Agarwood is a very unique and valuable dark resin, which is extracted from the heartwood of Aquilaria trees, particularly in Asia. It has been used in incense, perfume and other fragrant products for centuries.
The smell of agarwood has been valued over the centuries by several cultures and religions due to aromatic qualities. The ancient Chinese described it as the fragrant product of wealth and luxury in one of the world’s oldest written texts, the Sanskrit Vedas, dating back as early as 1,400 BC.
In this post, we’ll talk about why is agarwood so expensive?
Let’s get started!
Why Is Agarwood So Expensive?
Agarwood (or also known as oud) is called the most valuable oil/wood in the world. The main cause of this is the massive demand for Agarwood oil in the perfume industry.
The smell of Oud is unique and distinct, and is used in perfumes with other oils to give a rich and luxurious feel to the scent. People have been using agarwood for thousands of years, and it is one of the most unique and prized materials in the world.
The Chinese emperor used to burn the incense in the palace to mask unpleasant odors. The incense was also used in mosques and temples.
So there’s a long history attached to agarwood and that’s probably the #1 reason for its cost.
But, there are more things as to why agarwood is so expensive…
Best Agarwood Perfumes To Get
1. Shortage
Tree shortage or plant shortage are common topics to discuss as the world is facing a huge problem. The shortage of trees and plants is a serious situation in 2021 and the same goes for Agarwood trees.
There are just too few of them left in the world, so they have to be used wisely. And what’s a better way to use Agarwood trees as perfumes and a way to smell better in public.
2. Premium Category
It is a common fact that when one product falls under premium category, it is likely that all its items are expensive too.
And since Agarwood does fall in the premium category of wood you can expect it to be expensive.
For example, if a person wants to buy a car, he will consider all its aspects and if he finds out one car is of a higher standard but also more expensive, he will go for that car. This is what happens in the premium category, everything is expensive.
3. Wild
Agarwood trees are not cultivated. They are grown in the wild. Aquilaria/Agarwood trees grow as far south as the Philippines and as far north as the Himalayas. Since agarwood takes 8 to 12 years to produce, the Aquilaria tree cannot be farmed.
And this step makes the production hefty for the farmers and prevents them to not grow this precious plant because it takes years to reap the benefits from these trees and is not a very profitable ROI in the long run.
The trees must be infected naturally in order for them to produce good quality agarwood.
Wrapping It Up
So these are a couple of reasons why agarwood is expensive.
Agarwood is a real treasure! It is a high-quality and precious incense ingredient that is also considered a precious raw material used for perfume in the perfume industry. It is an aromatic resin material. The incense is made from the resin of Agarwood trees, which grow in the tropical rainforest.
Agarwood, also known as aloeswood, oud or gaharu, is the result of the natural decay of the heartwood of Aquilaria and Gyrinops trees. The resin is a fragrant material that has been valued for centuries. In Japan, the fragrant wood has been valued for centuries. This material is highly appreciated and valued mostly in the perfume industry as talked earlier.
