One ingredient that is used in a lot of perfumes is oud. Oud itself is the resin-soaked wood or Agarwood, a dark and fragrant wood, and its oil. Agarwood is formed in the heartwood of Aquilaria trees when they become infected with a specific type of mold. If the heartwood does not become infected with the mold, it remains odorless and a pale color. After the mold is present, the tree produces a dark fragrant resin which is the oud.

Oud is used in multiple items, most commonly perfumes. As a common ingredient in perfumes it brings out a woody and somewhat spicy scent. Some unique scents with agarwood incorporated in them are:

1. Rigas by Parfumerie Nasreen

2. Oud by Masion Francis Kurkdjian

3. Oud Imperial by Perris Monte Carlo

4. Amber Aquilaria by Electimuss London

Agarwood is also used as an incense commonly in multiple different forms. Oud can be burned in multiple forms as wood chips, as oil-soaked burned wood chips, or as a powder. They are usually burned on coal or charcoal piece and produce strong woody notes.

As oud is the resin from Aquilaria trees, the scent of agarwood is different based on the species of Aquilaria trees. Due to the differences in species, there are differences in the scents of oud from different regions. Indian agar is a sweeter and rounder scent, while the Chinese agar is a sharper and spicier scent. Agarwood and oud have been used in both Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine for years. It was used to treat a variety of symptoms and regulate the body.

Oud has been used throughout the world in perfumes, as incenses, in oils and it produces very balanced woody scents that will always be great to use.

You can see more about oud and perfumes through our Instagram.

-Shilpa Shah