Agarwood
Aquilaria crassna Pierre ex Lecomte
Agarwood is resinous, fragrant wood formed when Aquilaria trees are wounded and secrete resin as a defence. It is among the most prized fragrance materials in the world.
Chưa có đánh giá nào — hãy là người đầu tiên!
Overview
Aquilaria trees grow mainly in Southeast Asian rainforests. In the wild, only about 2–10% of trees form agarwood, and it takes decades for aromatic resin to accumulate.
Agarwood resin holds hundreds of sesquiterpene and chromone compounds, producing a complex scent profile from sweet and warm-woody to smoky and balsamic. Kynam is the highest-resin grade, dense enough to sink in water.
Gallery
Aquilaria crassna in Chiang MaiAgarwood tree (Aquilaria crassna)
Aquilaria crassna in a botanical garden
Aquilaria crassna canopy
Aquilaria crassna in Mu Ko Lanta National ParkAquilaria crassna in Chiang MaiAgarwood tree (Aquilaria crassna)Life cycle
From seed to productSeed & germination
Aquilaria seeds germinate under a humid forest canopy; seedlings need shade and high moisture to survive.
Sapling
The sapling grows slowly with a slim, shade-loving stem and takes years to mature enough to form resin.
Mature tree
After 15–25 years the tree reaches 15–25 m; its trunk is then thick enough for fungi and bacteria to enter wounds.
Resin formation
When wounded, the tree secretes resin to seal the wound; 10–50 years of accumulation turn it into precious agarwood.
Harvest & distillation
Agarwood is taken from the trunk and steam-distilled into oud oil, or crafted into incense and jewellery.
Distribution & origin
Share of recorded occurrences by region- Vietnam34%
- Indonesia18%
- Malaysia14%
- India11%
- Thailand8%
- Cambodia · Laos7%
- China5%
- Other regions3%
Chemical composition
Relative content in agarwood resin- SesquiterpenesWarm woody notes42%
- ChromonesSignature agarwood note27%
- BenzylacetoneSweet top note14%
- AgarospirolBalsamic facet9%
- OthersTrace compounds8%
Uses
- Distilled into oud oil for luxury perfumery
- Incense and ceremonial burning
- Beads, jewellery and fine craftwork
- Used in traditional medicine as a sedative
Properties
- Colour
- Black-brown, oily grain
- Scent
- Sweet, warm-woody, smoky
- Density
- 0.98 – 1.10 g/cm³
- Distillation
- Steam, 100–120°C
Habitat & conservation
Evergreen tropical rainforest on well-drained basaltic soil below 800 m. Young trees are shade-tolerant and need canopy cover.
Conservation
Aquilaria crassna is listed as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List and in CITES Appendix II. Harvest and trade require permits, and many countries now grow plantations to ease pressure on wild trees.
References
- 1IUCN Red List — Aquilaria crassna — IUCN, 2024
- 2CITES Appendix II — Aquilaria spp. — CITES, 2023
- 3Chemical constituents of agarwood — Journal of Natural Products, 2021
- 4Bảo tồn trầm hương Việt Nam — Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, 2020