What is Oud ?

Oud :

Agarwood or aloeswood, one of the most expensive raw materials in the world, is a resinous wood. Agar tree or Aquilaria is a genus of fifteen species of trees, called lign aloes or lign-aloes trees, in the Thymelaeaceae, now native to southeast Asia. They occur particularly in the rainforests of India, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Borneo and New Guinea.

Process :

When the agar tree becomes infected by a mould called phialophora parasitica, the tree produces a dark, dense and fragrant resin to protect itself. Harvesting this resinous wood is a meticulous and labour-intensive process, contributing to the rarity and exclusivity of oud.

If naturally extracted, oud’s scent can also vary depending on the species of aquilaria tree it is extracted from: some resins have a sweeter aroma, while others are smokier and more balsamic, with their character developing as they dry down. Synthetic ouds also have a different scent profile: they tend to be less animalic than their natural counterparts, and typically slightly sweeter and nuttier.

Finance :

The annual Oud market gleans around $6 billion, and its value is often estimated as one-and-a-half times the value of gold. For these reasons, it is sometimes referred to as “liquid gold.” Forbes has reported that it can cost $5,000 per pound. It is estimated that only one out of ten trees in the forests of Southeast Asia will naturally produce the resin – so it is an extremely precious substance, and highly coveted in fragrance formulation.

Popularity :

The primary reason why oud is so popular is due to its unique, complex smell. It is widely used in the fragrance industry, as it is in high-demand from customers around the world. The scent profile makes it simply smell expensive, therefore is beloved.