Agarwood is mentioned several times in the bible. The Pharisee, Nicodemus, is described as wrapping Jesus' body after the Crucifixion with linen and spices, including oud. Oud oil can be distilled from agar wood using steam; the total yield of oil for 70kg of wood will not exceed 20 ml. [37] [ full citation needed] Composition [ edit ] For a slightly more local jaunt, the next time you pass by a Sephora or a department store's fragrance section, be sure to take a whiff of those aforementioned oud fragrances and smell for yourself. Overharvesting and habitat loss threatens some populations of agarwood-producing species. Concern over the impact of the global demand for agarwood has thus led to the inclusion of the main taxa on CITES Appendix II, which requires that international trade in agarwood be monitored. Monitoring is conducted by Cambridge-based TRAFFIC (a joint WWF and IUCN programme). [40] CITES also provides that international trade in agarwood be subject to controls designed to ensure that harvest and exports are not to the detriment of the survival of the species in the wild. [41]

Oud sourcing has become fraught to keep up with demand. "Due to the very low yield of oud through the traditional extraction process, some have begun to provoke infection on the trees to then cut and extract, and this has all led to these trees becoming scarce," Voelkl explains. He also mentions that it takes at least 25 years for an aquilaria tree to produce harvestable oud. Firmenich works with a family business that manages over 600,000 Aquilaria trees to extract Aquilaria malaccensis using age-old traditional methods. Hundreds of these trees are over 80 years old, while others range from 5 to 50 years old. What about synthetic oud? Traders, perfumers, aromatherapists, travellers, romanticists and writers have long grappled with the right words to describe the scent of oud. Jung, Dr. Dinah (1 January 2013). The cultural biography of agarwood (PDF). University of Heidelberg: HeiDOK: Journal article: JRAS. pp.103–125 . Retrieved 30 October 2016. External links [ edit ]There are seventeen species in the genus Aquilaria, large evergreens native to southeast Asia and south asia, and nine are known to produce agar wood. [35] In theory agarwood can be produced from all members; however, until recently it was primarily produced from A. malaccensis. A. agallocha and A. secundaria are synonyms for A. malaccensis. [1] A. crassna and A. sinensis are the other two members of the genus that are usually harvested. The gyrinops tree can also produce agarwood. [36] Steam distillation process used to extract agarwood essential oils Oud acts as a serum to hydrate dry, frizzy hair. The antiseptic action of oud cleanses pollutants and irritants in the hair and on the scalp. The odour of agarwood is complex and pleasing, [26] with few or no similar natural analogues. In the perfume state, the scent is mainly distinguished by a combination of "oriental-woody" and "very soft fruity-floral" notes. The incense smoke is also characterised by a "sweet-balsamic" note and "shades of vanilla and musk" and amber (not to be confused with ambergris). [8] As a result, agarwood and its essential oil gained great cultural and religious significance in ancient civilizations around the world, being described as a fragrant product as early as 1400 BCE in the Vedas of India. [27] Aquilaria filaria". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture . Retrieved 22 July 2013.

Oud has also been linked to the worsening of childhood asthma symptoms, though the study concludes this was likely due to a gene variant increasing susceptibility. Another name is Lignum aloes or Aloeswood, unrelated to the familiar genus, Aloe. Also from aghil, via Hebrew and Greek. [13] During the sixth century CE in Japan, in the recordings of the Nihon Shoki (The Chronicles of Japan) the second oldest book of classical Japanese history, mention is made of a large piece of fragrant wood identified as agarwood. The source for this piece of wood is claimed to be from Pursat, Cambodia (based on the smell of the wood). The famous piece of wood still remains in Japan today and is showcased less than 10 times per century at the Nara National Museum. Furlong, Monica (1986). Zen Effects: the Life of Alan Watts. Houghton Mifflin. p. 196. OCLC 13821191. ISBN 9780395353448.

International delivery

One of the main reasons for the relative rarity and high cost of agarwood is the depletion of the wild resource. [1] Since 1995, Aquilaria malaccensis, the primary source, has been listed in Appendix II (potentially threatened species) by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. [2] In 2004, all Aquilaria species were listed in Appendix II; however, a number of countries have outstanding reservations regarding that listing. [2] Snelder, Denyse J.; Lasco, Rodel D. (29 September 2008). Smallholder Tree Growing for Rural Development and Environmental Services: Lessons from Asia. シュプリンガー・ジャパン株式会社. p.248 ff. ISBN 978-1-4020-8260-3 . Retrieved 8 October 2010.

Panda, H. (1 January 2009). Aromatic Plants Cultivation, Processing And Uses. National Institute of Industrial Re. p.182. ISBN 978-81-7833-057-0 . Retrieved 8 October 2010. In addition, agarwood plantations have been established in a number of countries, and reintroduced into countries such as Malaysia and Sri Lanka as commercial plantation crops. [40] The success of these plantations depends on the stimulation of agarwood production in the trees. Numerous inoculation techniques have been developed, with varying degrees of success. [35] See also [ edit ] Turner, R. L. (Ralph Lilley), Sir (1962–66). A Comparative Dictionary of the Indo-Aryan Languages. London: Oxford University Press. p.3. agaru m.n. ʻ fragrant Aloe -- tree and wood, Aquilaria agallocha ʼ lex., aguru -- R. [← Drav. Mayrhofer EWA i 17 with lit.] Pa. agalu -- , aggalu -- m., akalu -- m. ʻ a partic. ointment ʼ; Pk. agaru -- , agaluya -- , agaru(a) -- m.n. ʻ Aloe -- tree and wood ʼ; K. agara -- kāth ʻ sandal -- wood ʼ; S. agaru m. ʻ aloe ʼ, P. N. agar m., A. B. agaru, Or. agarū, H. agar, agur m.; G. agar, agru n. ʻ aloe or sandal -- wood ʼ; M. agar m.n. ʻ aloe ʼ, Si. ayal (agil ← Tam. akil). {{ cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list ( link) The Roman physician, Dioscorides described the medicinal uses of agarwood in his book Materia Medica (65 CE), a pharmacopoeia of medicinal plants and medicines used to treat human complaints. Other mythologies have suggested that agarwood was the only cutting that Adam was allowed to take from the garden of Eden. Oud has become a popular component in perfumery. Most brands have a creation based on or dedicated to "oud" or an accord of oud created through the use of certain chemical scent components. Few perfume houses use real oud in their creations. This is because oud is very expensive and potent. Oud is generally used as a base note and is traditionally paired with rose. Oud essential oil is available on the internet but care should be taken in choosing the vendor. Due to the fact that oud is such an expensive material there is a big market for diluting oud oil with patchouli or other chemical components.

Persoon, G.A. "Agarwood: the life of a wounded tree". IIAS Newsletter. IIAS, Leiden. 45 (2007): 24–25. International Journal of Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences, ISSN 2305-0330, Volume 2, Issue 1: January 2013) The composition of agarwood oil is exceedingly complex with more than 150 chemical compounds identified. [7] At least 70 of these are terpenoids which come in the form of sesquiterpenes and chromones; no monoterpenes have been detected at all. Other common classes of compounds include agarofurans, cadinanes, eudesmanes, valencanes and eremophilanes, guaianes, prezizanes, vetispiranes, simple volatile aromatic compounds as well as a range of miscellaneous compounds. [7] The exact balance of these materials will vary depending on the age and species of tree as well as the exact details of the oil extraction process. Morita, Kiyoko (1999). The Book of Incense: Enjoying the Traditional Art of Japanese Scents. Kodansha USA. ISBN 978-4770023896. If inhaled excessively, the vapour of oud oil may cause nausea and temporary dizziness for a few minutes. If so, drink water, breathe fresh air and lie down for a few moments.