About Agarwood
Agarwood, often referred to as oud and eagleswood, is a resinous, fragrant and highly valuable heartwood produced by Aquilaria malaccensis and other species of the Indomalesian tree genus Aquilaria. The wealth of names for this dark and heavy wood (its Chinese name literally means ‘wood that sinks’) reflects its widespread and varied use over thousands of years.
Agarwood calms the nervous system, expels negative energies, brings alertness, relieves anxiety, invokes a sense of strength and peace and enhances cerebral functioning. It eases neurosis and obsessive behaviour and helps create harmony in your home. Agarwood is highly psychoactive. It is used for a spiritual journey, enlightenment, clarity and to bring the deep peace necessary for meditation. It is recommended by experienced practitioners for providing motivation and the necessary devotion for meditation. It brings communication with the transcendent, refreshing the mind, body and spirit.
Buddhists use agarwood for transmutation of ignorance. Tibetan monks use it to bring energy to calm the mind and spirit. The Sufis and Japanese Shaman use agarwood oil in their esoteric ceremonies. It enhances mental clarity, opens the third eye and all of the upper chakras while calming the entire system.
What is Agarwood?
Aloeswood is the resinous wood from the Aquilaria tree, an archaic tropical evergreen tree native to northern India, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Southern China and Vietnam. Its scientific name is Aquilara Malaccensis or Aquilaria agallocha. The Aquilaria tree grows up to 40 meters high and 60 centimetres in diameter. It bears sweetly-scented, snow-white flowers. The trees frequently become infected with a parasite fungus or mould, Phialophora parasitica, and begin to produce an aromatic resin in response to this attack. The resin of a tree from a natural fungal attack and immune response is commonly known as agar #1.
The fungus and decomposition process continue to generate a very rich and dark resin within the heartwood. Thus, agarwood develops slowly over time, typically several hundred years! This produces the Earth's most valuable and sacred oil.
Agarwood Facts
Lord Buddha was to have said that the smell of agarwood burning "is the scent of Nirvana". It is also a favourite of Lord Krishna, 'aguru,' which is mentioned throughout the oldest written texts - the Sanskrit Vedas.
"The men and women of the city, arrayed in spotless raiment and anointed with fragrant sandalwood paste, wore precious necklaces, flower garlands and jewelled ornaments, and their opulent homes were filled with the aroma of aguru." (Bhagavata Purana 10.53.8-9).
Vietnamese Agarwood, a hidden treasure of Southeast Asia, is one of the world's rarest and most highly valued natural substances. Harvested from the rich heartwood of Aquilaria trees, this precious wood has been cherished for centuries as a sacred offering to the divine. It invokes blessings, protection, and harmony, symbolising purity and spiritual love.
Buddhists use agarwood to transmute ignorance, Tibetan monks to bring energy to calm the mind and spirit, and Sufis and Japanese Shamans in their esoteric ceremonies. It enhances mental clarity, opens the third eye and upper chakras, and calms the entire system.
King Louis XIV of France had his shirts washed in rose water in which agarwood had been boiled.
Samurai warriors scented their armour with agarwood smoke for luck before going to battle.