Agar Wood Oud Attar

Agarwood,aloeswood,eaglewoodorgharuwoodis a fragrant darkresinouswood used in incense, perfume, and small carvings. It is formed in theheartwoodofaquilariatrees when they become infected with a type of mold (Phialophora parasitica). Prior to infection, the heartwood is odourless, relatively light and pale coloured; however, as the infection progresses, the tree produces a dark aromatic resin, calledaloes(not to be confused withAloe ferox, the succulent commonly known as the bitter aloe) oragar(not to be confused with the edible, algae-derivedagar) as well asgaharu,jinko,oud, oroodhaguru(not to be confused withbukhoor), in response to the attack, which results in a very dense, dark, resin-embedded heartwood. The resin-embedded wood is valued inIndian–North Easternculture for its distinctive fragrance, and thus is used forincenseand perfumes. Its name is believed to have first and foremost Sanskrit origin, formed from ‘Aguru’. The aromatic qualities of agarwood are influenced by the species, geographic location, its branch, trunk and root origin, length of time since infection, and methods of harvesting and processing.