Agarwood Bracelet Buying Guide: Reading Oil Lines and Scent, Verifying Test Certificates

Market Reference and Certificate Verification

2026 market data for agarwood bracelets shows 8mm Hui'an-style high-oil plain strands at roughly RMB 80–160 per gram, 9–10mm Xingzhou-style material at RMB 120–220, Hainan Ky Nam bracelets at RMB 600–1200, and water-sinking grade Ky Nam above RMB 1000 per gram in the collector tier. Prices far below these ranges warrant caution. Beyond price, certificates matter: a legitimate agarwood test certificate must bear a CMA mark, the testing institution's official seal and an authorized signatory's signature; the certificate number can be verified on the issuing institution's official platform.

On authentication, the forestry industry standard LY/T 2904-2017 for agarwood covers agarotetrol content, species identification and screening for artificial treatment: natural agarwood is labeled Aquilaria species with no artificial processing, oil-soaked or injected material is marked as treated, and counterfeit wood is directly identified as non-agarwood. Practical checks: natural oil lines grow organically with irregular depth, while treated material shows flat, surface-level darkening; genuine scent unfolds in layered top, middle and base notes, whereas synthetic versions smell pungent and fade quickly; high oil content does not equal water-sinking — sinking is a grade standard, not a proof of authenticity.

This article is an industry observation and science popularization compilation and does not constitute any transaction or investment advice. Please purchase agarwood through legal channels with verifiable, testable sources.