Four Famous Types of Kyara (Kynam) and Olfactory Identification Methods

Kyara is the top grade of agarwood, classified by color and texture into four famous types: white, green, purple, and black kyara. Olfactory identification involves three stages—top, middle, and base notes—combined with characteristics like cooling, sweetness, milkiness, and floral scents.

Four Famous Types of Kyara

Kyara (also known as kynam) is a soft, resin-rich agarwood formed under specific conditions. Based on color and appearance, it is divided into four famous types: white kyara, green kyara, purple kyara, and black kyara. White kyara is pale or grayish-white with fine resin lines and the softest texture, causing a numbing sensation on the tongue. Green kyara is dark green with abundant resin and a clear, long-lasting aroma. Purple kyara has a purple-brown hue with purplish-red resin and a mellow, fruity-sweet scent. Black kyara is deep black with glossy dark resin, harder texture, and a rich, deep aroma. All four belong to the top-grade kyara category defined in the Kyara pillar page, but each has its own distinctive flavor.

Core Methods of Olfactory Identification

Olfactory identification of kyara is conducted in stages: top notes (upon heating or first sniff) often present cooling, minty sensations; middle notes (main phase) release sweetness, milkiness, floral or fruity scents; base notes (lingering) turn to woody or medicinal aromas. White kyara features cooling and milky notes, with a refreshing top note and sweet middle note. Green kyara has cooling with floral notes and an elegant base note. Purple kyara stands out with sweetness, fruity and honey-like notes. Black kyara is intense, with cooling and medicinal notes interwoven. Identification should consider ambient temperature, humidity, and sniffing method. Refer to the standard procedures in the Identification pillar page to avoid misjudgment based on a single characteristic.

Comparison of Famous Types and Key Identification Points

The four types of kyara differ in texture, color, and aroma: white kyara is soft and paste-like, green kyara has coarse resin lines, purple kyara is reddish, and black kyara is hard and oily black. In aroma, white is cooling, green is clear, purple is mellow-sweet, and black is intense. Identification requires a combination of visual, olfactory, tactile, and gustatory examination, especially noting kyara's numbing sensation and soft-fiber texture. For more systematic knowledge, see the Agarwood Encyclopedia, or consult the historical literature and practical cases in the Chinese Fragrance Studies · Agarwood Identification column.

Key Takeaways

The four famous types of kyara—white, green, purple, and black—each have unique characteristics. Olfactory identification should combine top, middle, and base notes, integrating cooling, sweet, milky, floral, fruity, and medicinal nuances. Mastering these points enables accurate appreciation of kyara's beauty.

(This is industry observation and popular-science summary, not investment advice. Buy agarwood through legal channels with traceable, testable sources.)