For over 30 centuries, agarwood has held a special place in the religious, cultural, and medicinal practices of civilizations around the world. Revered as a “magic” and “divine” product, its prominence across various religions is no coincidence. The unique and captivating scent of agarwood has elevated it to an esteemed status, transcending borders and cultures.

 

The fragrance of agarwood is complex and alluring, with few natural parallels. In its perfume form, the scent is distinguished by a combination of “oriental-woody” and “soft fruity-floral” notes, while the incense smoke is characterized by a “sweet-balsamic” aroma with hints of vanilla, musk, and amber. These attributes have earned agarwood and its essential oil immense cultural and religious importance, as referenced in texts dating as far back as 1400 BCE in the Vedas of India. It is also mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in The Book of Numbers 24:6 and Psalms 45, where a perfume composed of aloeswood, myrrh, and cassia is described.

 

In 65 CE, Dioscorides, in his famous work Materia Medica, detailed the medicinal properties of agarwood (Áγαλλοχου), noting its use as an incense, and for treating stomach complaints, dysentery, and lung and liver pain. He also observed that, despite its astringent and bitter taste, it was chewed to freshen the breath. Agarwood’s medicinal uses were further noted in the Sahih Muslim of the eighth century and in the Ayurvedic text Susruta Samhita.

 

Additionally, the Nan zhou yi wu zhi (Strange Things from the South), written in the third century CE by Wa Zhen of the Eastern Wu Dynasty, describes how agarwood was collected in the mountains of what is now Central Vietnam, further highlighting its historical significance in the region.

 

Agarwood’s rich history of use in both spiritual and medicinal contexts has solidified its reputation as a sacred and highly valued commodity throughout the centuries.