About Agarwood
- Agarwood, also known as oud, aloeswood, or gaharu, is a highly valuable and fragrant resinous wood formed in the heartwood of Aquilaria trees. It is an evergreen tree that can grow to 40 metres.
- Agarwood is produced when Aquilaria trees are infected by a type of mold, usually Fusarium solani. The tree reacts to the infection (stress-response) by producing a dark aromatic resin, which gives the wood its characteristic fragrance.
- Geographical Distribution: The tree is native to the countries in South and South-East Asia, particularly India (North-East Indian states), Bangladesh, Bhutan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Thailand.
- Economic value:
- Agarwood is one of the most expensive natural raw materials in the world. Its value can range to $100000 per kilogram for high-grade resin.
- Agarwood oil or oud is extracted through steam distillation. This oil is highly prized in the perfume industry, and termed as ‘liquid gold.’
- Uses: Agarwood is used in the production of high-end perfumes, incense sticks, traditional medicine, and religious and cultural rituals. It is highly valued in Middle Eastern and East Asian cultures.
- Artificial induction: Given the high demand and conservation issues, methods to artificially induce resin production in Aquilaria trees have been developed. These include mechanical wounding, chemical treatments, and biological inoculation with fungi.
- Conservation status:
- Due to unchecked demand for agarwood, trade in the tree and its products is protected by CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). It is listed in Appendix II of the CITES.
- IUCN status: The most renowned species for agarwood production is Aquilaria malaccensis which is ‘critically endangered’. Its population has declined over 80% in the past 150 years due to indiscriminate logging and commercial exploitation.