Aloeswood, it is precious than gold

Introduction of Aloeswood:

Aloeswood - A Gift of Nature...
Aloeswood is one of the most rare and precious woods in the world, prized for its rich and wonderful fragrance. It has been used for centuries in religious ceremonies, as well as in traditional medicine. It is believed to have both mental and physical medicinal benefits – with properties thought to balance the mind and body and relieve pain.* Aloeswood is also believed by many to have aphrodisiacal qualities.

Botanical Information
Aloeswood, sometimes referred to as agarwood, belongs to the genus Aquilaria and to the species Agallocha. It is native to Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia and Northern India, although resources in many of these areas have suffered from unchecked exploitation in recent times.

The tree that produces the aloeswood resin is a large evergreen, usually around 20 meters tall, but it can reach up to 40 meters.** The tree bears a fragrant, green and yellowish-white flower (shown on the right).

Aloeswood is not related to Aloe Vera (Latin name: Aloe barbadensis).

The Scent of Aloeswood
Aloeswood has a deep, woodsy scent, often described as warm and earthy. The aroma is distinctive and very penetrating. Because the scent is so pleasant, aloeswood is used to make essential oil and aloeswood chips, and it is also a prized ingredient of incense in the Middle East and in Japan. The fragrance of aloeswood can vary greatly depending on the country of origin, the density of resin and depending also on the part of the tree from which it is harvested. Read about the different grades of aloeswood.

Formation & Harvesting:

The Formation of Aloeswood

Aloeswood occurs as a result of a complex, natural defense mechanism in a tree. After it has been infected by a fungus, which attacks through wounds on its trunk, the tree begins to produce a resin within its limbs and trunk. Aloeswood is formed by the maturing of this resin, a process that can take anywhere from several decades to hundreds of years.
In the highest quality aloeswood, known as black agar or Kyara, the resin becomes so dense that it causes the wood to sink in water.
The fragrance of aloeswood can vary greatly depending on the country of origin, the density of resin and depending also on the part of the tree from which it is harvested.

The Cultivation of Aloeswood

Because aloeswood is so rare and precious, attempts are now being made to cultivate the wood in plantations in India and other places around the world, by deliberately infecting trees with the fungus that causes the resins to appear. While this is a sustainable way to produce aloeswood, the quality may differ from that of naturally-occuring, wild aloeswood.

Different Grades of Aloeswood

There are many different grades of aloeswood, which are determined based on the density of resin and the type and intensity of the aroma it produces. The lower grades are often used in essential oil, while the higher grades are mainly used for incense. Generally, like fine wine, the ones with the longest maturing time have the greatest aroma. The highest grade of aloeswood is called Kyara, which means "precious" in ancient Japanese, and it is more expensive per ounce than gold.