The Unique Fragrance of Agarwood

Agarwood (Aquilaria spp.) fragrance and its origin in stress make it probably the most suitable model to study stress-induced aroma. Production being confined only to certain
small pockets of South and Southeast Asia, agarwood is arguably the costliest wood in
the world. Formation of fragrant agarwood resin is the outcome of complex biotic, abiotic,
and physical stress on the Aquilaria trees. The intricate mechanism by which some 150
odd fragrant molecules that constitute agarwood aroma is formed is still not clearly
understood.

The present review therefore aims to bring to focus this less known but highly
valuable stress-induced aroma from Asia. Discussions on agarwood species, occurrence,
distribution, formation, and products have been included as foundation. Although global
trade in agarwood and its products is estimated at US$6 billion to US$8 billion, no reliable
data are readily available in literature.

Keywords: oudh, aroma, Aquilaria, perfume, methyl jasmonate

Authors: Pearlin Shabna Naziz, Runima Das and Supriyo Sen

Link to full article: Frontiers in Plant Science | July 2019 | Volume 10 | Article 840