Agarwood oil (Aquilaria crassna )

Product Description

Product detail : Agarwood oil

Agarwood oil, also known as Oud oil, Aloeswood oil, Eagleswood Ud, Kiara, etc., is an extremely rare and precious natural oil obtained from several species of Agarwood (Aquilaria sp.) trees. Agarwood originates in North Eastern India, Bhutan and parts of South East Asia, especially Laos and Cambodia and also the Philippines and Indonesia including Papau New Guinea. Agarwood has a very long history of use as a medicine, incense and as an aromatic oil. In the Bible it is known as aloes or aloeswood. There are several species of Agarwood, the most important species are: Aquilaria crassna

The Oud that we carry is from Aquillaria crassna, and it is plantation–grown in Assam, India, which was originally one of the richest areas of naturally occurring agarwood trees. While there are still wild agarwood trees to be found in inaccessible forest regions, they are extremely rare and very difficult to obtain. By purchasing agarwood oil from cultivated trees, we are not doing damage to the last remaining wild agarwood trees, nor to the forests in which the precious agarwood trees grow.

Agarwood trees must be infected by a fungi, prior to producing an oleoresin which saturates the wood. This oleoresin saturated wood is where the mystical fragrance of Oud originates. There are many grades of agarwood, and the highest quality wood is extremely expensive. In fact, the first-grade wood is one of the most expensive natural products in the world, with prices of up to $*3,**0 per pound (thirteen thousand US dollars per *6 ounces!) for top quality wood. The essential oil from wild agarwood trees is likewise one of the most expensive oils in the world. The wholesale price for a relatively decent quality oil is around $***0 to $***0 per ounce. The finest Oud oil would, of course, be much more expensive.

Please realize that this oil is from cultivated trees, and is not considered a high quality agarwood oil. It is however, a very nice oil at a very affordable price. It is pure and unadulterated, which is more than can be said for much of the agarwood oil or oud that is for sale on the open market.

The Oud CO2 extract that we carry is a very viscous, dark brown oil. It is non-sticky and can be applied directly to the skin (in minute amounts) or can be thinned in jojoba oil or other carrier oil. Eden Botanicals' Agarwood oil may also be mixed into your own essential oil blends. For mixing purposes you will need to gently warm the Oud in a water bath and add it drop by drop to your mixture. Then heat the blend and swish well. With this method our Oud CO2 extract will mix into your essential oil formulas or into carrier oils.

Agarwood is a very complex, deep woody fragrance, reminiscent of amber. Susanne Fischer–Rice, in her book, ‘The Complete Incense Book’, explains: “Agarwood has a balsamic, ambergris, woody, deep fragrance. To experience the many nuances of this unique substance is like a journey on the road to spiritual perfection”. It is highly prized as an incense in Japan and as an oil in the Middle East. Because Agarwood is so rare, and so highly valued in Japan and the Middle East (where most of it ends up), it is little known in the West. But agarwood is truly amazing, and should be experienced by any connoisseur of essential oils. You only need to use a tiny amount of agarwood at a time; be prepared for the slow release of its aroma over the next 8 hours.