Agarwood is also known as aloes wood. It is obtained from aquliraria trees. These trees are the evergreen trees usually found in eastern Asia. Agarwood is collected after the wood gets infected with fungi. Before getting infected, the heartwood is comparatively pale yellow in color and lighter in weight. With the progress of the fungal infection, the agarwood tree produces dark brown colored aromatic resin which becomes embedded in the wood. This wood has a specific natural and pleasant fragrance. This wonderful aroma develops only after the heartwood is infected.
Agarwood oil is obtained from agarwood by the process of distillation. In the past the wood was soaked in water for three months. After that it was cooked on fire till the oil floated on the water surface. Nowadays the steam distillation process is used to extract the oil from wood. In this process the wood is cut into chips and placed in huge steam distillation containers known as stills. The steam pressure makes the resin come out from the heartwood and the Oud oil drops start dripping into a funnel. This oil is then collected and bottled.
Agarwood oil can be directly applied on the skin. However, you can mix it with some carrier oil like jojoba or olive oil in order to increase the quantity. The aroma of Oud oil may last for more than 12 hours once applied on your skin. If you apply Oud oil on any object in your room, it may last even for a few months.
Agar oil has an enchanting aroma which can lead you to a state of deep meditation. For this reason, the scent of agar oil was used by priests in the Far East region since prehistoric times. The fragrance of agarwood can open up your sub consciousness and you find yourself lost in the sweet memories of the past.
Agarwood is not easily available and is therefore very expensive. Agar oil is available in different grades depending upon the extent of infection of the agar wood and the process of distillation. You can also get it in solid or liquid form. If you heat the solid oil in water bath, it melts to give you the liquid oil.
Agarwood oil finds use in the incense and perfumery industry as well as aromatherapy as an essential oil. Due to its smoothening and soul refreshing ability, it is mainly used to treat the patients of insomnia and hypertension.