Agarwood grading is not governed by one universal global scale. Sellers and regions may use the same labels—such as A, AA, premium or sinking—for different materials. A useful grade must therefore disclose what was evaluated, how it was evaluated and whether the comparison is within one product line or across unrelated products.
This guide presents a transparent seven-factor framework for evaluating agarwood chips and raw wood. It separates quality from authenticity, legal provenance and personal scent preference, because those questions require different evidence.
Quick answer: evaluate agarwood with multiple signals: product identity, provenance, resin pattern, density, aroma under controlled heat, processing/condition and batch evidence. Sinking, dark color, origin or price can be relevant, but none proves overall quality or authenticity by itself.
The seven-factor agarwood quality framework
| Factor | What to record | What it cannot prove alone |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Identity and format | Chip, carving, bead, powder or oil; stated species when documented | Origin, grade or purity from appearance alone |
| 2. Provenance and legality | Supplier, country/region, harvest or cultivation claim, lot and trade documents where applicable | That the sample smells good or belongs to a premium grade |
| 3. Resin pattern | Distribution, depth, natural variation, clean wood-to-resin transitions and visible treatment | Exact resin percentage or species |
| 4. Density and sink behavior | Mass, dimensions, calculated density when practical, and a documented float/partial-sink/sink observation | Authenticity, aroma quality or freedom from weighting/treatment |
| 5. Aroma performance | Cold scent, development under repeatable heat, clarity, complexity, balance and persistence | Species or origin without supporting analysis |
| 6. Processing and condition | Moisture, storage, added fragrance, oiling, coating, dye, contamination and damage | That “natural-looking” material is untreated |
| 7. Batch evidence and intended use | Photos of the actual lot, sample size, method, date, evaluator and whether it is suited to heating, distillation, carving or beads | Universal superiority across every use |
Oudgo disclosure: this is the framework Oudgo will use when expanding batch records and revising older chip listings. A legacy Grade A or Grade B label may not yet show all seven fields. Until the corresponding batch evidence is published, treat the label as a comparison within that product line—not a universal grade shared with other sellers.
Why agarwood grades are difficult to compare
Trade reports and scientific literature describe regional and seller-specific systems rather than one internationally accepted grade. A CITES technical document also notes that no standard biochemical parameters define every agarwood specimen and that composition can vary even within the same tree. This means a grade is meaningful only when its criteria and comparison set are visible.
A, AA, AAA, super, sinking, Kinam/Kynam and similar terms should not be mapped automatically from one shop to another. Before comparing prices, ask:
- Is the grade for chips, oil, beads or another format?
- Is it a seller’s internal tier or a named regional standard?
- Was the material compared within one batch, one product type or a broader inventory?
- Were aroma, density and condition measured, or was the label assigned from appearance?
- Can the seller show the actual lot rather than representative marketing images?
1. Confirm identity and product format
Start by defining what is being graded. Raw chips can be inspected, weighed and heated; powder loses visible grain and can be blended; oil requires a different evidence set; beads and carvings have workmanship and structural requirements. One grade cannot describe all of these fairly.
Botanical identity should be reported only when the supplier has a defensible chain of evidence. Research on DNA barcoding shows why species identification in traded resinous products is challenging and why appearance is not enough. A seller should use “stated species” or “seller-reported species” when laboratory or traceable source evidence is unavailable.
For terms and material types, see types of agarwood and identification characteristics. For the biological process behind resinous wood, see how agarwood forms after injury and stress.
2. Record provenance and legality separately from quality
Provenance answers where a product is reported to come from and how it entered the supply chain. Quality answers how the particular material performs against disclosed criteria. A cultivated, traceable sample can be more useful to a buyer than an undocumented product marketed as “wild,” and wild origin is not proof of superior aroma.
Aquilaria and Gyrinops are covered by CITES Appendix II controls, subject to annotations and product-specific requirements. A CITES document, invoice or supplier declaration may be important for legal trade, but it should not be marketed as a laboratory certificate of purity or a quality grade. Document type, issuing authority, scope, date and lot reference should be stated precisely.
3. Inspect resin distribution—not color alone
Resinous areas are often darker, denser and more aromatic than pale unaffected wood. Useful inspection records include:
- photos of both faces and a cut edge under neutral lighting;
- whether resin veins are one-sided, two-sided, patchy or distributed through the piece;
- the ratio of resinous zones to pale wood as a visible estimate, not a laboratory percentage;
- signs of dye, surface oil, artificial perfume, filler or coating;
- cracks, mold, excessive moisture, scorching or storage odor.
Dark color is a signal to investigate, not a verdict. Lighting, moisture, aging, heat and treatment can all change appearance. The same caution applies to uniform black wood and unusually regular grain.
4. Use density and the water test correctly
Density can correlate with resin accumulation, and recent chemical research found meaningful differences between groups of samples with different densities. But a household sink test is coarse: shape, trapped air, moisture and non-resin weighting can affect the observation.
If density matters to the sale, report a measured value and method:
- weigh a clean, conditioned sample with a suitable scale;
- record dimensions or use a documented displacement method appropriate to the sample;
- report whether the same piece floated, partially submerged or sank, including water condition and time;
- do not return a wet test piece to sale inventory until it is properly dried and checked.
Sinking does not equal authentic. A genuine low-density sample may float, while treated or weighted material may sink. Use the result as one factor, not the shortcut promoted in many counterfeit guides.
5. Compare aroma with a repeatable protocol
Aroma is central to agarwood quality but is also subjective and vulnerable to heat and evaluator fatigue. Record the material, sample amount, burner, temperature or heat setting, airflow and observation times. Compare samples blind when possible and repeat the test before assigning a batch description.
Useful observations include clarity, balance, development, unwanted chemical or scorched notes and how long the aroma remains perceptible under the same conditions. “Strongest” is not automatically “best”; a quieter but clean and layered sample may better suit controlled heating.
Our agarwood scent guide provides a step-by-step sensory protocol. Laboratory studies using headspace GC-MS show that heated samples can have different chemical profiles, supporting the need to control temperature and method.
6. Check processing, condition and possible adulteration
Grading should disclose anything that changes weight, appearance or scent. Ask whether the sample has been perfumed, oiled, dyed, compressed, blended, stabilized or exposed to smoke and storage odors. For oil, request the stated extraction method, dilution status, batch and any test report that actually corresponds to that lot.
Authenticity and adulteration are related but separate from preference. Use the dedicated real vs fake agarwood guide for red flags. No home test—including burning, smelling, scratching or sinking—provides universal proof.
7. Publish a batch record and grade for intended use
A grade should help a buyer choose. A useful batch card contains:
- product name, SKU or lot ID and date evaluated;
- format, stated species and stated origin with the evidence level;
- sample count and whether photos show the actual lot;
- mass, dimensions and density method when relevant;
- resin-pattern observations from both faces/cut edge;
- controlled-heating method and scent notes;
- processing, additives and condition disclosures;
- intended use and limitations;
- name or role of the evaluator and links to any matching report.
This prevents a label from becoming an unsupported superlative. It also makes a grade updateable when a batch, supplier or method changes.
How quality criteria change by product
| Product | Priority evidence | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Agarwood chips | Actual-lot photos, resin distribution, mass/density and controlled heating | Using sink behavior as proof of authenticity |
| Oud oil | Raw material claim, extraction, dilution, lot and matching analysis where available | Calling every oil “essential oil” or treating one GC-MS result as proof for all batches |
| Agarwood incense | Ingredient percentages, binder/core, added fragrance, burn behavior and safety | Grading the finished stick as though it were a raw chip |
| Agarwood beads | Material evidence, bead size/count, total weight, construction and workmanship | Submerging a finished bracelet or equating weight with resin alone |
A buyer’s pre-purchase checklist
- Is the grade defined on the page?
- Does it apply to this batch and product format?
- Are actual-lot images and measurable specifications provided?
- Are origin, species and wild/cultivated claims labeled with their evidence level?
- Are additives, coatings, dilution and processing disclosed?
- Can any certificate or laboratory report be matched to the lot?
- Is there a return policy if the received item differs materially from the listing?
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest grade of agarwood?
There is no single highest grade shared by every market and seller. A top tier must be read together with its published criteria. Terms such as sinking or Kinam/Kynam may carry specific trade meanings, but a label alone is not verification.
Is wild agarwood always better than cultivated agarwood?
No. Formation pathway can affect chemistry, but “wild” does not guarantee a better individual sample and is difficult to verify without provenance. Evaluate the material and documentation rather than assuming wild origin is superior.
Does agarwood that sinks in water have the best scent?
Not necessarily. High density can be associated with resin accumulation, but scent quality, processing and intended use still matter. Sink behavior is one physical measurement, not a complete grade.
Can GC-MS prove agarwood quality?
GC-MS can characterize volatile compounds and compare a sample with a defined method or reference set. Interpretation depends on sampling, extraction or heating method and reference data. A report from a different batch does not prove the quality of the product being sold.
Is a CITES permit a certificate of authenticity?
No. CITES documentation concerns regulated international trade in listed taxa and products. It should not be represented as a sensory grade, purity analysis or blanket authenticity certificate.
Sources and further reading
- CITES Plants Committee: agarwood-producing taxa, trade and identification context
- Study of density, color and metabolomic differences among agarwood samples
- GC-MS fingerprinting and chemometric evaluation of natural and induced agarwood
- Headspace GC-MS analysis of chemical profiles from heated agarwood
- DNA barcoding and species authentication of traded agarwood products
