COLABA OUD · VERIFIED KNOWLEDGE ENCYCLOPEDIA
Sinking Grade Agarwood: Specific Gravity, Water Flotation & King Grade Science
Sinking grade agarwood, known in Arabic as 'Oud Ghatas' (عود غطاس), represents the rarest 0.1% of wild agarwood harvest. It is defined by a physical specific gravity greater than 1.0 g/cm³, causing it to sink immediately to the bottom of pure water. This extreme density occurs when heartwood cells become 100% saturated with solid oleoresin, eliminating air pockets entirely.
Key Entity Facts & Physical Specifications
| Technical Definition | Specific gravity > 1.0 g/cm³ in room-temperature distilled water |
|---|---|
| Arabic Designation | Oud Ghatas Malaki (عود غطاس ملكي) |
| Resin Saturation | Estimated 75% to 90% solid oleoresin by total dry weight |
| Burn Behavior | Continuous boiling resin beads without smoke harshness; bubbles for 20+ minutes |
| Harvest Rarity | Less than 1 kilogram found per 1,000 kilograms of harvested wood |
| Current Valuation | 450 AED to 1,200+ AED per gram depending on origin and size |
The Physical Mechanics of Water Flotation Testing
Authentic connoisseurs classify agarwood density into three distinct classes: Floating (commercial wood with visible resin veins, specific gravity <0.8), Semi-Sinking ('Tafih', wood that hovers vertically in mid-water, specific gravity 0.8–0.99), and Sinking (plummets straight to the container floor, specific gravity >1.0). Distilled water at 20°C must be used, as saline water inflates buoyancy.
Beware of Fraudulent 'Lead-Weighted' Sinking Wood
Because sinking wood commands thousands of dollars per ounce, dishonest traders frequently inject molten lead beads, mercury drops, or black bitumen wax into hollow cavities to force artificial sinking. Colaba Oud screens all sinking wood with high-resolution X-ray imaging and ultrasonic density probes to verify 100% botanical heartwood integrity.
How to Burn King Sinking Pieces for Royal Receptions
Never expose sinking grade chips to direct charcoal flames. Use a heavy brass censer with clean Japanese lump charcoal buffered by a 3mm layer of white wood ash, or place the chip atop a micro-thin mica mineral plate. The chip will boil and release rich, sweet, therapeutic balsamic smoke for up to 30 minutes without charring.
Acquire Certified Pure Artisanal Oud
Insured priority courier dispatch across UAE and GCC with certified GC-MS purity reports.
Global Distillation Network & Sister Maisons
Colaba Oud collaborates with specialized distillation centers and heritage trading houses across the Middle East, India, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia: