Aquilaria sinensis

Aquilaria sinensis, known as agarwood, has a long history of use in East and Southeast Asian traditional medicine. In China, the resin is boiled as a decoction to relieve cough and asthma, and it is also applied as a poultice to heal wounds and reduce inflammation (Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2020). Vietnamese healers similarly prepare a tea from the resin to treat respiratory ailments and use a warm resin paste on skin injuries (Nguyen et al., 2018). In Thailand, the resin is steeped in hot water to make a fragrant cough remedy, and a crushed resin paste is wrapped around bruises to promote healing (Srisuk et al., 2019). Across these cultures the resin is the primary part used; bark, leaves, or roots are rarely cited for infusion or poultice preparations.

A simple decoction can be made at home. Take 5 g of dried agarwood resin and add it to 500 ml of boiling water. Let the mixture steep for 30 minutes, then strain out the solids. Drink one cup (≈250 ml) of the clear liquid in the morning. Because the resin is potent, limit intake to one cup per day and avoid use during pregnancy or lactation. If you have a history of dry mouth or throat irritation, start with a smaller dose and monitor your response.

The therapeutic effects of the resin are largely attributed to its sesquiterpene and chromone compounds, including agarospirol, 2‑acetyl‑1,3‑dioxolane, and various chromone derivatives. These molecules have been shown to possess anti‑inflammatory, antimicrobial, and bronchodilatory activities, which help explain the resin’s traditional use for cough, asthma, and wound healing. Modern phytochemical studies confirm the presence of these active constituents in the resin, supporting its historical medicinal profile.

Today, agarwood is still harvested for incense, perfume, and traditional medicine, and research continues into its bioactive compounds for potential pharmaceutical development. The resin’s unique aroma and therapeutic properties keep it in demand both in traditional markets and in contemporary natural‑product research.

Common products:
Aquilaria sinensis yields the aromatic resin-impregnated heartwood called agarwood (also known as oud). Commercial products include the raw resinous wood for incense, and processed products such as essential oil, resinoid, and absolute for perfumery. The plant may also be used as a source of biomass or charcoal.

Industrial and craft applications:
Agarwood is processed for the fragrance industry; essential oils and resinoids are used in high-end perfumery and fine incense. Carved beads and small ornaments are made from resin-free wood or resinous wood when permissible. Non-resinous wood has limited uses in small carvings and craftwork.

Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
There are no widely reported culinary uses for Aquilaria sinensis.

Colorants and tanning:
No established use in dyeing or tanning has been documented.

Wood and fiber:
Non-resinous wood may be used for small carvings and sculpture. The species is not an important timber tree.

Fragrance and cosmetics:
Agarwood-derived essential oil, resinoid, and absolute are used as fragrance materials, typically as base-note ingredients in perfumery and incense blends. Materials may also appear in scented products such as candles and cosmetics where permitted. Chemical classes associated with the aroma include sesquiterpenes and 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone derivatives.

Properties relevant to use:
Resin formation in heartwood is induced by microbial infection, producing a dense, aromatic matrix with high resin content and a characteristic composition of volatile sesquiterpenoids and chromone derivatives that define odor quality and stability. Extracted products may exhibit oxidative stability suitable for perfume applications.

Standards and regulation:
Agarwood and its extracts are regulated under CITES for Aquilaria species; trade documentation and permits are required. Agarwood essential oil is covered by ISO 20275. National and regional standards may exist for classification of raw agarwood materials and essential oil specifications.

Sustainability and sourcing:
Most commercial supply is cultivated, and harvesting of healthy trees for wound induction (to produce agarwood) is a principal production method. Legal harvesting under CITES permits and sustainable cultivation are emphasized in regulated markets; sustainable and certified sources are preferred where available.

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