Agarwood (OUD)

Agarwood - known as Oud is the most expensive natural aromatic substance in the world with extraordinary aromatherapeutic effects. It is nicknamed "liquid gold" (its value is 1.5 times higher than the price of pure gold) and is still traded on world exchanges as a valuable commodity.

It is prized in many cultures for its unique and distinctive fragrance, and from ancient times to the present, it has been widely used in the production of the most luxurious perfumes, rare fragrance oils, essential oils and perfume blends.

Description: Oud is a dark brown resinous heartwood produced by trees of the genus (Aquilaria and Gyrinps) when attacked by insects or fungal diseases. Aromatic resin in the form of oil is based on the defensive response to the aforementioned attack on the tree. The tree secretes a protective oil into the injured parts (roots, branches, trunk) and thus changes the original, light brown colour of the wood to dark. This highest quality Oud comes from trees that are more than 100 years old - unfortunately they are already heavily harvested today, which is why the price of genuine quality Oud is extremely high.

Occurrence: The best known and most valuable oud wood comes from Laos and Vietnam. You can also find high quality Cambodian, Thai and Indian oud. Depending on the area in which the trees grow, the quality, colour and smell of the oud varies.

Cambodian and Thai ouds are less earthy and animalic than Indian or floral ouds from Papua. In order to obtain valuable aromatic wood, these trees are currently sought after, which are attacked by the fungus Phaeoacremonium parasitica, or are artificially infected with the undergrowth of this fungus. The mycelium growing through the wood stimulates the plant to secrete this fragrant resin. Infested heartwood is dark and heavy, healthy wood is light. Wood is particularly in demand in East Asia and the Middle East.

The fragrant oil (essential oil), known as agar oil, is obtained by distillation. An 80-year-old tree yields about 6 to 9 kg of oil. An aromatic oil is obtained from the wood, which is called oud oil in perfumery.

Aroma: The scent of Oud is extremely complex and pleasant and unlike any other natural scent.

?It is said to contain all the fragrances of the world - it is rare, beautiful, sophisticated, multi-layered and complex.?

It mixes earthy and woody accords with pleasantly sweet and balsamic notes, you will find sensual notes of musk and vanilla amber, fruit and flowers. Some species from Laos and Cambodia show smoky and peppery accents and the smell of wet forest floor. Laos Oud even contains a whole range of aromatic notes and accords, making it a fantastic and highly sought-after ingredient in the rarest of perfumes. But its use also serves to relax the mind in general.

The word Oud comes from Arabic and means, very unsurprisingly, "wood".