Agarwood can be expensive because usable resin-rich wood varies in supply and quality, and selecting it takes work. The cost of an incense blend also includes its other ingredients, preparation and aging. Our 24-ingredient Chinese incense sticks contain agarwood as one of 24 materials. They are a blended incense, not pure agarwood. I keep the exact proportions private.
Where our agarwood comes from
We use mainly cultivated Aquilaria sinensis from Hainan, Guangdong and Guangxi, plus some Hui’an-style material from Vietnam and Cambodia. I describe the Hui’an fragrance as clear and penetrating. We use legally sourced, cultivated, resin-bearing wood and do not buy poached wild wood or speculate in kyara, a prized agarwood grade.
How resin formation affects the price
Agarwood is resin-bearing wood that develops through the tree’s response to injury and other stress. Tree condition and production method affect the result. Cultivation allows makers to induce resin formation, but there is no single minimum time that applies to every method. A 2013 study reported formation after six months with one induction technique; that does not establish the age or quality of our own material.
Unresinated pale wood and selected resin-rich pieces have different uses and prices. Time matters, but age alone does not tell a buyer how a piece will smell.
What color and sinking can tell you
Darkness and density can be observations, but neither authenticates agarwood or sets its value alone. Dye or added oil can affect appearance. A sinking piece is not automatically better than one that floats; I also judge whether its scent suits my blend. Cultivated material can suit that purpose without a claim that wild material is always superior.
Laboratory extract measurements require a named standard and method. A 10% alcohol-soluble extract threshold is not a universal quality scale for every incense product, and it is not a test result for our sticks.
Trade rules depend on the product
Aquilaria appears in CITES listings, Appendix II, with exemptions under annotation #14. Documentation depends on product and destination; check the relevant authorities before international shipping.
What is in our $39.90 box?
In our 24-ingredient blend, I use agarwood as the “guide”: it helps bring the other materials together. The comparison I use is a piece of aged ham in a soup, contributing to the whole without making up the whole pot. This describes a blending role, not a medicinal effect.
The $39.90 box also pays for sandalwood, Dalbergia, mugwort, dried tangerine peel, licorice and the other ingredients, along with natural binder, aging time and handwork. We account for agarwood by weight without publishing its percentage. The product page carries the current price and full ingredient list.
See the 24-ingredient Chinese incense sticks, or read my guide to incense that smells like firewood for observations about smoky scents and discomfort.
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