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The incense and perfume produced from oud otherwise known as agarwood have been highly valued for many centuries and used in many cultures for spiritual and perfumery purposes. It is highly revered in Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism and Islam.1

Agarwood is the resin-infused fragrant wood (also known as aloewood, eaglewood, guharu, oud, chén xiāng and jinkoh) derived from the valuable heartwood of the Aquilaria spp.1,2

B O TA N Y A N D O R I G I N SAgarwoodistheresinimpregnatedheartwoodoftheAquilarispecies.Theresinissecretedbythetreesasdefencereactionanddepositedaroundthewoundsoveryearsfollowingtheinjury,wherethevolatilecompoundseventuallyformagarwood.4

ThespeciesmostcommonlyusedfortheiressentialoilsareAqularia malaccensis, A. crassnaandA. sinensis.5 Todate,thereareatotalof21Aquilariaspecieswhichhavebeendocumentedand13ofthemarerecognisedastheagarwood-producingspecies.4

Akteretal.stateagarwoodcanbeproducedfromallmembersoftheAquilaria.6 Thetreesgrowinnaturalforestsatanaltitudeofafewhundredmetresabovesealeveltoabout1000metres.Itgrowsbestaround500metresinlocationswithaveragedailytemperaturesof20to22˚C.6

TheoriginoftheAquilariatreespeciesisthewiderIndo-Malayanregion.3

ThedestructiveexploitationofagarwoodhashadadevastatingeffectonwildpopulationofallAquilariaspecies.Asaconsequence,alloftheAquilariaspeciesarenowontheIUCNRedListascriticallyendangeredspecies.7,8,9

Laosistheonlycountrywhereharvestingofwildtreesisstillpermitted.8

ThetradedataindicatesthatA. malaccensis followedbyA. crassnaandA. filariaaretheagarwoodspeciesthathavedominatedtheinternationaltradeforthepast10years.2

Theageofthetreeisamajorfactorasinfectedtreesproducearesinfromtheageof15years,withtreesaged50yearsandmoreproducingthebestyieldsofagarwood.2

F O R M AT I O N O F A G A RW O O DNazizdescribestheuniquescentofagarwoodasthescentofstress,referringtothefactthattheformationofthefragrantagarwoodresinistheoutcomeofacomplexinteractionwithafungiandinducedphysicalstressontheAquilariatrees.2

Ashighdemandforqualityagarwoodcontinuestogrowanalternative,masscultivationandlargeplantationsofAquilariatreeshasbecomeasustainablesourceofagarwoodtoresolvetheshortageofagarwoodsupplyaroundtheworld.SincehealthyAquilariatreesdonotformagarwood,thelackofnaturallyoccurringagarwoodhaspromptedthedevelopmentofartificiallyagarwood-inducingmethods.4

B O TA N I C A L N A M EAqui lar ia crassna

FA M I LYThymelaeaceae

S Y N O N Y M SAgarwood is known as Gaharu in Malays ia , Eaglewood and Kr issana in Thai land, Oudh in the Middle East , Chen-x iang in China, J in-koh in Japan and Agar in India . 3

E S S E N T I A L O I L M O N O G R A P H :

B y S a l v a t o r e B a t t a g l i a

Agarwood / Oud

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EffortstoartificiallyinduceagarwoodformationhavebeentracedbacktoasearlyasAD300inChina,whereitwasrecordedthatresinformationcanhappenwithinayearbyinjuringthetrees.Apartfrommechanicalwoundingapproach,theuseofchemical,insectandpathogen-inducingtechniquesisincreasinglycommonintheagarwoodindustry.Alltheseinductiontechniquesattempttomimicthenaturalprocessesforagarwoodformation.4

NaturalagarwoodformationisoftenlinkedtothephysicalwoundingordamageofAquilariatreescausedbythunderstrikes,animalgrazing,pestanddiseaseinfestation.Naturalagarwoodformationinthenaturalenvironmentisalongprocesswhichcantakeupto10years.Therefore,thedevelopmentofaneffectiveinductiontechnologyhasreceivedmuchattentioninordertoensurethestabilityofagarwoodyieldfromthedomesticatedAquilariatrees.4

UnderstandinghowthefungalinteractionswiththeAquilaria treesleadstothepromotionofagarwoodformationhasledtothedevelopmentofnewinductionmethodsthatinvolvedeliberatewoundingcoupledwiththeapplicationofbiologicalinoculum.Manypre-culturestrainsoffungiisolatedfromnaturalagarwoodhavebeenfoundtobeeffectivebiologicalagentstoinduceagarwoodformationinhealthyAquilaria trees.4

ThewoodoftheAquilariaspeciesischaracterisedasodourless,even-grainedandoflowdensitywithayellowish-whitishcolour.Itisonlyunderspecificenvironmentalconditions,andwhenthetreehasbeeninfectedorwoundedthattheagarwoodforms.Researchsuggeststhatthefungicauseanimmunereactionassociatedwiththeproductionoftheoleo-resin.Thepartofthewoodinfectedgrowswithirregularpatchesofstreakswhichbecomeincreasinglydarkandheavy.3

Thespecificcharacteroftheagarwoodoilvariesaccordingtotheregionoforigin,thebotanicalspecies,itsageaswellasthesectionofthetreefromwhichthepieceofagarwoodcomesfromaswellastheamountoftimethewoodhasundergonethebiologicalprocess.3

E X T R A C T I O N

Theextractionoftheoilisbydistillationwherethesun-dried chipswithdarkresinaresoakedinwaterfor2-3monthsandthereafterboiledtorecovertheoil.2

Plantation Aquilaria trees in Vietnam

Artificially induced agarwood formation Removing the agarwood from the tree trunk

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C H A R A C T E R I S T I C SThearomaisconsideredoneofthemostcomplexolfactoryaccordsknowninperfumerytoday.Itisoftendescribedasa‘oriental-woody’witha‘softfruity-floral’note.Thesmokefromtheincensemadewithhighqualityagarwoodisdescribedbyperfumersashavingasweet-balsamicnotewithahintofvanilla,muskandambergris.3

Lyengar’sdescriptionofouddescribesthequalitiesofoudperfectly:

What is most intriguing about this natural substance – which rightfully smells obnoxious to many – is that it is the most sought-after perfumery ingredient in the world and more expensive than gold.10

H I S T O R YAncientEgyptianswerebelievedtobethefirstusersofagarwoodindeathritualsmorethan3,000yearsago.Presentlyagarwoodoilisusedinperfumeryandcosmeticproductsandmedicinalproductsthroughouttheworld.Itisconsideredwithoutadoubtthemostexpensiveandpreciousessentialoilintheworld.2

T R A D I T I O N A L S A C R E D U S E SAgarwoodishighlyreveredinHinduism,Christianity,Buddhism,andIslam.1

Agarwoodisconsideredoneofthemostsoughtafterandexpensiveperfumeryrawmaterialsintheworld.Theincenseandperfumeproducedfromagarwoodhavebeenhighlyvaluedformanycenturiesandusedinmanyculturesforspiritualandperfumerypurposes.ItishighlyreveredinHinduism,Christianity,BuddhismandIslam.1

Agarwoodisoneofeightimportantaromaticingredientsinashtagandha,aholypowderusedinindeityworshippingandbathing.ItwassaidthatwhenBhagavanKrishnawasonearththesmellofashtagandhawasemanatingfromhim.Itisnotsurprisingthatotheraromaticingredientsincludedsandalwoodandspikenard.10

IntheHolyBible,agarwoodwasusedwithmyrrhintheanointingofChristfollowinghiscrucifixion.ThespiritualimportanceofagarwoodinBuddhismwassimilarlydemonstratedwhenitwasusedamongotherfragrantproductsinthecremationofBuddha.1

Itwassuggestedthatthefivenaturalincenseproductsthatrepresentedthespeechofthefivebuddhasincludedsandalwood,agarwood,pineresinorjuniper,camphorandvetiverroot.1

AgarwoodiscitedthreetimesintheBibleasafragrantproductforintimacyandseduction.InIslamictexts,agarwoodwasaconspicuousfragranceusedintheritualburningofincense,

forspiritualpurification,andasoneoftherewardsinParadise.AgarwoodmixedwithcamphorwasthepreferredscentoftheProphetMuhammad.Theuseofagarwoodinmanyreligioustextsconfirmsitsreputationasanimportantscentsupportingspirituality.1

TheArabsarerenownedfortheirloveofoud.SincethebeginningofIslam,oudhasbeenapartofArabdailylife.Thereare‘hadith’orpropheticsayingsinIslamthatspeakofoudanditsbenefits.ProphetMuhammadnotonlyusedoudhimself,butrecommendeditsusetohisfollowersforitsspirituallyelevatingaromasandhealthbenefits.10

TheintroductionofBuddhismintoChinawouldhavemostlikelypromotedtheinterestinagarwood.TheuseofagarwoodinChinaasanincensebecameprominentamongthenobility.In1225AD,adetailedaccountisprovidedthatdistinguishesdifferenttypesofagarwoodbyconsideringtheirgeographiclocation(e.g.Tonkin,Annam,Cambodia,MalayPeninsula,Sumatra)aswellasthevaryingquality,appearanceandfragrance.3

U S E A S I N C E N S EArabicincenseiscalledbakhoor,whichisagarwoodchipsburntovercharcoalintraditionalincenseburners,calledmabkharah.BakhooristhequintessentialsymbolofcelebrationandisconsideredasignofArabhospitality.Duringsocialgatherings,themabkharahispassedamongtheguestswho,onreceivingitreciteprayersfortheProphetMuhammad.10

ThefirstJapanesewrittenrecordofagarwoodwasreportedinAD595,whenalargepieceofagarwooddriftedashoreontheislandofAwaji.Theislandersnoticedinwonderthatitproducedastringfragrancewhenusedasfirewood,andlaterpresentedanunburntpiecetoEmpressSuiko.EarlyaromaticsburnedinJapaneseBuddhistceremoniesincludedjinkoh(thebestagarwood),sandalwood,cloves,cinnamonandcamphor.1

Theconsumptionofagarwoodbecameincreasinglysophisticated.Inlinewiththerisingaestheticsensitivityandappreciationofthescent,agarwoodwasincreasinglyconsumedonitsown,withoutanyotheraromatic.Inordertoappreciateitsfragrance,asmallsilverplatewasusedtoprotectthewoodfromthefireduringincensation.Wen xiang or‘listeningtofragrance’becameaspecialpastimetofullyappreciatetheincensation,andpayattentiontotheagarwood’sdiverseolfactorynotes.3

TheJapanesedrewfromtheChineseperfumerycultureandadaptedsimilarpracticesfortheexclusiveuseofagarwood.TheJapanesetermmonko,literallymeaning‘listeningtofragrance’developedthesenotionsfurther.InJapan,thearistocraticpracticeofappreciatingincenseintheHeianperiodwasknownaskoh-doamongtheaffluent,educatedsocietyduringthecourseofthethirteenthtoseventeenthcenturies.TheincenseappreciationgamesweredeterminedbytheZenidealsofsimplicityandpurity.3

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T R A D I T I O N A L M E D I C I N EAgarwoodhasbeenusedforitsmedicinalpropertiesinAyurveda,Chinese,TibetanandtraditionalEast-Asianmedicinalpracticesforthousandsofyears.11

InAyurveda,agarwoodwasusedforhealingwounds,skindiseases,coughsandcoldsandlongconsideredanaphrodisiac.10

Traditionally,theleaves,barkandrootofAquilaria agallocha havebeenusedfortheiraphrodisiac,aromatic,astringent,bitter,cardiotonic,carminativeandstimulantproperties.11

InMalaysiantraditionalmedicine,agarwoodismixedwithcoconutoiltomakeanointmenttotreatbodypain.12

Agarwoodpowderisusedforthelossofappetiteanddigestiveailments.Itimprovesbloodcirculation,reducescoughingandhelpssoothbronchitisandasthma.Becauseofitscoolingeffect,agarwoodisusedtoreducefevers.11

Aquilaria crassnaisthemajorsourceplantforagarwoodinVietnam.InVietnamthewoodofA. crassnaisusedintraditionalmedicinetoassistdigestionandasasedative.ItisprescribedinaVietnamesemedicineasapowder,aqueouspreparationortincturetotreatgastralgia(paininthestomachorepigastriumespeciallyofaneuralgictype),nausea,vomitingandanxiety.

Contemporary uses

Agarwoodisinhighdemandthroughouttheworldasarawmaterialforincense,perfumeandmedicinalpurposes.TheMiddleEastandEastAsiaarethetwomajorregionsofconsumption.Thecostoftheagarwoodcanbeashighas$10,000perkgandthevalueofagarwoodessentialoilcanbeashighasUS$30,000ormoreperkg.4

Theoilisinhighdemandduetoitsuseasanincenseforreligiousceremonies,inperfumesandtraditionalmedicinepreparations.IntheMiddleEastitisconsideredasymbolofwealthandcommonlyusedduringweddingceremonies.5

Agarwoodoilistradedglobally,howeverthemainimportersaretheUnitedArabEmirates,SaudiArabia,ChinaandJapan.5

C H E M I C A L C O M P O S I T I O NMorethan150compoundshavebeenidentifiedsofar.Mostofthemaresesquiterpenoidsandchromones.2

ThechemicalcompositionagarwoodessentialoilfromAustralianplantation-grownAquilariatreeswasreportedasfollows:4-phenyl-2-butonone(0.3%),(-)selina-3,11-dien-9-one(2.01%),α-guaiene(2.41%),guaia-1(10),11-diene-15-ol(1.41%),agarospirol(1.1%),eremorphila-9,11(13)dien-12-ol(6.10%),epi-10-Y-eudesmol(3.42%),vetispirane-2(11)6(14)diene-7-ol(n/d),valance-1(10)8-diene-11-ol(6.44%),vetispiranetypesesquiterpene(5.71%),2,14-epoxy-vetispir-6-ene(1.87%),aragofuran(1.59%),guaienetypesesquiterpene(1.74%),guaia1(10),11-diene-9-one(1.12%),selinenetypesesquiterpene(1.85%),selina-3,11-dien-9-ol(4.89%),2-2-phenylethylchromonederivative(1.27%).13

ThechemicalcompositionagarwoodessentialoilfromVietnamplantation-grownAquilaria crassnatreeswasreportedasfollows:Benzylacetone(1.05%),(-)selina-4,11-dien-14-al(3.88%),β-agarofuran(6.71%),α-agarofuran(0.35%),norketoagarofuran(2.15%),Y-eudesmol(1.02%),agarospirol(8.51%),hinesol(3.56%),jinkoheremol(1.78%),valerianol(3.81%),α-eudesmol(4.47%),β-eudesmol(5.16%),9,11-eremophiladien-8-one(2.28%),oxoagarospirol(2.38%).14

Thehighestqualityagarwoodoilisrichinoxygenatedsesquiterpenesandchromonederivatives.Threesesquiterpenecompoundsthatarecommonlydetectedinthehigh-qualityagarwoodoilsinclude(-)-guaia-1(10),11-dien-15-al,(-)-selina-3,11-dien,9-oneand(+)-selina-3,11-dien,9-ol.5

P H A R M A C O L O G Y A N D C L I N I C A L S T U D I E SPharmacologicalstudiesusingagarwoodoilhavereportedanti-cancer,analgesic,anti-inflammatoryandantidepressantproperties.2

Onestudyreportedsedativeactivityofvapouradministrationofagarwoodoilonmice.15

Guaia-1(10),11-dien-15-al

Agarospirol

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Arecentstudyreportedthatboththeethanolextractandessentialoilofagarwood,hadasedative-hypnoticeffect,whereitspotentialmechanismisrelatingtoregulatinggeneexpressionofGABAAreceptorsandpotentiatingtheGABAAreceptorfunction.16

Agarofuran,aconstituentfoundinagarwoodessentialoilwasreportedtohaveanxiolyticandanti-depressantactivityinmice.Itwasreportedthatthepotentialmechanismmightbethroughmodulatingcentralneurotransmitterssuchasdopamine.16

Agarwoodoilwasalsoreportedtohaveanti-inflammatoryactivityinastudyinvolvingmice.16

Invitroandinvivostudiesreportedthatagarwoodoilpossessesanticanceractivitytowardsbreastcancercellsandcolorectalcarcinomacells.12,16

P R O P E R T I E SOudoilisnotmentionedinmanyaromatherapybooks.However,thechemicalcompositionandaromaofoudindicatethatithassimilarpropertiestospikenardorvalerianessentialoil.Basedonthepharmacologicalstudies,Iwouldsuggestthatthepropertiesofoudoilareanxiolytic,sedativeandnervine.

A R O M A T H E R A P Y Theratherprohibitivepriceandthedifficultysourcingagarwoodmeansthatitisnotcommonlyusedinaromatherapy.

Aromatherapy usesTheanxiolyticandsedativepropertiesofoudindicatethatit wouldbebeneficialforalleviating,anxiety,nervoustensionandrestlessness.

EnergeticsThecoolingnatureoftheoilsuggeststhattheoilcalmstheHeartandsoothesanagitatedShen.Itwouldbeidealwheneveroneexperiencesnervoustension,anxietyandinsomnia.

SubtleIrecommendusingoudoilinsubtlearomatherapy.Covingtonrecommendsusingoudoiltoamplifycommunication,effectivelisteningskillsandexpression.Shealsorecommendsusingtheoiltopurifyemotionaldisharmonyandtogainaccesstotimelesswisdomandforthesupportinartisticexpression.17

UnlikespikenardandvetiverwhichIfindspiritualitygrounding,thescentofoudisspirituallyelevating.Ibelievethatthefragranceofoudcarrieswithitadeepconnectionwithallofhumanitythathasexistedsinceitwasfirstused.Itremindsusthatwearenotaloneonourjourneyandwheneverwefeeldespondent,oudgivesusthecourageandstrengthtobedevotedtoourchosenpath.

B L E N D I N GIloveworkingwithoud.Itisamagicaloiltoblendwith;however,onehastobeverydiscerningasanymistakeswillbecostly.

Oudoilblendswithessentialoilssuchasbenzoin,atlascedarwood,cinnamonbark,cistus,clovebud,frankincense,galbanum,ginger,lavender,myrrh,oakmossabsolute,patchouli,roseabsolute,saffron,spikenard,sandalwood,vetiverandyakusugi.

Someideasforblendingwithoudinclude:

• Soothing and relaxing blend–considerblendingoudwithlavender,patchouli,spikenard,sandalwoodorvetiver.

• Connecting with the divine blend–considerblendingoudwithfrankincense,myrrh,spikenardorsandalwood

• Promoting spiritual sensuality blend–considerblendingoudwithbenzoin,cistus,patchouli,roseabsoluteorsandalwood.

• Connecting with nature blend-considerblendingoudwithgalbanum,lavender,oakmossabsolute,patchouliorvetiver.

• Promoting courage and resilience blend–considerblendingoudwithatlascedarwood,ginger,sandalwoodoryakusugi.

• Grounding and nurturing blend-considerblendingoudwithatlascedarwood,myrrh,patchouli,spikenardorvetiver.

Perfumer,KrishnarajIyenarexplainsthatArabattarsaregenerallyknowntobeaudacious,woody,spicyandwarmwithadistinctoudnote.Hestatesusingotheraromaticingredientssuchasrose,saffronandambercomplimenttheoutstandinglongevityofoud.10

S A F E T YNoknownhazardsorcontraindications.

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R E F E R E N C E S1. Lopez-SampsonA,PageT.Historyofuseandtradeofagarwood.

EconomicBotany,2018;72(1):107-129.

2. NazizPSetal.Thescentofstress:evidencefromtheuniquefragranceofagarwoodFrontiersinPlantScience.2019;10:840.doi:10.3389/fpls.2019.00840.

3. JungD.Theculturalbiography–perfumeryinEasternAsiaandintheAsianneighbourhood.JournaloftheRoyalAsiaticSociety,2013;23(1):103-125.doi:10.1017/s135618313000047

4. TanCSetal.Agarwoodinduction:Currentdevelopmentsandfutureperspectives.FrontiersinPlantScience,2019;10:122.doi:10.3389/fpls.2019.00122

5. IsmailNetal.Areviewstudyofagarwoodoilanditsqualityanalysis.JurnalTeknologi.2014;68(1):37-42.eISSN2180-3722

6. AkterSetal.Agarwoodproduction–amultidisciplinaryfieldtobeexploredinBangladesh.InternationalJournalofPharmaceuticalandLifeSciences.2013;2(1):22-32.

7. Harvey-BrownY.Aquilariacrassna,Agarwood.TheIUCNRedListofThreatenedSpecies2018:e.T32814A2824513.doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T32814A2824513.en

8. Harvey-BrownY.Aquilariamalaccensis,Agarwood.TheIUCNRedListofThreatenedSpecies2018:T32056A2810130.doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T32056A2810130.en

9. Harvey-BrownY.Aquilariasinensis,ChineseAgarwood.TheIUCNRedListofThreatenedSpecies2018:T32382A2817115.doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T32382A2817115.en

10. IyengarK.ExploringoudthroughtwoEasterntraditions.Downloadedon17July2019fromhttps://www.perfumerflavorist.com/fragrance/applicaiton/finefrag/exploring-Oud--through-Two-Eastern-tradtions-465741663.html

11. AlamJetal.AninsightofpharmacognosticstudyandphytopharmacologyofAquilariaagallocha.JournalofAppliedPharmaceuticalScience.2015;5(8):173-181.Doi:10.7324/JAPS.2015.50827.

12. DahhamSSetal.Invivotoxicityandantitumoractivityofessentialoilsextractfromagarwood(Aquilariacrassna).BMCComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine,2016;16:236.doi:10.1186/s12906-016-1210-1

13.Agarwoodessentialoil-Certificateofanalysis.WestcorpSandalwood,2019.

14. SouthernCrossUniversityPlant.CertificateofAnalysis–Agarwood(Aquilariacrassna)Oil,Lismore,2015.

15. TakemotoHetal.Sedativeeffectsofvaporinhalationofagarwoodandspikenardextractandidentificationoftheiractivecomponents.JournalofNaturalMedicines.2008;62(1):41-46.doi:10.1007/s11418-007-0177-0.

16.WangSetal.ChemicalconstituentsandpharmacologicalactivityofagarwoodandAquilariaplants.Molecules.2018;23:324.doi:10.3390/molecules23020342

17.CovingtonC.Essentialoilsinspiritualpractice.HealingArtsPress.Rochester,2017.

18. TisserandR,YoungR.Essentialoilsafety.2ndedn,ChurchillLivingstone.Edinburgh,2014.