Understanding agarwood

Know agarwood before you choose it

Two pieces of agarwood can differ enormously in scent, longevity and price. These four things help you read a piece: what grade it is, where it comes from, how long it gathered resin, and whether it has been oil-treated.

1. Agarwood grades

Collectors grade agarwood mainly by how much resin the wood holds, which shows most clearly when you drop it in water.

Sinking agarwood (trầm chìm)

Wood so saturated with resin it is heavier than water and sinks outright. The rarest grade, with a rich, deep scent, usually kept for collectors or for appreciation.

Semi-sinking agarwood (trầm bán chìm)

Plenty of resin, though not enough to sink fully: it hangs in the water. A full scent that balances rarity and price.

Floating agarwood (trầm nổi)

Resinous wood that is still lighter than water. The most common grade for bracelets, incense and cones, with a light, clean scent for everyday use.

Insect-formed agarwood (trầm tốc)

Formed around insect bore holes in the aquilaria trunk, so the wood is full of small holes and interlaced veins. The scent is often sweet and very distinctive.

2. Vietnam's agarwood regions

Each region's soil and climate give its agarwood a scent of its own. These are the regions most often mentioned, listed without ranking.

Khanh Hoa: Van Ninh, Ninh Hoa and the hills around Nha Trang, where agarwood hunting has passed down through generations.
Quang Nam: Tien Phuoc, Que Son and the western Truong Son forests, known for sweet-scented agarwood.
Ha Tinh & Quang Binh: The forests of the North Central Coast, where aquilaria grows wild among old-growth trees.
Phu Yen & the Central Highlands: Midland forests where aquilaria trees are found scattered here and there.

3. How resin age shapes scent and price

Resin age is how long the aquilaria tree has been producing resin to heal its wounds. The longer the resin builds up, the denser and heavier the wood.
Long-aged agarwood tends to smell deeper and warmer, with less raw-wood note; younger agarwood is lighter and cleaner.
Because it takes many years and grows scarcer over time, resin age is one of the biggest factors in price.

4. Natural vs. oil-treated agarwood

No tools needed: just your nose, eyes, hands and a match.

1. Scent before burning
Natural agarwoodFaint until you hold it close or warm it in your hand; sweet, with real depth.
Oil-treated agarwoodStrong the moment the box opens, sharp and one-note like added fragrance; overwhelming after a while.
2. Resin veins
Natural agarwoodDark and light veins interlace and follow the grain; no two beads or pieces look alike.
Oil-treated agarwoodVeins are faint or suspiciously even, with oil pooled in patches that ignore the grain.
3. Colour
Natural agarwoodSeveral shades on a single bead, from golden brown to deep brown; a white cloth stays clean.
Oil-treated agarwoodAn unnaturally even black or brown; a white cloth may pick up oil or colour.
4. Smoke when burned
Natural agarwoodThin, blue-white smoke; a soft, sweet scent that shifts as it burns and doesn't sting the eyes.
Oil-treated agarwoodDark or heavy smoke with an acrid, burnt smell; oil may bubble where it burns.
5. Feel of the surface
Natural agarwoodDry and smooth; very resinous wood can feel faintly tacky but leaves no mark.
Oil-treated agarwoodGreasy, sticky or waxy-shiny, and leaves an oil mark on white paper.

Choose agarwood by occasion

Every VĨNH TRẦM product carries an “Agarwood profile” listing its grade, region and resin age once these are confirmed.

Worn for protection Meditation & stillness Agarwood at the tea table Gifts