what is oud

Oud, also known as oudh, is a fragrant dark resinous wood that is used in incense, perfume, and small carvings. It is formed in the heartwood of Aquilaria trees when they become infected with a type of mold and secrete a resin to combat the mold. Prior to infection, the heartwood is odorless, relatively light, and pale-colored. However, as the infection progresses, the tree produces a dark aromatic resin, called aloes or agar, as well as gaharu, jinko, oud, or oodh aguru, in response to the attack, which results in a very dense, dark, resin-embedded heartwood. Oud is considered one of the most expensive raw fragrance ingredients in the world, with a price of up to $5,000 per pound. It is extracted from the fungus-infected resinous heartwood of the agar tree, which is primarily found in the dense forests of Southeast Asia, India, and Bangladesh. Oud is highly valued in East and South Asian cultures for its distinctive fragrance. It is also used for medicinal and spiritual purposes and is considered a fundamental ingredient in perfumery.