Sinking Grade vs Floating Grade: Agarwood Grades in One Table

In one sentence: the difference is essentially density—when the resin content is high enough that the density exceeds that of water and the piece sinks immediately, it is "sinking grade"; when the oil content is low and the piece floats on the surface, it is "floating grade". The intermediate state is called semi-sinking (sinking float).

I. The Classification Standard Is Actually Quite Simple

What the industry calls "sinking", "semi-sinking" and "floating" is judged by placing the material in pure water and observing whether it sinks or floats. The underlying principle:

• Agarwood is a composite of wood fiber + resin (oil);
• Wood fiber itself has a density lower than water; the ability to sink comes from oil deposited over years that pushes the overall density above 1.0 g/cm³;
• Therefore, whether it sinks directly reflects the level of oil content, and oil content is closely related to the duration and method of resin formation.

II. Comparison Table of the Three Grades

III. Three Common Myths Beginners Fall For

Myth 1: Sinking = genuine. Wrong. Lead weighting, high-pressure compression and oil soaking can all make fake material "sink". Whether it sinks is only an indicator of oil content, not authentication. Verification requires comprehensive judgment based on oil line patterns, aroma layers and burning performance.

Myth 2: The more it sinks, the better—don't buy anything that doesn't sink. Grade does not equal suitability. Sinking grade suits collecting and high-value gifting; floating grade is often better value for daily wear and as an entry into incense practice. Chasing "must sink" often means paying a premium for a label.

Myth 3: Qinan always sinks. Quite the opposite—many top-grade qinan does not sink, yet commands prices far above ordinary sinking-grade material. "Sinking" and "good aroma" cannot be directly equated.

IV. Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What should I ask a seller when buying a bracelet? You can confidently request: measured weight data, origin and resin formation method, and third-party test reports. Reputable suppliers will not refuse these three. For bracelets of the same specification, higher oil content means greater weight—but note that oil-injected material also becomes heavier, so weight should be reviewed together with actual photos of the oil lines.

Q: Is floating-grade incense worth buying? Yes. Incense sticks are judged by the overall formula and burning performance; floating-grade material is entirely adequate for entry-level incense appreciation—the key is confirming no adulteration and no synthetic fragrance. Fakes fear close inspection, inferior goods fear comparison—request samples first, and don't order high-value goods from photos alone.

Q: What is semi-sinking like? Most sink slowly or sink after suspension, with aroma performance between the two grades—a relatively balanced choice between budget and quality.

This article is for educational purposes and does not constitute collection or investment advice. For high-value transactions, rely on authoritative authentication and proof of legal origin.

Related reading: 7 Methods to Identify Genuine vs Fake Agarwood | How Much Does Agarwood Cost per Gram