48 guides, five hubs

Agarwood guides, from first question to confident purchase

Everything we publish sits in one of five hubs, ordered the way most people move through the subject: what agarwood is, where it comes from, how to judge it, how to use it, and how to buy it.

Where are you starting from?

New to agarwood Learn what it actually is Start with Understanding Agarwood before anything else. Hub 01 → Researching origin Compare regions and species How origin and species are linked to character and price. Hub 02 → About to spend money Check it before you pay The most important stop before buying from anyone. Hub 03 → Already own some Use, store and buy more well Oud in Practice and the Buying Guide pick up from here. Hubs 04 & 05 →

All five hubs

Every guide, organised by hub

Each hub opens with the guides to read first, followed by everything else it covers.

Close-up of dark resinous agarwood with amber streaks through the grain

01

Understanding Agarwood

11 guides

What agarwood is, why it forms, and what it means across Islamic, Buddhist, Hindu, Chinese and Japanese tradition, plus the history of its trade.

Explore the hub

Start here

What is agarwood?Read → Why is agarwood so expensive?Read → Agarwood in IslamRead →

Also in this hub

How agarwood resin forms Wild agarwood vs plantation agarwood Agarwood in Chinese culture Agarwood in Buddhism Agarwood in Japanese culture Agarwood in Hindu tradition The history of agarwood trade Agarwood and CITES explained

A stand of slender grey-barked trees in a green tropical forest

02

Origins & Varieties

9 guides

Aquilaria and Gyrinops species, and regional profiles from Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, India, Laos, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea.

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Start here

Vietnamese agarwood: Trầm Hương and Kỳ NamRead → Indonesian agarwood: Kalimantan, Sumatra and PapuaRead →

Also in this hub

Cambodian agarwood Indian agarwood: Assam and Northeast India Laotian agarwood Malaysian agarwood Papua New Guinean agarwood Aquilaria vs Gyrinops: the agarwood species Regional agarwood comparison

Agarwood chips arranged in rows on a wooden tray, from pale wood to dark resinous pieces

03

Quality & Authenticity

9 guides Read before you buy

Grading systems, resin testing, and how to identify synthetic or adulterated oud before you spend real money.

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Start here

Fake oud: what to look forRead → How to test agarwood authenticity at homeRead →

Also in this hub

How agarwood is graded Synthetic oud oil vs natural oud oil Understanding oud oil distillation methods Resin content: what it means and how to measure it The Vietnamese agarwood grading system Middle Eastern oud grading standards Why oud oil prices vary so much

A small agarwood chip smoking on charcoal in an engraved brass incense burner

04

Oud in Practice

10 guides

Burning, distillation, wearing, storing and collecting, for anyone who already owns agarwood and wants to use it well.

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Start here

Oud oil vs agarwood chips: which should you buy?Read → How to burn agarwood chipsRead →

Also in this hub

How oud oil is made How to wear oud oil Oud attar vs oud essential oil Electric incense burner vs charcoal for oud Agarwood beads: prayer malas, tasbih and bracelets How to store agarwood properly Agarwood as an investment: what collectors look for Agarwood in perfumery

A corked glass bottle of amber oud oil surrounded by agarwood chips on dark stone

05

Buying Guide

9 guides

Price expectations, red flags, supplier evaluation, and how to buy with confidence, including where our directory fits in.

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Start here

How much does agarwood cost?Read → Questions to ask before you buy oudRead →

Also in this hub

Buying agarwood chips: a beginner's guide Buying oud oil: what you need to know Red flags when buying agarwood Trusted agarwood suppliers: what makes one reputable? Buying agarwood online vs in person Buying agarwood beads and jewellery Buying agarwood in Southeast Asia: a guide for travellers

Ready to buy?

Find suppliers in the directory

Distillers, sellers, wholesalers, growers and perfume houses, organised by country and type, with sourcing claims flagged until verified.

Open the directory

Not sure where to start?

Start with what agarwood actually is

The foundational guide for anyone new to oud. No assumed knowledge, no sales pitch.

Read: What is agarwood?