COLABA OUD · BOTANICAL TAXONOMY & TRADE CUTS
Aquilaria & Gyrinops Botanical Species Compendium: Agallocha, Crassna, Sinensis & Walla | Colaba Oud
Agarwood is produced by seventeen distinct species within the Thymelaeaceae family. Aquilaria agallocha (India) yields deep, balsamic, animalic resin. Aquilaria crassna (Cambodia/Vietnam) produces sweet honeyed and floral notes. Aquilaria sinensis (China) yields ethereal tea-like scents, while Gyrinops walla (Sri Lanka) produces fresh floral-woody nuances.
Botanical & Trade Cut Fact Sheet
| Aquilaria agallocha / malaccensis | Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya (India); dark balsamic animalic profile |
|---|---|
| Aquilaria crassna | Pursat, Koh Kong (Cambodia), Vietnam; sweet apricot, dried fruit, floral honey |
| Aquilaria sinensis | Guangdong, Hainan (China); airy green tea, ethereal lotus, crisp sweetness |
| Gyrinops walla (Wallapatta) | Endemic to wet zone rainforests of Sri Lanka; rare peppery floral-wood facets |
| Aquilaria filaria & beccariana | Papua & Borneo (Indonesia); herbal resin, oceanic driftwood, vanilla accents |
Phytochemical Variation Across the Thymelaeaceae Family
Each botanical species synthesizes a distinctive matrix of sesquiterpenoids and chromone derivatives when defending against fungal colonization. While Aquilaria agallocha produces high concentrations of agarospirol and jinkoh-eremol, Aquilaria crassna synthesizes abundant phenylethyl chromones that yield caramel-like sweetness upon vaporization.
The Endemic Mystery of Sri Lankan Gyrinops Walla
For centuries, global trade centered almost exclusively on Aquilaria genera. In recent decades, the discovery of wild Gyrinops walla in the Sinharaja rainforest revealed an entirely new olfactory spectrum: crystalline floral resin devoid of barnyard funk, prized by Japanese Kodo masters and Arabian connoisseurs alike.
Conservation Status & Sustainable Cultivation Frontiers
Overharvesting has rendered all wild Aquilaria species endangered under CITES Appendix II. Colaba Oud actively supports ethical plantation silviculture and sustainable organic fungal inoculation, ensuring the survival of precious genetic heritage while safeguarding the purest artisan distillations.
Experience Rare Trade Cuts in Your Majlis
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