Малайзійський уд

Agarwood forms in the heartwood of Aquilaria trees after infection with a mould, Phaeoacremonium parasitica, formerly called Phialophora parasitica. Before infection the heartwood mostly lacks scent and is relatively light and pale in colour. As the infection advances, the heartwood becomes very dense, dark and saturated with resin. Aquilaria malaccensis is found in Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, Thailand, and India. Aquilaria microcarpa is found in Indonesia and Malaysia, and Aquilaria rostrata in Malaysia. The aromatic qualities of agarwood are influenced by the species, geographic location, branch, trunk or root origin, length of time since infection, and methods of harvesting and processing.

Oud has thousands of years of known use and is valued across Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim and Chinese cultures. It is used in colognes, incense and perfumes.

Aquilaria malaccensis, the primary source, has been listed in CITES Appendix II since 1995. In 2004 all Aquilaria species were listed in Appendix II. Aquilaria malaccensis is now considered critically endangered on the IUCN Red List. Overharvesting and habitat loss threaten some populations of agarwood-producing species. Agarwood plantations have been established in countries such as India, Bangladesh and Bhutan, and reintroduced into Malaysia and Sri Lanka as commercial plantation crops. A common method in planted forestry is to inoculate trees with a fungus.

The composition of agarwood oil is exceedingly complex, with more than 150 chemical compounds identified. At least 70 of these are terpenoids in the form of sesquiterpenes and chromones, and no monoterpenes have been detected. Other classes of compounds include agarofurans, cadinanes, eudesmanes, valencanes, eremophilanes, guaianes, prezizanes and vetispiranes. Sesquiterpenes in the volatile oil include α-guaiene and agarospirol. The exact balance of these materials varies with the age and species of the tree and the details of the oil extraction process.

Explore all seven extraits in the Discovery Set.

—

Related: Agarwood Oil · Agarwood Oud · Australian Oud · Cambodian Oud · Chinese Oud · Indian Oud · Indonesian Oud · Laotian Oud