Agarwood EO


Details

  • (Previously known as Agarwood - Fine)
  • Botanical Name: Aquilaria crassna Pierre ex Lecomte
  • Origin: Vietnam
  • Process: Steam Distilled Essential Oil
  • Plant Part: Wood
  • Cultivation: Sustainably harvested
  • Use: Aromatherapy / Natural Perfumery / Incense. Always dilute.
  • Note: Base Note, Excellent Fixative
  • Aroma Families: Woody, Animalic
  • Aroma: Highly persistent, sweet, warm, deep, precious woody aroma, with shades of smoky, amber-y incense, honeyed tobacco, and sensual animalic notes resembling musk/castoreum.
  • Contraindications: None known; please see Safety Considerations below.



Product Name SKU Price Qty
  1. Agarwood Tiny Sample (6 drops) 57-2
    $12.25
  2. Agarwood 1 ml 57-33
    $51.00
  3. Agarwood 2 ml 57-002
    $87.75
  4. Agarwood 5 ml 57-005
    $182.50
  5. Agarwood 15 ml (1/2 oz) 57-015
    $457.75
  6. Agarwood 30 ml (1 oz) 57-030
    $833.00
  7. Agarwood 2 oz 57-9
    $1,522.00
  8. For larger sizes or quantities please contact us for pricing and availability.         

Overview

Agarwood Essential Oil

The author of Fragrance and Wellbeing, Jennifer Peace Rhind writes that the fragrance of Agarwood "can transport us through time and space to an imagined antiquity, or even into a trance state."1 We think our new offering could do just that! Our Agarwood essential oil envelops with a highly persistent sweet warmth, deep, precious and magnificent woody aroma, shades of smoky, amber-y incense, honeyed tobacco, and sensuously underscored with animalic notes resembling musk/castoreum. The aroma becomes sweeter and musky/woody in the very long drydown. This is it – rich, balanced, complex, unforgettable, and absolutely amazing!

Originally from Southeast Asia2, Agarwood formed the basis of the legendary Arabian perfume called Oud.3 It is also known as Aloeswood, Eaglewood, Kyara, Ood, or Ud, and many other names, depending on the wood's grade and country of origin.4 Revered and esteemed by many cultures, Agarwood is a highly valued addition to the natural perfumer's palette and is often used in sacred oil blends and for ceremonial anointing. Kurt Schnaubelt writes that "…[Agarwood oils] evoke mental or spiritual reflection and a rekindled sense of awe for the phenomena of nature."5

Agarwood essential oil is procured by distilling the heartwood of the genus Aquilaria, a flowering tree with various species that grow in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam (A. crassna); the Philippines (A. filaria); and northeastern India, Burma, Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo (A. agallocha), but only those trees that have been infected by a parasitic fungus (Phialophora parasitica and others) are the source of this rare and highly prized material.6 In response to the infection, the trees attack the affected wood by producing an oleoresin that, after some years, becomes dark and highly aromatic. The oleoresin accumulates to such an extent that the bulk and density of the infected wood causes it to sink in water, thus the Japanese call it jinkoh – 'wood that sinks' and in China it is called ch'en hsiang – the 'sinking incense wood.'7 It is the incense industry that accounts for the main commercial use of Agarwood8 – it is one of the oldest and most famous incense materials of the Far East.9

PLEASE NOTE: The trees from which we source our Agarwood essential oil are from a forest in Vietnam where they are sustainably harvested and periodically replanted. They are inoculated by hand when they reach 10 years of age; after the infection has been allowed to propagate for 2 years, the trees are harvested for distillation.10 We also have on hand the CITES certification that notes this product was legally imported and cleared by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

For information regarding the attributes of Agarwood essential oil, please see:

  • Fragrance and Wellbeing, Jennifer Peace Rhind, 2014, p. 160.

For information regarding the use of Agarwood essential oil in perfumery, please see:


Aromatic Profile: Highly persistent, sweet, warm, deep, precious woody aroma, with shades of smoky, amber-y incense, and honeyed tobacco, and sensual animalic notes resembling musk/castoreum.


Appearance: Dark gold-amber, transparent, somewhat viscous liquid that is completely soluble in fixed (carrier) oils and 190 proof alcohol.


Use: Aromatherapy, Natural Perfumery, Incense.


Blending Suggestions: Dilute well and add drop by drop to your blends until the desired effect is achieved.


Blends Well With: Ambrette, Amyris, Black Pepper, Boronia, Cardamom, Carnation, Cassie, Cedarwood, Champaca, Cistus, Elemi, Fir, Frankincense, Galbanum, Geranium, Jasmine, Juniper, Labdanum, Lotus, Myrrh, Oakmoss, Orange Blossom, Orris, Patchouli, Pink Peppercorn, Rose, Rosemary, Sandalwood, Spikenard, Tobacco, Tuberose, Vanilla, Vetiver, Ylang Ylang. In trace amounts, Agarwood finds "use in perfumery for Oriental bases, woody-aldehydic bases, chypres, fougères, etc."11


Safety Considerations: No known contraindications or hazards.12 We recommend that for those with sensitive skin, a patch test should be performed first before use.


1 Rhind, Jennifer Peace. Fragrance and Wellbeing, 2014, p. 157.

2 Lawless, Alec. Artisan Perfumery or Being Led by the Nose, 2009, pp. 2, 44.

3 Ibid, p. 44.

4 Rhind, Jennifer Peace. Fragrance and Wellbeing, 2014, pp. 157-8.

5 Schnaubelt, Kurt. "Oils from the East" (distributed booklet), 8th International Aromatherapy Conference on Therapeutic Uses of Essential Oils, San Francisco, California), Nov. 6-8, 2015.

6 Rhind, Jennifer Peace. Fragrance and Wellbeing, 2014, pp. 157-9.

7 Ibid, p. 158.

8 Ibid, p. 159.

10 Industry communication.

11 Arctander, Steffen. Perfume and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin, 1960, pp. 49-50.

12 Tisserand, Robert and Rodney Young. Essential Oil Safety, 2nd ed., 2014, p. 190.


The FDA has not evaluated the statements on this website. No claims are made by Eden Botanicals as to the medicinal value of any products from Eden Botanicals. The information presented here is for educating our customers about the traditional uses of essential oils and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. You are responsible for understanding the safe application of these products. If you have any questions, please call or email us for further information.

Agarwood - Aquilaria agallocha, Image by Hafizmuar

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  • Agarwood - Aquilaria agallocha, Image by Hafizmuar

Customer Reviews for Agarwood EO

Getting more Review by
Rating
5
Got a sample of agarwood and loved it. immediately ordered a few mL for my collection, and I'll be coming back to ordered from different lot numbers too because they vary (and its lovely)
(Posted on 9/22/2023)
Simply amazing Review by
Rating
5
The current batch of agarwood/oud is absolutely stunning and amazing (batch 12) my suggestion if you are going to purchase this,get a small sample, and then contact them to make sure the batch you are getting is the same as the sample you received. I got some of their agarwood about 6 years ago and didn't like it, just remember that each batch smells completely different. The most recent batch I received is some of the best smelling agarwood/oud I have ever smelled, complex, spicy, fruity, and incense notes, amazing longevity! Will absolutely be buying more in the future. The price is really good for the quality level. 5 out of 5 stars
(Posted on 1/17/2023)
Ages exceptionally well! Review by
Rating
5
I bought a 10ml vial of this 5 years ago. Not sure if the origin is the same. Batch is definitely different. First whiff out of the bottle was a barnyard blast PWOOHF! Diluted to 20% and still BARNYARD! But understanding the complexities of aromatics, I knew that that was because this stuff is potent, so I left it aside for 5 years! 5 years later and, a whiff from the bottle delivers a sweet woody syrupy scent, deserving to be worn alone. The barnyard note hides in the back, providing an animalic depth that is quite sensual and sexy. Diluted to 20% the barnyard note disappears. Just pure syrup and sweetness. I LIKE THIS!
(Posted on 10/3/2022)
Ok Review by
Rating
3
All the Ouds I’ve smelled have a barnyard smell at some point in their aromatic life. This will definitely give you a sample of that.

Unfortunately that is all I got from it.

The other Ouds I’ve sampled from various regions all transformed with every whiff.

Not saying it’s not good quality, but would be great to have a couple other options.
(Posted on 9/18/2022)
Ooooooouuuuuuuuuud Review by
Rating
5
Every oud is different depending on where they’re from, soil composition, growing conditions, etc- just like wine or tea. Vietnamese oud does not smell like Thai or Indian versions, and that is the magic. SAMPLE first and read the aroma profile and don’t get upset that this insanely precious material has castoreum notes exactly like the description says it does.
(Posted on 4/1/2021)
Too barnyardy for the price Review by
Rating
1
I don't understand the draw of this type of agarwood. If this is what renewable agar smells like, maybe we should just let it pass to history?
(Posted on 8/7/2020)
A little goes a long way! Review by
Rating
4
Not as incredible as the co2 version Eden used to carry, hence only 4 stars. This is not quite as fecal or barnyardy as many other ouds I've sampled (but still is) which is a major bonus to me, I ordered the tiny sample and have diluted it down to 1% and I think I'll try 0.5% as another reviewer suggested. At that dilution it's almost 50mls of material to work with (I dilute everything down to at least 10% in my organ) so that's value for money considering the price. This is not a stand-alone fragrance for most, it's way too strong and offensive but trace amounts will work magic in the right blend I'm sure.
(Posted on 1/22/2020)
Un oud precioso Review by
Rating
5
Translated with google:
I have bought oud in very prestigious and exclusive places, and I can assure you that this oud is as delicious as the most expensive oud I know. And the price of this oud is wonderful. This oud is as good as others that are worth their price multiplied by three.
(Posted on 7/29/2019)
Agarwood Review by
Rating
5
I would agree with Brian on this review, this oil definitely should be appreciated for its quality and fair price.
(Posted on 4/29/2019)
fabulous and worth the money Review by
Rating
5
I previously bought the agarwood CO2 at 5% dilution and was sad to see this was discontinued. (However I still have almost a full 30 ml of it - lucky me!) So I diluted this mesmerizing agarwood to 10% and the true essence really sings. Interestingly, I also diluted a little to 25% and none of the character really came out so I then took it to 10%. This is the real deal, beautiful carmel-ly, funky and earthy smell adds a wonderful dimension to my perfumes. I will definitely be purchasing it again.
(Posted on 3/1/2019)
Intriguing Review by
Rating
5
I bought the 5% dilution and made a cold process soap with it. Soaped very beautiful and was my most expensive soap to date. I wish I could always use it in my soap. Scents very well with dark chocolate fragrance
(Posted on 2/16/2019)
Enchanting Review by
Rating
5
This is an amazing fragrance that truly triggers the endocannabinoid system. I blended it to use in a fragrance for my adult grandson who will be graduating from barber school soon. I am surprised that I don't read much about the relationship between essential oils and this system.
When I first smelled it I reached up to turn on the light and a few seconds later, my arm was still in the air. Nice........
(Posted on 2/5/2019)
Love it! Will get more. Review by
Rating
5
I was somewhat sceptical, based on the mixed reviews, but will get more in the future. The small size I purchased goes a long way. Actually, I had prepared a personal perfume formulation using 1%, as the fixative, but had to cut it down further to 0.5% for the scent to do its magic. Very happy with the end result.
(Posted on 11/8/2018)
5 stars Review by
Rating
5
I don't care about the poor ratings posted here. I love this agar oil!
(Posted on 11/2/2018)
Interesting First Real Oud Review by
Rating
3
I wanted to add that for me, I didn't notice any fecal or animalic note at all. I'm not sure what to rate it, it was a likable smell, but for the price and slightly disappointed from all the hype, I rate it a 3 instead of 4.
(Posted on 10/29/2018)
Interesting First Real Oud Review by
Rating
3
This was the first real oud I've ever smelled, I was quite surprised to find that it smelled so similar to some probably fake stuff I got off ebay for cheap, but it is a little more complex, longer lasting and acceptable to the nose. (Not trying to discount the product, but just being honest) It first hit my nose as quite mustardy, I was very surprised at this because I've never heard anyone mention this note, which is so obvious to me. Second on the list is peppery/spicy and then woodsy. It wasnt really sweet at all (like some oud aroma chemicals I have, didn't resemble them even slightly) It also really resembles a myrrh essential oil I have, the first sniff is nearly identical, a peppery type note. I'm very interested to try some other types of this oil! Thanks, I'm glad I can trust this website for honesty and reliability.
(Posted on 10/29/2018)
Very disappointed Review by
Rating
1
I'm so glad I chose to purchase a sample first. I have experienced the smell of raw agarwood from Viet Nam and know the aroma. I realize there are spicey and sweet varieties. This is not either. Diluted to 20% it is too leathery, acrid and abnormally medicinal even after the dry down. It also is weak. Please get back to your previous supplier.
(Posted on 10/25/2018)
Excellent Agarwood Review by
Rating
5
This Agarwood is amazing....diluted to 5% in FCO and still very aromatic and blends well with all my base notes. I will be purchasing more of this wonderful Agarwood.

PS...Eden Botanicals I would like to see more Agarwood from other countries like Cambodian...Thailand..India...etc that would be very nice
(Posted on 6/21/2018)
You Need to Know Your Oud Review by
Rating
5
I have to disagree with the previous reviewer Alex. This is a nice oud and an excellent price. I have sampled ouds that are $500+ per gram and while they are all amazing and interesting in their own way, this holds its own.

If you are new to ouds, you may think "wow, this has a strong and funky character" and discount it out of hand. However, I urge you to take your time and really try it before judging.

Many ouds are very strong initially and can have a barnyard or animalic scent to them. I would recommend trying this diluted to 5-10%. Put a little on your arm and then wait 10 minutes or so for the initial pungent impression to fade.

As the scent develops you will get amazing nuances and see the character shift and change on your skin. Really amazing stuff, but you need to keep an open mind and give it a chance to develop.

Happy scenting!

(Posted on 6/14/2018)
Shocking disappointment Review by
Rating
1
This oil is a real joke. I ordered from Eden Botanicals more then hundred different oils and most of them are very decent quality. I also ordered a sample Agarwood CO2 which has 5 star delicious smell. Last time my friend made an order from Eden she wanted to order Agarwood CO2. But as they did not have one, we ordered this oil.
Wow, we were really shocked, as this oil does not have anything in common with CO2 which we sniffed before.
The smell of this oil is weak and disgusting. I can't imagine people put in the perfumes and give it more then one star. I would not pay a single dollar for this oil.
It's not only me, my friend had exactly the same opinion.

Would really love to hear some comments from Eden Botanicals, especially when you pay $50 for 1 ml.

PS. The biggest surprise for me is that Agarwood CO2 has the label To Be Discontinued now.

Response from the oil room:

Hi Alex,

It’s not surprising that you noticed the difference in aroma of the two Agarwood oils - they are from two different species of Aquilaria, and from two different countries. These differences reflect at the least different growing conditions, soils, and climates; there’s also the difference in extraction methods - all these are expressed as differences in their chemical constituents, their proportions, and thus the aroma.

The true aroma of Agarwood (and any oil for that matter) cannot be accurately ascertained if it is only smelled from the container - the oil needs to be exposed to air on a fragrance tester strip (scent strip) or a piece of coffee filter so that it can evaporate, allowing for evaluation of all the nuances and changes in character that occurs as the oils dries. Tenacity and longevity are also determined in this way.

Agarwood is used in minute amounts in perfumery as it does have a strong aroma; as such, it and similar kinds of aromatic materials needs to be diluted to 10 percent (sometimes to as low as 1-5 percent) to allow the oil to open up and reveal its full potential. We believe if one or both of these methods are used to evaluate Agarwood’s aroma that you will have a different opinion. We also strongly encourage those who are not familiar with an oil to get a sample first before purchase of a larger amount, especially regarding the more expensive oils. We are one of a very few essential oil companies that offer samples for this very reason.



(Posted on 1/22/2018)
ce Oud n'a pas de côté mystérieux Review by
Rating
2
Je m'attendais à un Oud plus lourd, sombre, âgé etc... d'après les descriptifs, mais non sa ressemble à du thaïlandais mais pas de haut de gamme , je ne le rachèterai pas personnellement, car ce Oud n'a pas de côté mystérieux, aphrodisiaque etc...
(Posted on 6/15/2017)
This is the real deal Review by
Rating
5
Let me start off with a little backstory on me: I'm not huge into perfumery, but rather I got into it trying to create something specific and personal for myself. I did obsessive research and trials but was never really satisfied with the results. Now I can't even remember how I first found it, but the day I stumbled upon Agarwood oil everything changed. There was everything else, and then there was this magical stuff. And then phase 2 of obsessive research started just on Agarwood. I learned there were many different kinds of varying quality, and that the real stuff was very rare and very expensive, made in small limited batches that you kinda had to luck into. I hunted down the most legit oils from the middle east and my mind was finally blown like I had been searching for all that time.
The main thing I learned about legit Agarwood oils is that they are all very different, similar in certain characteristics, and level with each other in "magicality", but smelled next to each other could literally be considered completely different scents, some which I loved and would wear, others which I would not wear on myself personally. They're each their own "brand", usually named after the region the trees were harvested from.
Now we come to EB's Agarwood oil. Let me go ahead and start off by saying this stuff is legit, the real deal, only-gets-as-good-but-never-better than this. I don't know if every batch from EB is gonna smell exactly like what I got from them because like I said my only other experience with this stuff was from small limited batches, but what I can say is that this specific type smells great and I plan on wearing it. I've smelled a couple agar oils that I liked better than EB's, and then there were a whole lot of other ones, some much more expensive, which I would put far below EB's in my own personal preference. Like I've smelled maybe 10 different "brands", I would wear maybe 5 of them, and I would rank EB's oil in the top 2 or 3 I've experienced.
I've never written a review on here before, but this stuff called for it. I haven't even mentioned that it's being renewably grown and harvested, which basically elevates it to legendary status for me. I hope other regions will also start doing what these suppliers from Vientnam are doing, so we can have different "brands" and smells of Agarwood on here. But this is so amazing for now. EB, I hope yall never change, keep doing what you're doing!
(Posted on 4/8/2017)
I love it!! Review by
Rating
5
2nd review here. Ok, new to at-home perfumery. I blended agarwood, rose otto, one secret ingredient, and tobacco absolute (with agarwood and tobacco being my base notes, rose the middle, and my secret ingredient a very slight top note) and ohhhh mmmmyyyy sstttaaarrrsss!! It smells absolutely amazing. Everywhere I go, I am literally getting men and women coming to me and asking what I am wearing and where to get it. I will say that the fragrance is literally intoxicating and draws people towards you.
To test it out, I let my concoction rest a few days, then I've worn it three nights in a row. Literally, I put a drop on my finger tips and rub it behind my ears.
1st night, at a small niche restaurant, I had at least 8 people ask me what I was wearing with the desire to go out and buy it. 2nd day I wore it to brunch and everyone i passed on the way to a table would say something along the lines of, "something smells so good! Who is that!?". 3rd night I went to a non smoking bar for the purpose of being smelled. This bar is known for being a bar of mixed orientation because I wanted to see how different people reacted to the scent. Had I been looking to meet someone, I would have come out with several numbers.
This scent is literally magic. Blending it with my supplies and novice knowledge was something really amazing. This agarwood is the heart of this fragrance and there is nothing else like it. It is so deep and complex so many different ways to describe it. If there is such a thing as magic, this rare and expensive oil is the base of it.
Okay, I dont want to sound goofy but, if you are new to agarwood, try this. Go ahead and get the 1ml to start with. Put a tiny drop on a strip of paper. Go ahead and cut out any distractions and take some time to appreciate this scent. When you first smell it, it is strong. Allow it to dry down a bit. Come back in an hour and sniff your strip again. Do this multiple times. Its so complex and yields so many different aspects. Then i would take a drop, and just slightly ru b it behind your ears. It doesn't take much so don't go crazy. See what you think after a day of wearing it. Really, your first impression of this scent can be a bit confusing so all this is to say that you should give yourself a moment to acquire the scent before you try to work with it and blend it and moreover, to have an appreciation for this fine, rare, and precious oil.
By the way, I'm trying to rate this 5 stars but, the rating bubbles don't list a number next to them indicating the value for the bubble. If it shows less than five that is a mistake. Id rate this a million if i could.
(Posted on 4/3/2017)
Amazing scent Review by
Rating
5
Ordered the sample, as Im dabbling in natural perfumery, put a few behind my ears and wow. It's a scent I can only describe as woody, leathery, warm, tobacco, ... It is really deep and it changes throughout the day. It was extremely well recieved by people near me. Had many men and women ask what I was wearing. I paired it with rose absolute and it was a very amazing deep scent.
(Posted on 3/11/2017)
Great Classic Ouhd smell Review by
Rating
5
This smells like some of the finest Ouhd I have ever smelled.....Deep and Musky with a faint barnyard sourness...If you wanna experience real Ouhd this is your oil....But beware it is not a smell you are used to if you have never smelled real Ouhd....Pure sexyness
(Posted on 9/2/2016)
Crassna and Agallocha are WILDLY different Review by
Rating
5
First off: it means a lot that this is sustainable. I cannot overstate that. Second: prepare for the unexpected, if you are only a recent Agarwood initiate and you love EB's CO2. This may be the Oudh that transports you into the heart of a polarizing olfactory puzzle! Not gonna lie--my naïveté really served it to me, as I took the plunge on a small vial of this (not cheap) but immediately wondered if, upon anxiously smelling, I shouldn't have ordered the $12 sample instead. Thus I would encourage others to tiptoe onto this bewitching EB territory--it is a worthy experience, so DO sample it. My shameless adoration of the Agarwood CO2 (along with the tempting description for this Fine variety) made me totally swing for the fences here :) Ultimately it's been a good leap of hope, as now I have a nice amount of diluted Oudh to continue exploring. Trust me, at about 5% this baby is still STRONG.

Really though? I am perplexed by how radically different the two species are, and how this one threw me. It takes a LOT of other oils to take the sheer spunky edge off of it; by comparison, Aquilaria agallocha is like a gentle wash of sugary dew. (Perhaps this is the "classic" divisive smell that I have heard so much about--the barnyard note?) To be honest, this is the first EB product that has actually stung my nose. Having never experienced that, I am hesitant to say that's a bad thing, just something new for me to respect when working with this stuff. I am having trouble getting a sense of the "noble woods," the incense, the honey and all that, even when regularly evaluating the drydown (which I concede is rather beautifully intriguing once it begins to mellow). I have also never smelled castoreum so I am curious if that note is responsible for the inescapable, instantaneous "Wow--that's fecal," every single time I crack this open. This is followed by a curiously chemical sensation, like strong band-aid or degraded plastic. What exactly am I smelling? It's acrid. I would love to be educated here by the Oils Room!

All in all, I admit I have grown fond of this simply because of how often I have stood up in the middle of my day or night just to study this as I chew on other thoughts. I have excellent associations so far, and may even be addicted. I think if you stay open-minded about this Agarwood, it will grow its oozy, enigmatic roots into your psyche and beckon you to understand it further--if that's not very definition of interesting, I don't know what is!
(Posted on 8/26/2016)
Beautiful Review by
Rating
5
This compares to the tiny $150 bottle of wild grown Agarwood that I have. Although this isn't quite as bold when smelling straight from the bottle, it doesn't disappoint! My wild grown smells exactly like this when placed on the skin. Warm, smoky, deep and amazing. I will definitely be purchasing more of this rare beauty to hold onto!
(Posted on 8/18/2016)
Leathery and smokey Review by
Rating
5
I have sampled a few agarwoods and they are all very different. This one is leathery and smokey. It reminds me very much of another sample I purchased which cost quite a bit more! It is strong and long lasting and could be used alone or mixed into a floral or sweet smelling perfume to add depth and character. It would certainly work well as a scent for men. I also sampled the CO2 agarwood which is sweeter, less leathery and quite addictive. Either way you will keep sniffing yourself. The best thing is you can be assured it is unadulterated and ships from the US at a reasonable price, compared to other oudh products which are mixed with solvents and who knows what else!
(Posted on 7/14/2016)