssop,. Rosemary, sage and thyme, while diabetics should avoid oil. angelica.
Aloeswood is also commonly called agarwood. The short history of aloes wood has been regarded as a rare commodity by the Asian, Egyptian and near east civilizations for centuries. Agarwood is the resinous heartwood from aquilegia trees. These trees belong to the Aqualaria genus, Thymelaeaceae family.
Aqualaria trees can grow up to 40 meters in height and grows up to an altitude of 750 meters. They can grow in variety of habitats including swampy, rocky and sandy areas. They can also grow in the wild and very fast growing producing flowers in 4 years. These trees are found at an altitude of 1,000 meters above the sea level and at least about 15 species of these trees produce agarwood. There are 4 main species which are most commonly known:
Aqualaria sinensis which grow to about 15 meters in height and is known for its night booming flowers. It is used for agarwood and also the bark which is used for paper in china where these species are most commonly found.
Aqualaria malaccensis which grows from the north eastern Myanmar and Thailand down the peninsula of Malaysia. This also used for its agarwood.
Aqualaria agallocha is mainly found in Assam, and on the foothills of Bhutan. This is mainly used for agarwood.
Aqualaria crassna which is a native of Vietnam and Thailand.
Agarwood or Aloeswood also has a mythological history behind it. It has been associated with barious religions and cultures. It is mentioned in the scriptures of Japanese and Chinese dynasties and quite interestingly in the bible also where it is referred to as Aloe in the Old Testament.
A unique process of the Aqualaria species creates Aloeswood. The desired odoriferous resin produced within the heart wood is an immune response to fungal infection. The quality of aloeswood depends solely on the resin saturation within the heart wood.
There are several ways to ascertain whether the tree has resinous heartwood without felling the trees. Externally, signs such as yellowing of leaves, irregular shapes or boles on the body of the tree are possible signs of infection of the fungus. Internally, collectors have to drill a small section of the tree to check if the resin is present.
Use of Aloeswood in Incense:
Aloes wood is the most famous ingredient and is used in almost all incense formulas. In the world Aloeswood is the most prized of all incenses and more expensive gold. It also has sweet smelling flowers which the trees produce. It is profoundly used as an incense ingredient in various oils, medicines and perfumes.
As a medicine, it is a remedy for nervous disorders. Otherwise it is used to meditation purposes as it is said to have a great effect on the mind. It is not only used for medicinal purposes but also as an ingredient in various perfumes which are loved all most all around the world!
During the Kamakura period, (1185-1333) the Japanese began using raw woods as incense, and to present these woods in casual settings as well as in formal entertainment and religious ceremony.
In Hong Kong, Kyara is often divided into four types: Yellow, Black, Green, and Iron. However, this is not a scientific grouping. Kyara, according to the Japanese expert Professor Yoneda, is a different scientific group than other Jinko, with a different chemical responsible for the aroma. Although most aloeswood is today called Jinko, it really only refers to aloeswood that sinks in water, and is not Kyara. Aloeswood that does not sink in water is more properly classified as Senkou or Oujuku-koh. Senkou is believed to come from the trunk and Oujuku-koh from the root part of the Daphne species which produces agarwood resin under certain conditions.
In addition, agarwood or aloeswoods from Indonesia and that from Indochina are also different scientific groups with different aromatic chemicals. Indonesian varieties contain Jinkohol and Jinkohol ii where Indochinese contains Dihydrokaronone.
From the early incense contests mentioned in “The Tale of the Genji”, we go to the naming of the six varieties, or aromas of Aloes wood, the Rikkoku. This occured sometime later, perhaps even as late as the Edo period, and may have been devised by the Kodo genius Yonekawa Johaku. But this is not for certain according to Japanese expert, Professor Jinpo. Rikkoku literally means “Six Countries.”
The classifications are:
Kyara
Kyara is thought to be from Vietnam (Annam) and is sometimes called Kinam Koh, or Kannam.
According to Kyozaburo Nakata of Baieido Ltd., the name Kinam comes from the local language of the Champas of South Vietnam who were early traders of Kyara. The name derives from the combination of the Sanskrit word for black “Kala” and the Chinese word for tree “Bak.” Together they formed Kalambak and later the name was changed to Kinam.
The Rikkoku description of Kyara:
“A gentle and dignified smell with a touch of bitterness. The fragrance is like an aristocrat in its elegance and gracefulness.”
Manaban
This is a tricky one. Nanban means Southern Barbarian and seems to be a reference to a general area of Southeast asia around the 15th century. It also has references to Western traders around that time, such as the Portugese. It’s reference is probably more to a particular type of aloeswood than a geographic distinction. Manaban can not be located today, and new Rikkoku sets apply Jinko with similar characteristics, so it is not known at this time in which region it originated.
The Rikkoku description of Manaban:
“Mostly sweet, the presence of sticky oil on a mica plate is often present after smoldering Manaban. The smell is coarse and unrefined, just like that of a peasant.”
Sasora
Like Manaban, the origination of Sasora is not certain, and in modern Rikkoku, jinko with a similar aromatic property is used. Some say it was originally from the Assam region of India.
The Rikkoku description of Sasora:
“Cool and sour. Good-quality sasora is mistaken for kyara, especially at the beginning. It reminds one of a monk. Sometimes very light and disappearing.”
Rakoku
Rakoku is from Laos or Thailand, several books mention Rakoku is from Siam. (old name of Thailand)
The Rikkoku description of Rakoku:
“A sharp and pungent smell similar to sandalwood. Its smell is generally bitter, and reminds one of a warrior.”
Sumontara
Sumontara refers to the Sumatra Island in Indonesia.
The Rikkoku description of Sumontara:
“Sour at the beginning and end. Sometimes mistaken for Kyara, but with something distasteful and ill bred about it, like a peasant disguised as a noble.”
Managa
Managa refers to the Port of Mallaca in Malaysia.
The Rikkoku description of Managa:
“Smells light an enticing, changing like the mood of a woman with bitter feelings. The fragrance is of good quality if it disappears quickly. None of the five qualities are easily detectable.”
Incense continues to be a major part of the Japanese culture. Kodo has seen some restoration, and nearly all temples in homes in Japan participate in either casual enjoyment, or its use in religious ceremony.
Incense Koro at Todaii-ji Temple in Nara Japan
We should mention the ancient incenses still preserved in various Japanese temples, and of the famous fragments of Ranjatai. The paper on Ranjatai mentions three parts were cut. One by the Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa, one by the Daimyo Oda Nobunaga, and one by the Meiji Emperor.
It is common even today for incense masters to give a name to piece of Aloes wood, and it is a great honor to be the recipient of a gift of fine Aloes wood or Kyara whether it is from a piece carrying such a title or not. It is truly a gift from the heart!
The Incense Route was one of the most important highways in the world at a time when faith in the mystic power of incense was at its height. Its traffic — frankincense and myrrh, spices from India — was the lifeblood of the countries through which it passed. That continuous stream saw the rise and fall of many kingdoms along the way. Earliest records mention the Egyptians sending an expedition for incense in 2800 BCE. Each kingdom, growing rich and ambitious, sought control of the forests of incense that lay to the east.
So says Barbara Toy in her extraordinary 1968 trans-Arabian journal, Travelling the Incense Route. For thousands of years, incense has been a currency of inestimable value for its roles in medicine, ceremony and religious and spiritual pursuit. It was favoured by the Egyptians (remains of frankincense have been discovered within pharaohs’ sarcophagi), Babylonians and Romans,, was used in India as far back as 2000 BCE and travelled with Hinduism and Buddhism into the East.
Today, smoky wreaths of incense still fill places of worship throughout Asia, and in Catholic churches everywhere, as they did in ancient times, but incense is also coming under the scrutiny of modern research and data is both confirming the health benefits as well as revealing the darker side of this enlightening product.
Ancient practice
In a time when hygiene was a very different kettle of fish from what it is now, and body odour, food decay and sewage all fed into daily life, it seems a logical conclusion that strong aromas that smelled “good” would have been highly prized for their perceived ability to purify the air. “It all goes back to our primitive origins, with the discovery of fire,” describes Lissa Coffey, who blends the wisdom of aromatherapy and Ayurveda on her site coffeytalk.com.
“We discovered the amazing aromas that came from the wood and the effects these fragrances had on our emotions. Then we started experimenting, burning different materials, leaves, herbs and fruits. As the smoke carries the aroma towards the sky, toward heaven, we can see that as a spiritual experience. Burning fragrances became a part of religious and spiritual rituals, seen as both a gift from the gods and an offering to the gods.”
Incense became deeply entwined with spirituality in a variety of religious practices throughout the world, from East to West. “In both the Buddhist and Hindu traditions, incense is offered as a devotion and used to accompany meditation,” Coffey explains. “Buddhist monks from India brought incense to China and Japan, and the Japanese then introduced incense in the cone form at the Chicago World’s Fair in the late 1800s. Sandalwood is often used in both traditional Chinese medicine and Indian Ayurvedic practices.”
Active ingredients
Incense is essentially any organic substance that emits fragrance when it smoulders (its name comes from the Latin verb incendere, “to burn”). To make incense, pulverised aromatic herbs, wood, roots or resins are mixed with oil or water to make a dough that is then pressed into a stick or cone shape, rolled onto a stick (typically bamboo or pine) to coat it, or simply put in a tray as a powder. When lit, the fragrant, active substance is released into the air. “Our olfactory bulbs lie underneath the brain, just over the nostrils,”
explains Dr Thom E Lobe, a licensed practitioner in both Western and Eastern medicine. “These organs of smell are the closest link the brain has to the outside and are located very close to that part of our brain that regulates emotions and other important bodily functions. When you inhale incense there is a direct effect on the brain that is measurable and nearly immediate.”
According to Lobe, the various effects of incense depend on the aromatic. “It’s a chemical reaction within the brain; each variety of incense — and there are hundreds — has specific effects on the system,” he says. “We can see spiritual elation, enhanced ability to pray and meditate by effecting a calming of the emotions, activation of ion channels in the brain to alleviate anxiety and depression, and facilitation of the movement of energy.”
Incense through the ages
Myriad essential oil, herb, bark, leaf and flower products have been used in incense to spice the air. The following are some of the most commonly found and their benefits.
Frankincense Also called olibanum, frankincense is an aromatic resin obtained from trees of the genus Boswellia, traditionally on the Arabian Peninsula, through tapping the tree and allowing the resin to harden. Judaic, Christian and Islamic faiths have used frankincense mixed with oils to anoint newborn infants and individuals considered to be moving into a new phase in their spiritual lives. Frankincense resin is edible and often used in various traditional medicines in Asia to aid digestion and skin health. In Ayurvedic medicine, Indian frankincense, commonly referred to as dhoop, has been used for hundreds of years for treating arthritis, healing wounds, strengthening the female hormone system and repelling mosquitoes.
Myrrh This is a reddish-brown resinous material, the dried sap of a number of trees, but primarily from Commiphora myrrha, which is native to Yemen, Somalia and Ethiopia. The Ancient Egyptians imported large amounts of myrrh as far back as 3000 BCE, using it to embalm the dead, as an antiseptic and to burn for religious sacrifice. The Greek word for myrrh, μύρον, came to be synonymous with the word for perfume. Myrrh has been used in traditional medicine to prevent putrefaction and infection while promoting cell and tissue regeneration.
Agarwood Also called aloeswood, agarwood is produced inside a tropical rainforest tree called Aquileia and relies on an infectious mould to convert the light heartwood into the dark, resin-embedded heartwood whose ethereal fragrance has been prized in Asia for incense in ceremony, as well as used as a sedative in traditional medicine. Agarwood is said to calm the nervous system, expel negative energies, bring alertness, relieve anxiety, invoke a sense of strength and peace and enhance cerebral functioning. In Tibetan Buddhist traditions it’s said to bring energy to calm the mind and spirit and to provide motivation and the necessary devotion for meditation.
Sandalwood Heavy and yellow in colour, this fine-grained wood retains its fragrance for decades. Traditionally grown in India, sandalwood has been valued and treasured for medical and religious qualities. Used broadly in Ayurveda, the aroma of sandalwood is said to help to ease various ailments of the digestive system by encouraging the production of gastric juices and easing nausea, colic and gastritis. It is also thought to be a natural sedative, subduing aggression and irritability, promoting compassion and openness and enhancing meditation.
Patchouli A bushy herb of the mint family, patchouli is native to tropical regions of Asia and has had a long history of medicinal use in India, China and Japan where it has been used to stimulate the nervous system, lift depressed moods, relieve stress and give a feeling of elation and wellbeing. Patchouli is believed to help balance the endocrine system, which in turn balances the hormones of the body, as well as to stimulate the pituitary gland, which secretes endorphins, so relieving pain and inducing euphoria.
Sage Dried sage leaves, especially white broadleaf sage, were traditionally used by Native Americans as an ingredient of smudge sticks, in which it is bundled up whole and dried. One end of a smudge stick is lit and then blown out so that it smoulders and smokes. The smoke is used in Native American practices for purification and cleansing as well as for meditation and divination. Smudging with sage can also be used to encourage spirituality, clear negative energy, banish spirits, create sacred space, invite positive energy and promote decision-making.
Gaining validation
Historically, incense has been used to enhance prayer and balance the body. Recent scientific studies bear out its effect: frankincense has been found to have anti-depressive qualities, myrrh can reduce cholesterol and agarwood actually causes new neurons and synapses to grow in the brain.
In October last year, scientists from the Department of Plant Sciences at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel reported that, when inhaled, frankincense provides an arsenal of bio-active molecules with considerable therapeutic potential. “These compounds were shown to exert significant anti-inflammatory and pro-apoptotic activity in vitro, in vivo and in clinical trials … Furthermore, it causes behavioural as well as anti-depressive and anxiolytic [anti-anxiety] effects in mice,” they reported.
Other ancient products are also garnering respect from the scientific community. In 1991, the Tropical Metabolism Research Unit at the University of the West Indies, Jamaica, found that myrrh had pharmacological application in the reduction of cholesterol and triglycerides. In Japan, a 2006 study at the University of Toyama’s Institute of Natural Medicine demonstrated that agarwood showed significant induction effect on brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression in rats, helping to support the survival of existing neurons and encourage the growth of new neurons and synapses. And a 1995 study in China found that the antibacterial qualities of Chinese herbal incense made it as effective an air steriliser in hospital wards as methods such as ultraviolet radiation and formaldehyde.
In China, the surging demand for incense has seen the price of Agarwood, its main ingredient, hit an all time high. Farmers near Hong Kong are being encouraged to plant more trees, but so far, only a few seem to be in it for the long haul.
Across Asia, people prefer the natural scent of incense than more modern items like air fresheners or sprays.
Seen burning in temples all across the continent, the unique aroma is created when a fungus infects aqularia trees, resulting in a darkening of the wood, which is called agarwood.
Joey Yuen runs an incense store in Hong Kong. Her supplies were harvested a number of decades ago.
“As agarwood became popular, a lot of people in China’s mainland would come over and log the trees and sell them. “
Agarwood is measured using the traditional Chinese unit of weight, the catty, which equals 600 grams. A pack of incense sticks can range anywhere from US$260 to even US$10000 per catty.
But there’s a reason behind the high prices.
“Only about 10% of the trees can have this fungal invasion, therefore development of the highly priced agarwood. So with such a surge in demand while the supply is declining all the time, it is natural to see the price going up and up all the time. That is why you now have a lot of people investing into incense tree farms because they see an opportunity for making a quick profit,” said Prof. Chi Yung Jim, University of Hong Kong
Chan Koon Wing has been growing and harvesting incense trees with his grandfather since childhood. Four years ago, Chan opened an incense tree farm, home to nearly 10,000 incense trees.
But harvesting the cash crop is a slow process.
“It’s like planting a normal tree, after eight years, you have to hurt the tree to force it to produce oil. Then you have to wait another five years for the oil to reach a high quality. Only then can it be harvested.”
Despite the growth in tree farms, they are unlikely to satisfy the growing demand for agarwood. With natural supplies diminishing and farmed products requiring many years before they can hit the market, demand will continue to outstrip supply.
Taoism is a philosophical and religious tradition. It advocates the natural law of “wu wei er zhi” (meaning Rule by Not Ruling) by Laozi and Zhuangzi. In Taoism agarwood is burned for meditation as well as when exorcism is being practised. The “smoky” scene is a representation of how the “qi” (or « chi ») – energy – of heaven and earth is being unified. To practise the Taoist exercise for health, it is very common using agarwood to help awakening and enlightenment.
When Zhang Sanfeng (Zhang Sanfeng is a wandering Taoist partially legendary specialist in internal martial arts (neijia), who lived between the Song and early Ming. Tradition assigns the foundation of the martial arts of Wudang Mountain, and since the nineteenth century, the invention of tai chi chuan. This is certainly a popular figure of folklore and Chinese martial arts, about which many legends circulate) finished his work on earth and believed to have ascended to heaven, he was found disappearing from the cave leaving behind a pair of staw shoes and three pieces of agarwood.
The “agarwood pills for immortality” from the fine formulae of wonderful efficacy by Fang Xian of the Ming Dynasty was a famous Taoist recipe in strengthening one’s longevity.
The feng shui (literally “wind and water”) is a Chinese belief that seeks to harmonize environmental energy from one place in order to promote health, welfare and prosperity of its occupants. This art is to arrange the houses based on visible flow (rivers) and invisible (the wind) for a balance of power and energy flow. This is one of the Taoist arts, as well as traditional Chinese medicine or acupuncture, with which it shares a common core of knowledge.
In feng shui agarwood is know to contain very special energy. Almost used to remove bad omen or obstacles that obstruct goals. It is believed that agarwood scent is so unique that it can turn negative energy to positive energy, that it can attract positive energy, thus it can improve one’s luck, ward off evil, improve mind and health, bringing success to one’s life!!!
It is also believed that agarwood can be carried on the body to improve one’s luck. You can also burn it to purify the surrounding energy and environment. You must put the agarwood in a wealth zone or top of the door entrance.
Due to it’s unique scent and special energy agarwood has calming effect on one’s mind, and some Taoists think that it can help to build good relationships among colleagues and bring peace to oneself.
Agarwood is widely used in Asia. It can be turned into beads and bracelets. Most of the wood, however, is processed and either turned into oil which is used in perfumes and other cosmetic products, or the agarwood chips are either burnt directly or ground into powder which is used as the raw material for incense making for religious and aroma therapeutic applications. For example,, some use it as a sleep improving scent that is good for sick persons like cancer patients.
Agarwood Oil
The agarwood oil is extracted from the agarwood through distillation process. This delicate process determines both the amount and quality of oil produced. With the exception of large solid pieces of agarwood which are traded as individual pieces, most of the wood is ground into very small pieces or powder, which are immersed in water and left to ferment over time. Then the material is transferred to distillation kettles and steamed. After heating, the condensed water and oil are captured in a container where the oil floats on top of the water. The water is removed and the oil is tapped. The powder which remains after distillation can be used for low grade incense making. It is estimated that for the production of one litre of oil 100 to 150 kilos of agarwood is necessary. To test agarwood oil quality, the only way is using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS).
100% Pure Unadulterated Agarwood Oil in Luxury Perfume Glass Bottle
Uses: Aromatic inhalation & other Medicinal preparations
Pure Agarwood Oil Properties:
Appearance: Light yellow to brownish liquid
Scent: Sweet aromatic scent
PH Value: 6.8 – 13.2
Solubility: Soluble in alcohol
Pure Agarwood Oil Main Constituents or Contents:
Sesquiterpenes
Phenyl ethyl Chromones
Others – Selinene, Eudesmene etc.
How to Use Agarwood Oil?
Drip a small drop of agarwood oil onto hand and apply behind ears and wrist as with perfumes.
Drip a small drop of agarwood oil onto pillow to have a peaceful and relaxed sleep.
Drip agarwood oil onto aromatherapy stones/burners/diffusers to enjoy the holy scent. DO NOT apply too high heating temperatures.
Agarwood oil scent usually last for days when it is not washed away!
How to Use Agarwood Chips?
Agarwood Chips are burnt to produce aromatic scent in ancient times especially in Middle East and East Asian countries. Till date, it is still commonly practiced by many.
How to Burn Agarwood Chips using Japanese/Arabic Incense Charcoal method?
First take a piece of Japanese incense charcoal and light it with a match or lighter.
When it starts burning, place it in the center of a burner carefully as it is very hot. Then put some agarwood chips onto the charcoal, do not put too much as oxygen is needed for the burning process. Burning time depends on charcoal size, charcoal heat and quality of agarwood. More high quality agarwood with more resin will burnt longer than poor quality ones.
Agarwood and Health in Fengshui
In fengshui, there are various applications of agarwood, Agarwood is known to contain very special energy. Most commonly used to remove the “Sha/Bad 煞” in fengshui, in laymen terms it is used to remove bad omen or obstacles that obstruct goals and path in life. It is believed that the agarwood scent or smell is so unique that it can help to turn negative energy to positive energy. As agarwood can attract positive energy or Qi, thus it can improve one’s luck, ward off evil, improve mind and health, bringing success to one’s life.
Under the East Asin Philosophy of the Five Elements – Metal, Wood, Water, Fire and Earth. Agarwood belongs to Wood. Position to place the agarwood is “Wen Qu 文曲” and “Wen Chang 文昌” position in the house or office. Agarwood can also be carried on the body in the handbags etc to improve one’s luck. The most effective method of using agarwood is by burning it and releasing the scent and energy from the agarwood chip to purify the surrounding energy and environment.
One of the popular and proven method is to put the agarwood in a wealth zone or top of the door entrance. It can be in the form of agarwood chips/wood or even beads. For business to prosper, agarwood can also be place at wealth zone/position in the house helps to enhance one’s wisdom, luck and concentration in studies especially during times of examination. Alternatively, it can help to improve one’s fortune and luck in work/career such as promotions and good working relationships.
Agarwood beads are also usually worn on the wrist or neck area for improving one’s luck and removing bad energies/luck. In addition, due to it’s unique scent and special energy, agarwood has calming effect on one’s mind. Some customers testify that it can help to build good relationships among colleagues/friends and bring peace to oneself. Agarwood beads are also popular among celebrities.
Notes: Processed agarwood beads that are polished and shiny contend will damage the “Qi” “气” of the agarwood beads, greatly reducing the energy level of the agarwood beads.
For sandalwood, the applications and concepts are almost the same as mentioned above. But in some fengshui theory, different types of sandalwood are used for different purposes. Applications such as improving longevity, health, wealth & prosperity, studies, restoring one’s luck and increasing one’s positive energy are tagged to different origin of sandalwood. In general, sandalwood will have the same effects and the most powerful sandalwood beads or bracelet will be those made from older sandalwood trees, especially from India. The closest sandalwood to India Sandalwood will be the Pacific Islands sandalwood because it has close characteristics to India sandalwood.
Agarwood is the infected wood of the Aquilaria tree. Called ‘the wood of the Gods’, its uses range from incense for religious ceremonies, perfume for the Arabic world, medicinal wine in Korea and ornamental functions in China. As a healthy tree the Aquilaria is worth next to nothing, but wounded its defence mechanisms produce agarwood and the tree becomes a valuable commodity. Gerard Persoon goes in search of the natural and social life of a wounded tree.
Agarwood: the life of a wounded tree
Buddhist monks, Arabic perfumers, Japanese incense producers and Papuan collectors were just some of the cast of the 2nd International Agarwood Conference (March 2007, Bangkok). Participants came from more than thirty countries. The ‘world of science’ was represented by wood pathologists, anthropologists, foresters, economists and laboratory analysts each with their specific research interests. Alongside the scientists were entrepreneurs from Australia, Malaysia and the United States, potential investors in the opportunities that Aquilaria plantations offer.. Finally there were nature conservationists concerned with the survival of the tree species. In total more than 120 people, (covering the full agarwood spectrum from production to consumption), came together to discuss the future life of the infected wood of a wounded tree.
Agarwood: its history and its use
Agarwood is the heartwood produced by a number of Aquilaria species in Southeast Asia, with Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and Papua New Guinea as the main producing countries and Singapore being the main trade centre. The resin-impregnated heartwood is fragrant and, as a result, highly valuable. This resin is produced as a result of pathological or wounding processes. It is also thought that resin production is a response to fungal infection. Interestingly however, 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.
Use of agarwood has been reported in many ancient cultures, even though the history of agarwood use is still to be written. The Egyptians are believed to have used agarwood incense as part of their death rituals more than 3,000 years ago. It is also suggested that incense trade was in fact the first international trade route that existed in history. In Japan, agarwood is said to have arrived with Buddhism. In Vietnam ancient texts also refer to the use of agarwood in relation to travelling Buddhist monks.
Today the range of agarwood products and their uses is seemingly endless. Solid pieces of agarwood are highly appreciated as ‘natural art’ in Japan, Korea and Taiwan. Craftsmen carve raw pieces of agarwood into beautiful wooden sculptures. Agarwood is also turned into beads and bracelets. Most of the wood, however, is processed and either turned into oil which is used in perfumes and other cosmetic products, or the agarwood chips are ground into powder which is used as the raw material for incense making (and sometimes also for special cigarettes).
The oil is also used in the production of traditional Chinese and Korean medicine, in the preparation of (medicinal) wine and various other products. The 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 sandalwood oil. The largest market for top class incense is Japan with its long tradition in incense making. Both the Arab countries and Japan are interested in high quality agarwood and manufacturers in these countries prefer to process the raw material themselves. This also avoids the mixing of high grade agarwood with wood of lower quality.
The oil is extracted from the agarwood through distillation. This delicate process determines both the amount and quality of oil produced. With the exception of large solid pieces of agarwood which are traded as individual pieces, most of the wood is ground into very small pieces or powder, which are immersed in water and left to ferment over time. Then the material is transferred to distillation kettles and steamed. After heating, the condensed water and oil are captured in a container where the oil floats on top of the water. The water is removed and the oil is tapped. The price of high quality oil can be as much as US$50,000 to US$80,000 per litre. This process can be repeated once or twice depending on the quality of the water and the costs of the distillation process. The powder which remains after distillation can be used for low grade incense making. It is estimated that for the production of one litre of oil 100 to 150 kilos of agarwood is necessary.
Wild and cultivated agarwood
In the past most agarwood has been harvested from the wild. Because it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to see whether a tree contains agarwood or not most of the Aquilaria trees are chopped down indiscriminately. High quality agarwood can fetch as much as US$1000 per kilo. Throughout history there has been an ever-moving frontier of agarwood exploitation across Asia as traders, continuously search for untouched forests containing Aquilaria trees (Barden et al. 2000). The trees were fetching high prices and as a result, the news about agarwood harvesting spread like ‘gold fever’. Large sums of money and all kinds of luxury items were offered to the forest dwelling communities, the traditional producers of agarwood. Usually this ‘fever’ was temporary. Once the largest trees were cut, new harvesting expeditions became less successful and just as in the case of gold, the collecting of small quantities of agarwood became a less rewarding activity.
The high prices for agarwood and the local depletion of resources in the wild have led to a variety of efforts to stimulate the growth of agarwood. The most common is the deliberate wounding of trees with large knives or the hammering of nails into tree trunks. In general such efforts do not yield very productive results. The agarwood produced is of inferior quality and can only be used for home consumption. Moreover, high quality agarwood takes many years to develop. It is only during the last few decades that a more scientific approach has been adopted to cultivation. Experiments were set up in several countries including China, Thailand and Indonesia. However, one of the most successful efforts to date has been a project initiated in Vietnam. In addition to laboratory analysis, field experiments were developed by a non-governmental organisation based in Ho Chi Minh City. The project, called The Rainforest Project (TRP), is in the Seven Mountains area of South Vietnam close to the border with Cambodia. The experiments were undertaken with local farmers and Buddhist monks who had gained considerable experience in the cultivation of Aquilaria trees. Building on their knowledge, experimental plots were developed to stimulate the production of agarwood. The process and experiments were supervised by a wood pathologist from the University of Minnesota, Prof. Robert Blanchette and the Director of TRP, Henry Heuveling van Beek. The main principle of the process was the drilling of holes in the tree trunk and keeping the wound open by putting a small piece of plastic pipe in the hole. A chemical treatment was added to the wound to encourage the trees defence mechanism which stimulates the production of the resin. After years of experimenting with the numbers of holes, the age of the tree, the amount of chemicals and other variables, the first trees were recently harvested and the production of incense made from the cultivated agarwood has begun. The success of the experiment implies that it will not be long before the method spreads to other areas where Aquilaria trees are being grown. TRP is also the leading organisation behind the two international agarwood conferences that have been held so far.
In Thailand a similar process of agarwood cultivation was started by a private company. In the past Thailand has been a traditional producer and consumer of relatively large amounts of agarwood. Over the years trade in a wide variety of agar wood products has developed in Bangkok. Large amounts of agarwood products, not only from the country itself but also from neighbouring Cambodia and Laos, are channelled through the city to markets in East Asia and the Arab world.
The declining supply has led Thai scientists, in partnership with the private sector, to set up relatively large scale plantations. One of these plantations is run by a company called Krissana Panasin in Chantaburi, Southeast Thailand. Over the years it has established a substantial plantation of several hundred hectares, including nurseries, processing and dis tillation units. The research department of the company has been experimenting with all kinds of techniques to obtain the optimal quality. Moreover, it provides seedlings to interested farmers who can produce agarwood trees on their own farms. The technology to wound the trees in order to start agarwood production is also provided to the small holders by the company. The mature trees are eventually being sold for processing to the companyas the farmers usually lack the connections and skills to organise the transport to other buyers. Aside from the cultivation of agarwood, Krissana Panasin also produces a wide range of end products. The company established an extensive public relations department to market these products and reach wholesale traders in consumer countries directly. In this way it tries to bypass the intermediate traders, at least within Thailand but also in places like Singapore and Hong Kong, which mainly serve as import and re-export sites.
A much smaller project to cultivate agarwood is being undertaken by the Catholic Church in Marauke, Papua (Indonesia). Here too harvesting from the wild came to an end within a relatively short period after the agarwood frontier reached the area in 1996. People still try to dig up roots of Aquilaria trees that might contain some agarwood, but it is clear that the big harvest is over. The project currently being implemented aims to integrate agarwood trees into the local agroforestry system. This is based on the idea that in the future agarwood may become an additional source of income for the farmers. Methods that are being used are largely based on local trial and error efforts in wounding and treating trees, including innoculation. Processing units are still absent and the farmers are fully dependent on outside traders for market opportunities. As yet the farmers and the church organisation lack the capacity to process the agarwood to add value to the raw material. But, based on the high prices of agarwood earned in the past the hopes for the future are high.
New areas
The high value of agarwood has attracted the attention of potential investors from a number of countries. Inspired by the success of the plantations that are already established in Vietnam, Thailand and India, new investors are willing to take up this challenge. New on the scene are the business people from Australia, Hawaii and Malaysia. Having gained substantial experience in the production of sandalwood in Western Australia, some companies are now ready to turn their efforts to Aquilaria plantations which could yield even higher prices per production unit. In the meantime, and as is the case with many other expensive products, there is an influx of fake agarwood products onto the market. These products go by th e name of Black Magic Wood (BMW), and in fact are made from non-infected Aquilaria wood which has been impregnated with cheap oil. It requires a trained eye and nose to differentiate real agarwood from these fake products.
There are of course a number of questions to be asked in relation to the large scale domesticated production of agarwood: Can the high prices currently commanded by agarwood be sustained if production is substantially be increased? What will the quality of the cultivated product be? There are also concerns about the consequences of large-scale cultivation for the traditional producers of agarwood, the collectors inside the forested areas. It is generally assumed that the natural top quality agarwood will become rare but remain in demand, particularly in Japan. This ‘top end’ of the market cannot easily be replaced by cultivated agarwood. At the lower end of the supply quality, it is predicted that there will be an increase in supply from both the traditional producers as well as the new ones. A gradual reduction in price is expected as a result of this increased cultivation. Finally it is assumed that the production, and therefore the value, will gradually move from the orginal rainforest areas to plantations located in other areas. Similar developments have also taken place in the case of other non-timber forest products such as orchids, rattan and crocodile skins.
Protection
A number of measures to protect the Aquilaria trees from excessive logging, and thus ensure the survival of the species, are under discussion. However, some representatives of conservation organisations point to an apparent lexical confusion as one of the main obstacles in this area. For some years the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has listed all Aquilaria species in its Appendix II. This implies the need to monitor the trade (both import and export). However, because agarwood is known across the world by many different names (such as eaglewood, aloeswood, jinko, gaharu, and oudh), and because it is used or even disguised in so many different products (such as oil, perfumes, incense, wine, wood dust and chips), tracking agarwood products requires highly sophisticated detection procedures which are not yet in place. This is one of the reasons why the illegal trade in agarwood cannot easily be stopped. One of the challenges ahead will be the differentiation between wild and cultivated agarwood. Without doubt some of these issues will be discussed during the next agarwood conference which will take place in a few years time.
Gerard A. PersoonInstitute of Environmental Sciences, Leiden University Email address: persoon@cml.leidenuniv.nl References Barden, A. et al. 2000. Heart of the matter. Agarwood use and trade and CITES implementation for Aquilaria Malaccensis. Cambridge, TRAFFIC. 2nd International Agarwood Conference, Bangkok/Koh Chang, 4-11 March 2007. Organised by The Rainforest Project, FOA, TRAFFIC and Kasetsart University (Bangkok).
Vietnam Agarwood 