Agarwood guide
Know what you are buying
Four short parts from our factory team: the kinds of agarwood, what the grades mean, how to burn it, and how to spot a fake.
Wild or farmed
Every piece we sell carries one of two labels, and we never mix them.
Wild agarwood
Forest oud from old trees. Every piece is different, so each one is weighed and photographed on its own.
- Sayufi: natural forest oud, the highest type of natural oud
- Mori: small pieces of the same wild Sayufi
Farmed agarwood
From cultivated agarwood trees. Steadier in scent and price, good for daily burning.
- Chips
- Char
- Corners
- Shells
Grades
The grade on the label tells you how rich the piece is. From lowest to highest:
- Super
- Double Super
- Triple Super
A higher grade means more dark resin in the wood, a richer scent and a scent that lasts longer.
VIP and Royal King are our top selections. Ask the team to show you and compare them.
How to burn
Agarwood is warmed, not set on fire. Gentle heat lets the resin melt and release its scent.
On charcoal
- 1Light a piece of quick-light charcoal and set it in the burner.
- 2Wait until it is covered in grey ash and no longer smokes.
- 3Place a small piece of agarwood on it, or on a mica plate or foil over it.
- 4Take the piece off when the scent turns woody or burnt.
On an electric burner
- 1Put a small piece on the plate and start at a low setting.
- 2Raise the heat slowly until a thin, calm smoke rises.
- 3Keep it below the point where the piece blackens; the same piece can be used again.
Never leave a lit burner alone, and keep it away from curtains and children.
Agarwood oil is not burned: dab a little on the wrist or behind the ear.
Spotting fakes
Natural agarwood is expensive, so fakes are common: dyed and polished pieces, sprayed perfume, and pieces injected to weigh more. Seven checks:
- 1
Look at the grain and colour
Natural agarwood has dark, uneven resin lines through lighter wood, and its colour is never quite the same all over.
- Natural
- Uneven lines and a colour that shades from dark to light.
- Fake
- One glossy black colour over the whole piece, which can mean dye or polish.
- 2
Smell it cold
Before heating, natural agarwood smells light and calm.
- Natural
- A soft scent you have to bring close to notice.
- Fake
- A very strong perfume while the piece is cold: perfume was probably added.
- 3
Try it on heat
The clearest test. Put a small piece on heat and watch the resin, the smoke and the scent.
- Natural
- The resin melts with small bubbles, the smoke is calm, and the scent changes and stays in the room and on clothes.
- Fake
- A strong scent at first that fades fast, or turns into burnt wood or synthetic perfume.
- 4
Weight alone is not proof
Resin-rich pieces are heavy and some sink in water.
Note: Some fakes are injected with heavy material, so weigh together with the other checks.
- 5
Enhanced oud is not fake when it says so
Our enhanced oud is natural agarwood wood with natural Vietnamese agarwood oil added, with no chemicals. The difference is honesty: we write "enhanced" in its name and description and price it as such.
- 6
Ask for documents
A CITES permit shows the wood comes from agarwood trees and leaves the country legally. A first permit takes 3 to 4 weeks; after that, about 1 week.
How the CITES permit works - 7
Buy from the source
We are Natural Agarwood World, with our own factory in Dong Nai. We sort and grade our agarwood ourselves, and our quality team checks every order before packing.
Quick comparison
| Natural | Enhanced (said so) | Fake | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Look | Uneven lines, shaded colour | Natural wood, darker | One glossy colour |
| Cold smell | Light and calm | Clearer than natural | Very strong perfume |
| On heat | Resin bubbles, scent changes and stays | Steady oud scent | Scent fades or smells burnt |
| Label | Sold as natural | Says "enhanced" | Sold as natural |
- Look
- Uneven lines, shaded colour
- Cold smell
- Light and calm
- On heat
- Resin bubbles, scent changes and stays
- Label
- Sold as natural
Natural
- Look
- Natural wood, darker
- Cold smell
- Clearer than natural
- On heat
- Steady oud scent
- Label
- Says "enhanced"
Enhanced (said so)
- Look
- One glossy colour
- Cold smell
- Very strong perfume
- On heat
- Scent fades or smells burnt
- Label
- Sold as natural
Fake
Not sure which kind or grade?
Send us a question or a photo, or come to the showroom and smell the pieces before you choose.