Agarwood ( in English : Agarwood), in Bengali : আগর গাছ, ( Hindi : agar) and ( Chinese : 沉香木), is a dark-colored resin found in the core of wood. Plant of the genus Aloes ( scientific name : Aquilaria) [1] which are evergreen and perennial trees that may reach a height of twenty meters, and are native to Southeast Asia . Oud contains volatile oils, which were formed when the tree was infected with a type of mold . Whereas before infection, the heartwood of the tree is relatively light and pale in color, and when the infection progresses, the tree produces dark-colored aromatic resin in response to the attack, making this wood very dense and dark in color. This resin is called agarwood (not to be confused with ' incense '). Oud is highly valued in many cultures due to its distinctive scent.
Aquilaria tree species that produce agarwood
The following species of Aquilaria trees produce agarwood
· Aquilaria acuminata , found in Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and the Philippines
· Aquilaria apiculata , found in the Philippines
· Aquilaria baillonil , found in Thailand and Cambodia
· Aquilaria banaensae , found in Vietnam
· Aquilaria beccariana , found in Indonesia
· Aquilaria brachyantha , found in Malaysia
· Aquilaria crassna , found in Cambodia , Malaysia , Thailand , Laos And Vietnam
· Aquilaria cumingiana , found in Indonesia And Malaysia
· Aquilaria filaria , found in New Guinea , Moluccas , and Mindanao (Philippines) [3]
· Aquilaria grandiflora , found in China
· Hair agarwood , found in Thailand , Indonesia and Malaysia [4]
· Aquilaria khasiana , found in Bangladesh And India .
· Indian oud , found in Indonesia , Malaysia , Laos , Thailand , and India
· Small-fruited stick , found in Indonesia And Malaysia
· Agarwood , found in Malaysia
· Chinese oud , found in China And Laos
· Aquilaria subintegra , found in Thailand
Sri Lankan “oud” is known as “Wala Patta” and it is a species of Gyrinops walla.