What Is Agarwood?

**Agarwood is a "resin-bearing fragrant wood" formed when trees of the genus *Aquilaria* (Thymelaeaceae) are wounded, infected by fungi, and aged over many years.** It is not the natural heartwood of the tree, but the product of "wounding—resin formation."

I. Where It Comes From

Aquilaria species are distributed across Southeast Asia and China's Hainan, Guangdong, Guangxi, and other regions. After a tree is wounded, it secretes resin to encapsulate the wound; this mixes with fungal metabolites and undergoes aging, ultimately forming a dark, fragrant, resin-bearing portion.

II. Main Uses

• Incense culture: fumigation, incense sticks, and incense powder, valued for their refined aroma profile;
• Collecting: raw materials, carvings, and bead strings, valued by oil content and craftsmanship;
• Medicinal/aromatherapy: traditional medicine and essential oil applications;
• Culture: an important place in ritual systems, religion, and literati gatherings.

III. Origins and Categories

Hainan, Vietnam (Hui'an system), Indonesia (Xingzhou system), and others each have their own styles; qinan is the premium category among them (see Differences Between Qinan and Ordinary Agarwood). For more depth, see Agarwood Resin Formation Mechanism and Agarwood Identification.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Is agarwood wood? A: Strictly speaking, it is a "wood-resin composite"; only the wounded, resin-formed portion is fragrant, while the white wood portion is basically unscented.

Q: Why is agarwood expensive? A: Wild resin formation takes decades and yields are low, with quality resources endangered; although artificial resin formation alleviates supply, top-grade pieces remain scarce.