Is Qinan a Separate Tree Species?

No. The mainstream view holds that qinan is not a separate tree species, but a special agarwood category formed by trees of the genus Aquilaria (Thymelaeaceae) under specific fungal infection and resin formation conditions.

I. Taxonomic Position

Agarwood comes from resinous wood formed in trees of the genus Aquilaria (Thymelaeaceae) after wounding, fungal infection, and years of maturation. Qinan is likewise based on Aquilaria trees; the difference lies in "which fungus, and under what conditions, induces the resin"—this determines its softer, more unctuous texture and more layered aroma profile.

II. Common Misconceptions

• Misconception 1: "Qinan is another kind of tree"—wrong; it is a special category of agarwood;
• Misconception 2: "All qinan is sinking grade"—sinking grade depends on oil density, not on category determination;
• Misconception 3: "Qinan is necessarily better than ordinary agarwood"—it depends on use; for daily incense, ordinary agarwood may be no less impressive.

III. Significance for Purchasing

Recognizing that "qinan = special agarwood" helps avoid being misled by marketing rhetoric and refocuses attention on aroma profile, origin, and certificates. For further reading, see Differences Between Qinan and Ordinary Agarwood.

FAQ

Q: Then why is "qinan species" often mentioned on the market? A: "Qinan species" refers to tree species/provenances more prone to producing qinan-quality agarwood; it is not a separate biological species but an industry colloquialism.

Q: Can qinan and ordinary agarwood be distinguished by the naked eye? A: Experienced practitioners can make a preliminary judgment from texture, oil lines, and aroma, but reliable identification still relies on olfactory evaluation and testing certificates (e.g., gas chromatography fingerprint comparison).