COLABA OUD · CONNOISSEUR CARE & TROUBLESHOOTING
Sinking Oud Wood Explained: Water Density Tests, Specific Gravity & Detecting Fake Weights | Colaba Oud
Sinking grade oud (King Grade / Fu Sen) represents agarwood with a specific gravity exceeding 1.0 g/cm³, causing it to plunge immediately to the bottom of water due to extreme resin saturation. Authentic sinking wood must be tested with cold distilled water, then dried immediately. Beware of fraudulent pieces injected with molten lead, iron filings, or mineral oils.
Technical Specifications & Troubleshooting Sheet
| Specific Gravity Metric | Specific Gravity > 1.0 g/cm³ plunges directly; 0.8 to 0.99 g/cm³ floats mid-water (half-sinking) |
|---|---|
| Water Testing Medium | Pure cold distilled water only; test for 5 seconds, then blot dry with lint-free microfiber |
| Common Fraud Tactics | Drilling channels filled with lead pellets, soaking in silicon oil, glueing heavy gravel into crevices |
| Detection Protocol | X-ray radiograph inspection, hot-needle penetration test, and ultrasonic density screening |
| Market Value Multiplier | True sinking grade commands 4x to 10x the price of floating selection grades |
The Physical Mechanics of Water Displacement in Agarwood
Raw untreated Aquilaria wood fiber has a specific gravity of approximately 0.4 g/cm³, causing it to float like balsa. As aromatic resin saturates microscopic tracheids and ray cells, density increases. When resin accumulation exceeds 65% of the total wood volume, density surpasses 1.0 g/cm³, creating true sinking heartwood.
Conducting Safe Flotation Verification Without Damaging Precious Resins
Never leave agarwood submerged in water for more than a few seconds, as moisture swells cellular walls and degrades fragile surface terpenes. Drop the piece into a tall glass cylinder of pure distilled water; if it sinks swiftly to the base like a stone, immediately retrieve it, blot with dry microfiber, and allow 24 hours of ambient resting.
Exposing Modern Counterfeits: Lead Injection & Chemical Weighting
Unscrupulous dealers exploit the sinking benchmark by drilling microscopic entry holes, inserting lead shot, and sealing the entrance with matching wood paste. Colaba Oud inspects every kilogram of candidate sinking wood using high-definition digital radiograph imaging and mass balance chromatography, guaranteeing 100% natural botanical authenticity.
Professional Collection Curation & Verification
Book a private consultation to verify sinking heartwood density and authenticate vintage collection pieces.