Agarwood Essential oil

AGARU (Aquilaria agallocha)

 

Family: Thymelaeaceae

 

Common Names: Agar, Eagle’s Wood, Agarwood, Aloewood

 

 Introduction

 

The word “Agaru” literally means “the heaviest,” as no other aromatic wood surpasses it in weight. Known as the “Wood of God,” it has been used for thousands of years across the world for multiple purposes. Beyond its commercial and aromatic value, it holds historical, spiritual, medicinal, and cultural significance, often symbolizing wealth, prosperity, and high status.

 

 Historical References:

 

 Mentioned in Ayurvedic texts, Chinese, Tibetan, European, and East Asian literature.

 

• In the Mahabharata, Agaru is cited as a welcome offering.

 

• In the Holy Bible, it was used with myrrh in the anointing of Jesus Christ.

 

• In Buddhism, it was included in the cremation of Buddha.

 

• In Islamic traditions, Agaru is used in incense rituals and noted as a fragrance preferred by Prophet Muhammad.

 

Uses:

 

 

• Incense, perfumes, soaps

 

• Sculptures and carvings

 

• Protective beads in Middle Eastern countries

 

• Folk medicine for inflammation, skin diseases, headache, arthritis, vomiting, gout

 

 

 Medicinal Applications:

 

 

• Traditional Chinese Medicine: Used for regulating Chi, relieving gastric issues, cough, rheumatism, asthma, and fever.

 

• Ayurveda: Described as Ushna Virya with Tikta Rasa; applied with Rasna to counter cold effects.

 

 

Due to high demand and slow growth, Agaru is now considered a critically endangered species.

 

 Vernacular Names

 

LanguageName(s)

 

• ArabicOud, Oodh, Shajarat-al-Oudh

 

• AssameseSasi, Shashi, Agaru

 

• BengaliAgar Chandan, Agarkastha

 

• ChineseChenxiang

 

• Hong KongAloewood

 

• IndonesiaGaharu

 

• JapaneseJinko

 

• KannadaKrishna Agaru

 

• MalayalamAkil

 

• PunjabiOoda

 

• TamilAgali Chandanam

 

• TeluguAgaru

 

• ThailandMai Kritsana

 

 

Synonyms & Classical Names

 

 

• Anaryaka: Grows abundantly in Northeast India

 

• Krimija: Infested by fungus

 

• Krimijagdh: Resin produced by fungal infestation

 

• Loha: Infested heartwood is heavy, black like iron

 

• Pravar: Best among its class

 

• Rajarha: Used by royal families

 

• Sheetsman: Cold-allaying property

 

• Shringaj: Grows in hilly regions

 

• Vanshika: Gregarious like bamboo; nauseating smell

 

• Varnaprasadana: Enhances skin luster

 

• Vishvadhupa: Used in incense and perfumes

 

• Yogaj: Resinous wood produced via fungal association

 

 

Classical Categorization:

 

 

• Charak Samhita: Sheetprasamana, Shwasahara, Tikta Skanda

 

• Sushrut Samhita: Salasaradi, Eladi, Shleshma Samsam

 

• Ashtang Hridaya: Salasaradi, Eladi

 

• Dhanvantari Nighantu: Chandanadi Varga

 

• Madanpal Nighantu: Karpuradi Varga

 

• Kaiyadev Nighantu: Oushadi Varga

 

• Raj Nighantu: Prabhadradi Varga

 

• Bhavaprakash Nighantu: Karpuradi Varga

 

 

Distribution

 

Native Regions: China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Laos, Thailand, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tibet, Europe, Africa

 

In India: Eastern Himalayas, 700–1400 m altitude

 

States: Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim, Manipur, Bhutan (Khasi Hills)

 

Best quality Agaru is from Sylhet region

 

 

Morphology

 

Tree: Large evergreen, 70–80 ft height, 4–5 ft girth, straight and fluted stem

 

Leaves: Simple, alternate, ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate-oblong, 8–10 cm long, 2–3 cm broad, short petioled, glossy, entire margin

 

Flowers: Greenish-yellow, small, on short peduncle, in umbels on young branches

 

Fruits: Capsule, obovoid, slightly compressed, yellowish, tomentose

 

Seeds: Brownish-black, ovoid with a long tail

 

 Heartwood & Resin Formation

 

Initially, heartwood is light, pale, and odorless.

 

Infection by fungi (Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillium) produces dark, aromatic resin.

 

The resin-embedded wood is called Agarwood.

 

Infection is common on the trunk, roots, and branch intersections, beginning around 20 years of age.

 

Oil Extraction: Approx. 30 ml from 100 kg of infected wood, known as Oud oil.