The best types of incense and oud wood in the World & the Arabian Gulf
varieties of incense & Oud Wood Types
both oud and incense have the most pleasant odor, which adds a charming touch to the place. It also makes you feel comfortable, relaxed, and fresh. Furthermore, it boosts positive energy and releases stress. Therefore, If you’re looking for the best types of incense and oud wood, this article will be a great source of information for you to take your decision and to choose better.
In this article, we’ll discuss everything related to oud wood and incense, including their varieties and types. we’ll answer all the questions you’re thinking of and make you aware of the best marketplaces and kinds of oud and incense. You should know every detail because each kind has its own rituals and technique of steaming clothes and houses.
Authentic Oud oil is extracted from musty perennial trees. insects and high levels of humidity affect the structure of roots and steam and turn them into the mold. That’s why trees produces a waxy substance called oud oil ( dehn al oud ) that protect its structure from abrasion and smells good and fragrant when gets burned into embers.
Types of incense
First of all, we’ll discuss the use, differences, and ways to differentiate each type of incense and how to how to choose the right Incense for yourself.
Natural Incense
At the beginning, we’ll discuss the types of oud wood; natural oud wood - enhanced natural oud wood.
● Natural Oud Wood or Authentic Natural Oud Wood
As we mentioned earlier, Oud wood is produced and extracted from forests without any additive materials or adjustments, such as Pigmenters or oils. The great feature of the Natural oud wood is its variation from one tree to another of the same species, or between two different species. No matter how adjacent trees are, oud wood will always be variant. Although it may vary in quality, it never varies in odor because it's an authentic feature of all oud oil.
It will be mentioned in brief in the following order:
● First: Natural Oud Wood has a much darker brown color than common hardwood ( medium to high-quality wood ). And also has a fragrant smell.
● Second: Super Natural Oud Wood has darker brown color than natural oud wood (high-quality wood )
● Third: Super Double Natural Oud Wood has a coffee brown color with darker wood grain than Super Natural Oud Wood ( High to premium quality wood )
● Fourth: Triple Super Natural Oud Wood has darker coffee brown color than Super Double Oud Wood. it emits bluish fumes when burned, That’s why It’s called Blue Oud ( Premium to rare quality ).
● Finally: Natural Underwater Oud Wood or Sinking Oud Wood has a black-like color and is darker than Triple Super Oud Wood. it doesn’t float on water. Instead, its high density makes the wood sink to the bottom and gives a fragrant odor that has no equal. Natural Underwater Oud Wood is stored in wooden boxes for protection and to keep its fragrance ( Premium to rare quality ).
It is used for steaming and has no harmful effects on the respiratory system. Instead, it has therapeutic benefits. That’s why it can be used to improve problems of high blood pressure ( hypertension ). It can also help to clear nasal sinuses and to get rid of a headache. Therefore, steaming incense is recommended for personal use and special occasions.
The Most Popular Types of Natural Oud Wood In The World
1. Indian Oud (Indian Oud Wood )
It is considered one of the most high-class and highly recommended types of incense, due to its pleasant and refreshing scent. It has an affordable price and can be used on a daily basis. It is also characterized by the prolonged longevity of the aroma. Therefore, It is commonly used on religious occasions and weddings. The Indian Oud Wood also has several health benefits. It’s a natural remedy for upset stomachs, respiratory diseases such as asthma and cough, and anti-aging treatment.
Its commercial names are (Indian super Oud Wood_ Indian double Oud Wood_ Indian triple Oud Wood_ Indian luxurious Oud Wood_ luxurious royal Oud Wood_ Indian Assam Oud Wood_ Hindi Assam Oud Wood_ Indian Suyufi Oud Wood_ Indian Royal Kyara Oud Wood_ old incense_ Indian Oud Wood_ Indian incense _ Old Indian Oud Wood_ Indian Natural Oud Wood_ Original Indian Oud Wood_ Natural Indian Oud Wood_ Indian Premium Oud Wood_ Indian Triple Super Oud Wood).
varieties of incense & Oud Wood Types
2. Cambodian oud (Cambodian oud wood)
It is one of the rarest, most expensive, and hard-to-find oud wood. Therefore, it has a special fragrant smell. It’s called the Cambodian oud wood after its original homeland, Cambodia. The quality of the Cambodian Oud is also at the same level as the Indian oud wood, except that it is darker and rarer than it. However, it’s slightly brown.
Its commercial names are (Super Cambodian oud wood_ Cambodian Double oud wood_ Cambodian Triple oud wood_ Luxurious Cambodian oud wood_ Royal Luxurious Cambodian oud wood).
varieties of incense & Oud Wood Types
3. Kelmentan Oud ( Kelemntan Oud Wood )
It’s extracted from its homeland, Indonesia. And considered one of the most fragrant perfumes of all, and that has a charming odor giving a gentle touch. Therefore, there’s high demand for it in the Arabian Gulf, and commonly used on special occasions.
Its commercial names are (Kelmentan Super Oud Wood_ Kelmentan Double Oud Wood_ Kelmentan Triple Oud Wood_ Royal Luxurious Kelmentan Oud Wood_ Natural Kelmentan Wood_ the Natural Kelmentan Wood_ Natural Kelmentan Oud Wood_ Luxurious Kelmentan Oud Wood_ Kelmentan Triple Super Oud Wood_ Natural Luxurious Kelmentan Oud Wood ).
varieties of incense & Oud Wood Types
4. Moroki Oud ( Moroki Oud Wood )
It’s one of the best types of Indonesian oud. Furthermore, it’s widely well-known and commonly used in special occasions. its light brown color gives calming properties of fragrance. The Moroki Oud is also considered as having one of the softest and most fragrant aroma with prolonged longevity.
Its commercial names are ( Moroki Super oud wood_ Moroki Double oud wood_ Moroki Triple Oud Wood_ Luxurious Moroki oud wood_ Royal Luxurious Moroki oud wood_ Natural Moroki Oud_ Natural Moroki Oud Wood_ authentic Moroki wood_ original Moroki oud_ Luxurious Moroki oud_ Original Moroki Super Triple oud wood_ Luxurious Moroki Oud wood Moroki_ Luxurious natural Moroki oud wood).
varieties of incense & Oud Wood Types
5. Ceylon Oud ( Ceylon Oud Wood )
It’s also called Ceylon incense which is one of the rarest, most charming, and most fragrant strong-smelling odors of all types of oud. Furthermore, it contains dark black waxy pieces. although it's not allowed to be sold or extracted even in its homeland, Sri Lanka. there's high demand for it and it's sold unauthorizedly.
Generally, it’s extracted from the forests of Sri Lanka; a Country in South Asia.
Its commercial names are ( Ceylon Oud, Ceylon Super Oud, Ceylon Super Double Oud, Ceylon Triple Super Oud )
varieties of incense & Oud Wood Types
6. Thai Oud ( Thai Oud Wood )
It’s one of the most high-quality natural oud that has a great scent when burned into embers. Furthermore, it has a fragrant odor with prolonged longevity. Therefore, there’s high demand for it to be applied when steaming clothes, rooms, and chambers of halls.
varieties of incense & Oud Wood Types
7. Papua Oud ( Papua Oud Wood )
It has a fragrant scent with prolonged longevity on clothes and the body. It’s mainly extracted from Papua New Guinea and some of Southern Indonesia's regions. It’s called by several names, such as Papua Guinea Oud or Papua Area Oud. in addition to its hard extraction process, there are barely a few experts who know how to extract Papua Oud. that’s why it can’t be impured. Although it’s barely available or extracted, Papua oud has an affordable price.
varieties of incense & Oud Wood Types
8. Jabora Oud ( Jabora Oud Wood )
There’s high demand for Jabora Oud in the Arabian Gulf and especially in Saudi Arabia. It’s extracted from the forests of Jabora in Indonesia. It’s one of the most fragrant odors with strong-smelling pieces that give a light touch with calming sensations. Furthermore, it never causes allergies or any medical condition. It has also a variety of shapes and sizes based on the wood-cutting process. However, all of its different pieces share the same light brown color. In addition, it’s distinguished with prolonged longevity, that’s why it’s used to display a sense of calm in offices, reception halls, foyers, and mosques.
Its commercial names are (Super Jabora Oud, Double Super Jabora Oud, Old Jabora Oud).
varieties of incense & Oud Wood Types
9. Brunei Oud ( Brunei Oud Wood )
It’s one of the most high-quality and the best types of oud. That’s distinguished by the light fragrant smell that spread a cooling sensation for eyes with prolonged longevity. Therefore, it’s used for steaming clothes, bedrooms, and items of furniture.
varieties of incense & Oud Wood Types
10. Sumatra Oud ( Sumatra Oud Wood )
It’s considered one of the most elegant and light oud perfumes, with a fresh and cool sensation for smelling. It’s called after the Indonesian island of Sumatra where it’s extracted. It’s also known as a leading Indonesian fragrance.
The Sumatra Oud has long, sharp, and dark brown pieces.
varieties of incense & Oud Wood Types
11. Malaysian oud ( Malaysian Oud Wood )
It’s distinguished by its special strong-smelling fragrance and high price.
Its commercial names are (Malaysian Super oud wood_ Malaysian Double oud wood _ Triple oud wood Luxurious Malaysian oud wood _Luxurious Royal Malaysian oud wood_ Prachin oud chips_ chips of Trad Oud).
varieties of incense & Oud Wood Types
12. Vietnamese Oud ( Vietnamese Oud Wood )
It is a rare and cultivated oud with a soothing, fragrant, and prolonged longevity aroma, similar to the Indian oud. It is made up of the best-looking light or dark brown pieces of small and medium sizes. It’s also sold at affordable prices, therefore it’s used by many customers and widely used in temples and churches.
Its commercial names are (Vietnam Super Oud Wood_ Vietnamese Double Oud Wood_ Vietnamese Triple Oud Wood_ Royal Luxurious Vietnamese Oud Wood_ Luxurious Vietnamese Oud Wood_ Vietnamese Oud Chips A_ Vietnamese Oud Chips AB_ Vietnamese Oud Chips AA_ Vietnamese Oud Chips AAA_ Vietnamese Oud Chips AAAA)
varieties of incense & Oud Wood Types
13. Laos Oud ( Laos Oud Wood )
It’s one of the best incense fragrances in the world. Therefore, it’s hard to find and only available at a high price with very limited quantities in the marketplace. As a result, only Princes & Wealthy or rich people can afford it. It’s distinguished with prolonged longevity that makes the fragrance fill the space of houses and lasts for long periods on clothes. It has a similar scent to the Vietnamese oud. Moreover, it's a refreshing fragrance to create a light touch and smell. Therefore, it’s used for steaming chambers, halls, and palaces.
Its commercial names are ( Laos Super oud wood_ Laos Double Oud Wood_ Laos Triple oud Wood_ Luxurious Laos oud wood, Royal Laos oud wood).
varieties of incense & Oud Wood Types
14. Burmese Oud ( Burmese Oud Wood )
It’s the rarest and most luxurious species of oud ever. as it is extracted from a bordering region of china called Kachin State, Burma. Where forests are distinguished by a dense growth of rare Burmese oud trees. the reason of Burmese Oud rarity is based on authorities' prohibition of Cutting Burmese Oud trees. The Burmese oud is similar to the Indian oud and characterized by a soft fragrance, a cool scent on the chest and nose, and prolonged longevity of the aroma that fills the surrounding. It’s natural oud wood with a similar shape to a sea snail, it’s simply highly demanded oud wood!
Its commercial names are (Burmese oud wood_ Burmese Syper Double oud wood_ Original Burmese oud wood_ Burmese Super oud wood_ Burmese Double Oud wood_ Burmese Triple Oud Wood_ Luxurious Burmese Oud Wood_ Royal Burmese oud wood).
varieties of incense & Oud Wood Types
Other Varieties of Natural Incense Wood for Steaming
1. Sandalwood ( sandalwood incense )
Sandalwood is a self-evident incense and one of the best and most famous types of incense. It is extracted from the best sandalwood trees that are widespread, especially in East Asian countries, where the oil is taken from the bark of the trees.
The sandalwood trees are taller than 10 meters with various different usages, such as perfume and incense industry. It’s also characterized by a cool and soft scent. The high-quality sandalwood makes it a great choice as an essential material for home furnishings production.
Sandalwood incense is frequently used in the Arabian Gulf countries and Sudan, especially in mosques and churches, as it provides calm, relaxation, and reassurance in the soul.
varieties of incense & Oud Wood Types
2. Benzoin incense ( Benzoin Resin incense )
The pieces of Benzoin incense are extracted from a liquid substance inside long tree stems that may reach over 20 meters long. This liquid is converted into a solid after cutting the stem to be extracted and exposed to air. There’s high demand in the Arabian Gulf for Benzoin Incense for its soft and light smell that lasts for hours.
We’ll discuss in brief the three types of Benzoin incense
● First, red benzoin is a rare and strong-smelling incense.
● Second, Black Benzoin Resin Incense is less than Red Benzoin and greater than White Benzoin in permeation fragrance.
● Finally, White Benzoin has a fragrant odor but is the lightest among the other types.
It’s used for steaming houses to cure respiratory diseases such as Asthma, flu, and cough. White Benzoin is typically used for people who develop allergies. Furthermore, it protects the cardiac muscle.
However, it’s not recommended to use for Highly Allergic People.
varieties of incense & Oud Wood Types
● Ricin paste (Ricin)
The ricin paste extracted from the residue of the agarwood trees has the best aroma among another type of trees, and it is also called Wood Tar. which is cooked at high temperatures. Therefore, it has a similar smell to oud wood, especially when it’s extracted from poor-quality oud trees. It is added to ordinary wood or low-quality agarwood to produce a greasy texture (black bubbles as a result of the combustion process) and to increase the longevity of the aroma on wood, which will be produced while burning into embers.
3. Enhanced Natural Oud Wood ( Enhanced Natural Agarwood )
It’s a medium-quality type of wood that has lesser fragrance. In order to enhance the fragrance, ricin paste which has an oud-like smell is added to the wood. It’s a fragrant odor that fills the space and is available at an affordable price. Therefore, it’s used on daily basis for steaming houses, halls, and mosques too.
Furthermore, it’s used for steaming houses, clothes, and open places.
It’s not recommended for allergic people of the respiratory system.
Its commercial names are ( Enhanced Moroki Oud Wood_ Enchanted Natural Moroki Oud Wood_ Enchanted Kelmentan Oud Wood_ Enhanced Natural Oud Wood_ Enchanced Oud Wood_ Enhanced Natural Oud Wood)
varieties of incense & Oud Wood Types
4. Moroki Oud Tablets ( Moroki Oud Tablet Incense )
Oud Tablets are made of natural Soil oud agarwood of processed oud powder, which is compressed into a spherical formation and turned into tablets. The quality of Oud tablet is based on the type of oud wood. Moroki Oud Tablets are the most common tablets of all oud types. Although there are various types of Oud tables, the ascania Moroki Oud Tablets are the most luxurious, cool, and fragrant type. It must be burned into embers to let the fragrance fill the space.
Its commercial names are (Oud Tablets_ Moroki oud Tablets_ Moroki agarwood tablets_ ascania Moroki Oud_ ascania Moroki Oud Tablets_ ascania Oud Tablets).
varieties of incense & Oud Wood Types
5. Aloeswood Incense ( Aloe Vera Incense Stick )
Incense sticks are a mixture of natural oud with a little portion of glue to hold them together. It’s mainly made of Soil oud agarwood and partly of processed and ground oud powder with 2-3% of juice powder. The mixture is added to water and kneaded properly so that all the components will be combined. Afterward, the mixture will be inserted into machines so that it will be modeled into the shape of an incense stick and be ready to use after drying by the sunlight. Indian oud powder is commonly used because it has an extremely fragrant smell with a fresh and cool sensation. Which is also a medical remedy for Gout and rheumatic diseases, an anthelmintic drug for dysentery, and a tonic for impotence. Furthermore, it maintains the health of patients with paralysis and skin diseases. Sometimes, it’s prescribed as a Topical pain Killer or as an insect repellent for insects, mosquitoes, lice, and fleas.
Its commercial names are (Aloeswood Incense_ Aloe Vera Incense Stick_ Natural Aloeswood Incense sticks_ Luxurious Aloeswood Incense sticks_ Indian Aloeswood Incense sticks_ Moroki Aloeswood Incense sticks_ Malaysian Aloeswood Incense sticks).
varieties of incense & Oud Wood Types
6- Artificial Incense sticks ( Artificial Agarwood )
It’s made of odorless normal wood pieces, that are cut into smaller pieces and set and sealed into a large barrel containing chemicals or oud-like additives such as ricin paste. Afterward, the ingredients are cooked at the proper temperature for a short period of time and stirred well to be combined. Finally, the mixture will be dried by the sunlight are ready to sell. It’s not recommended to use artificial incense sticks, because studies have shown that smoke emitted by burning incense is harmful.
It’s used for steaming houses, clothes, and open places.
Don’t use artificial incense in closed places!
Its commercial names are (small forasha oud_ large forasha oud_ royal Indonesian oud_ Indonesia oud_ small artificial forasha oud_ large artificial forasha oud_ royal artificial Indonesian oud_ artificial Indonesian oud).
varieties of incense & Oud Wood Types
The Difference between Natural and enhanced Agarwood Incense
The Natural and Enhanced Natural Agarwood differ from each other in shape and aroma. the natural oud wood is variant in shape, size, concentration, fragrant smoke, and odor per each piece. It’s also hollow with a mostly rough texture. The uniqueness of natural agarwood is based on the variance of its pieces, unlike the enhanced natural Agarwood whose pieces are similar to each other in shape, odor, fragrance, and texture.
Essential Oil-soaked Wood
1. Crushed oud incense
It’s mainly made of black-pigmented pieces of normal wood or low-quality Aryan agarwood that have a light brown color. The wood pieces are added to essential, french, or wood oils. Cambodian oud oil, saffron, flowers, and roses are frequently used because of the fragrance of their scent as well so that the wood will gain durability, heaviness, and saturation with oils. Omani essential oil ( olibanum ), Mastic, or cinnamon may also be added to essential oils to boost the fragrance and the relaxing or cooling sensation. This addition will enhance the incense odor longevity for longer and perfect durations.
Crushed oud incense is used in steaming houses, kitchens, and closed reception halls.
Don’t use Crushed oud incense in closed places!
varieties of incense & Oud Wood Types
2. Maamoul Oud Incense
It’s made of essential oil-soaked spherical pieces that are burned into embers and release charming fragrance smoke. Maamoul Oud Incense is the most common residential used type in the Arabian Gulf. it’s widely spread over the world because it has an amazing fragrance and is available at affordable prices. Al Dossary Maamoul Incense is the most famous type of all. That is made of agarwood powder with Abyssinian oil, sandalwood oil, flowers, Mastic, amber, various kind of oils, dates, and benzoin.
Maamoul Oud Incense is used in steaming houses, kitchens, and closed halls.
Don’t use Maamoul Oud Incense in closed places!
varieties of incense & Oud Wood Types
The difference between artificial agarwood incense and Crushed oud incense or Maamoul oud incense
There are big differences in shapes and sizes among these varieties of incense. The pieces of Artificial agarwood incense are homogeneous. However, Crushed oud incense is heterogeneous with regard to size and shape. Finally, Maamoul oud incense is made of spherical-shaped pieces. Each type has its special fragrance. The quality measures of incense are related to its stick weight, the internal color that shouldn’t be white, and the smell of burning incense.
Moreover, recent American studies by researchers from the University of Oklahoma have shown that the original natural incense also has a benefit in reducing the risk of cancer in the bladder. This was proved after conducting many experiments and research that confirmed the effective role of incense in fighting bladder cancer cells.
Therefore, many doctors recommend using incense as an alternative and effective treatment for cancer.
Varieties of incense & oud wood types
To sum up
We wish you enjoyed reading this informative article, and we hope that answers your questions.