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Store agarwood somewhere cool, dark and stable, away from strong smells. Keep chips in an airtight glass jar or tin, oud oil in a tightly closed glass bottle out of light and heat, and beads in a breathable cloth pouch or box. Avoid damp places such as bathrooms, which invite mould, and avoid direct sun and radiators, which dry wood and degrade oil.
- Light, heat, damp, air and strong odours are the main enemies.
- Agarwood readily absorbs other smells, so keep it apart from perfumes and cleaning products.
- Well-stored oud oil is widely regarded as improving with age.
Agarwood in any form is sensitive to the same few things: heat, light, damp, air and strong smells. Store it well and chips, oil and beads keep their character for years, and oil is widely regarded as improving, as covered in how oud oil is made. Store it badly and you risk dried-out or mouldy wood, faded scent or spoiled oil.
| Form | Container | Keep away from |
|---|---|---|
| Chips | Airtight glass jar or tin, pieces wrapped in paper if valuable | Damp, sunlight, strong smells |
| Oud oil | Tightly closed glass bottle, ideally dark glass | Light, heat, temperature swings |
| Beads | Cloth pouch or small box | Water, sun, perfume, strong smells |
The general principles
Whatever the form, aim for somewhere cool, dark and stable. Room temperature is fine as long as it does not swing sharply, so avoid windowsills, radiators, car interiors and lofts. Keep humidity moderate: very damp air encourages mould on wood, while very dry air can make it brittle. A cupboard or drawer in a living area usually works better than a kitchen or bathroom.
Storing chips
Keep chips in an airtight container, such as a glass jar or a tin, away from sunlight and from anything strongly scented, since wood readily absorbs other smells. Many collectors wrap valuable pieces individually in paper before boxing them, so they do not rub against each other. In humid climates, check now and then for any sign of mould, and a small silica gel sachet in the container can help. Wood that has been warmed on a burner can be stored with the rest once cool, and can often be warmed again.
Not sure which form to buy in the first place?
Oud oil vs agarwood chipsStoring oud oil
Oil is the form most affected by light and heat. Keep it in a glass bottle with a tight cap, ideally dark glass, and in a dark place in any case, since light can degrade aromatic compounds. Keep the cap closed to limit air and evaporation, and store the bottle upright and away from heat. Glass is preferable to plastic for long-term storage of concentrated oils. Stored this way, oud oil does not just hold steady: many collectors deliberately keep oils for years and describe them as continuing to smooth and deepen.
Storing beads
Beads need similar care, as covered in agarwood beads: keep them away from water and direct sun, wipe them occasionally with a soft dry cloth, and keep them apart from perfume and strongly scented items when you are not wearing them. A cloth pouch or small wooden box works well and lets them breathe.
Mould, pests and odours
Damp storage is the main cause of mould on agarwood, so if you live somewhere humid, choose a dry cupboard and check stored wood from time to time. A sealed container also keeps out insects that can attack wood. Never store agarwood next to mothballs, cleaning products, scented candles or perfumes, since it can pick up and hold unwanted smells just as readily as it holds its own.
How we checked this. This is practical guidance based on common collector practice. We removed a specific temperature range we could not trace to a reliable source.