Oud known as Indian Agarwood or Aquilaria Malaccensis, is native to Assam and parts of northeast India. It’s used in perfumery, aromatherapy, medicines & for religious purposes. It’s called Xasi in Assamese. It is famous for making expensive perfumes. It’s named as “Liquid Gold” due to its exclusive demand in Arab countries. An infected Agarwood tree produces dark resin that makes the aromatic agar oil. When the Aquilaria tree is physically injured, either by fungal infection or by the borer insect called Neurozerra conferta (Zeuzera conferta), then it produces the dark resin as the defence mechanism. Oud has deep, woody, smoky, musky & intense aroma.
Agarwood, also known as aloeswood, eaglewood, gaharu, oud, chén xiāng, and jinkoh, holds great importance in Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism, and Islam. Sanskrit texts dating back to 1400 B.C.E. mention agarwood as a fragrant product, while Dioscorides in 65 B.C.E. described its medicinal uses. Chinese records from 300 C.E. document the knowledge of human-induced agarwood formation through tree cutting, resulting in resin development. Agarwood has been traded internationally between tropical southeastern Asia (where it is produced) and the Middle East, India, China, and Japan (where it is consumed). It is primarily used as incense, either by burning wood chips directly or as an ingredient in powdered blends. The aromatic qualities of agarwood vary depending on species, variety, location, origin, time since infection, and methods of harvesting and processing. These variations led to the development of classification systems in consumer countries.
The "silk road" was an influential network of trade routes in ancient commerce. Valuable and lightweight products suitable for single merchants to carry were transported along the overland route, including aromatics, silk, porcelain, and spices. This trade contributed to the spread of religious ideas and represented an early form of globalization. Among the numerous aromatic plant species, agarwood holds special significance due to its historical, religious, and aromatic properties. Agarwood, also called aloeswood, eaglewood, gaharu, oud, chén xiāng, and jinkoh, is obtained from tropical trees of the genera Aquilaria, Gyrinops, Aetoxylon, and Gonystylis (Thymelaeaceae). When handled properly, agarwood, along with sandalwood, can retain its fragrance for extended periods, making it suitable for storage and long-distance trade as a valuable commodity, similar to precious stones and metals.
Aquilaria species from India (Bengal and Assam) have been the primary source of agarwood.
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