GET TO KNOW YOUR OILS
Agarwood
Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Gilg
- PLANT PART
- resinous heartwood
- EXTRACTION
- hydrodistillation
- AROMA NOTE
- base
LEARN AS YOU COMPARE
What’s inside this oil?
Constituents are the natural chemicals that give an oil its character. See the main ones, learn what they do, and explore differences between batches.
Meet the main constituents, then select one to see what makes it interesting.
FOLLOW YOUR SENSES
Aroma & character
A closer look at this oil's scent, strength, and staying power.
- Aroma intensity
- 95 / 100
- Note layer
- base
- Approximate tenacity
- 200 hours
If you like this scent, explore
A LITTLE CARE GOES A LONG WAY
Using it thoughtfully
Read the full safety context before bringing this oil into your routine.
- Cited dermal maximum · leave-on
- No restriction cited
- Phototoxicity
- Not flagged in this profile
- Oxidation risk
- Unknown
A cited maximum is a limit, not a suggested dilution. Missing restrictions do not establish safety.
Read the complete safety guideExplore measured chemistry from supplier batches
A supplier report describes a particular sample. Open this workspace to investigate measured constituents and their original documents.
THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE SCENT
Inside the oil
An oil's character comes from its natural chemical composition. Explore each constituent to understand the connections.
About this composition
Agarwood oil chemistry varies materially by Aquilaria species, induction method, and resin quality. This record is anchored first to directly read Aquilaria sinensis hydrodistilled oils from chemically stimulated and wild agarwood, both of which were sesquiterpene-rich and shared baimuxinal, guaiol, and alpha-copaen-11-ol as prominent markers. To raise mass coverage to a usable GC-MS profile, the constituent list is supplemented with published high-quality agarwood oil marker data from another Aquilaria agarwood GC-MS study, because the major volatile backbone is shared across agarwood chemotypes even though exact proportions vary by species and induction method. A matching Aquilaria sinensis supplier IFRA certificate publicly states 100% maximum use through Category 5A/5B/5C leave-on applications, so the oil-level dermal ceiling is recorded as unrestricted within that certificate's scope.
| Constituent | Typical amount | Reported range | Chemical family | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baimuxinal | 8.61% | 2.44–14.78% | sesquiterpenoid | View sourceComparison of Compositions and Antimicrobial Activities of Essential Oils from Chemically Stimulated Agarwood, Wild Agarwood and Healthy Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Gilg Trees https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/16/6/4884 (lines 397-397; S1 2.44%, S2 14.78%; pct_typical set to the midpoint of the cited range because no distinct typical value was published) |
| alpha-Copaen-11-ol | 7.14% | 4.06–10.22% | sesquiterpene alcohol | View sourceComparison of Compositions and Antimicrobial Activities of Essential Oils from Chemically Stimulated Agarwood, Wild Agarwood and Healthy Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Gilg Trees https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/16/6/4884 (lines 392-392; S1 4.06%, S2 10.22%; pct_typical set to the midpoint of the cited range because no distinct typical value was published) |
| Guaiol | 10.01% | 9.34–10.67% | sesquiterpene alcohol | View sourceComparison of Compositions and Antimicrobial Activities of Essential Oils from Chemically Stimulated Agarwood, Wild Agarwood and Healthy Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Gilg Trees https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/16/6/4884 (lines 388-388; S1 9.34%, S2 10.67%; pct_typical set to the midpoint of the cited range because no distinct typical value was published) |
| alpha-Selinene | 2.08% | 0.45–3.71% | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceComparison of Compositions and Antimicrobial Activities of Essential Oils from Chemically Stimulated Agarwood, Wild Agarwood and Healthy Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Gilg Trees https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/16/6/4884 (lines 374-374; S1 0.45%, S2 3.71%; pct_typical set to the midpoint of the cited range because no distinct typical value was published) |
| Agarospirol | 2.42% | 0.8–4.03% | sesquiterpene alcohol | View sourceComparison of Compositions and Antimicrobial Activities of Essential Oils from Chemically Stimulated Agarwood, Wild Agarwood and Healthy Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Gilg Trees https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/16/6/4884 (lines 384-384; S1 0.80%, S2 4.03%; pct_typical set to the midpoint of the cited range because no distinct typical value was published) |
| 4-Phenyl-2-butanone | 4.74% | 4.74–4.74% | aromatic ketone | View sourceAnalysis of high quality agarwood oil chemical compounds by means of SPME/GC-MS and Z-score technique https://www.ukm.my/mjas/v17_n3/Nurlaila.pdf (Table 2, JBD oil 80C column; 4-phenyl-2-butanone 4.74%; CAS 2550-26-7 via NIST WebBook https://webbook.nist.gov/cgi/cbook.cgi?ID=C2550267) |
| alpha-Copaene | 0.36% | 0.36–0.36% | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceAnalysis of high quality agarwood oil chemical compounds by means of SPME/GC-MS and Z-score technique https://www.ukm.my/mjas/v17_n3/Nurlaila.pdf (Table 2, JBD oil 80C column; alpha-copaene 0.36%; CAS 3856-25-5 via NIST WebBook https://webbook.nist.gov/cgi/cbook.cgi?ID=C3856255) |
| beta-Elemene | 0.41% | 0.41–0.41% | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceAnalysis of high quality agarwood oil chemical compounds by means of SPME/GC-MS and Z-score technique https://www.ukm.my/mjas/v17_n3/Nurlaila.pdf (Table 2, JBD oil 80C column; beta-elemene 0.41%; CAS 515-13-9 via PubChem/Common Chemistry https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Beta-Elemene) |
| alpha-Cedrene | 1.2% | 1.2–1.2% | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceAnalysis of high quality agarwood oil chemical compounds by means of SPME/GC-MS and Z-score technique https://www.ukm.my/mjas/v17_n3/Nurlaila.pdf (Table 2, JBD oil 80C column; alpha-cedrene 1.20%; CAS 469-61-4 via PubChem https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/alpha-cedrene) |
| alpha-Guaiene | 1.19% | 1.19–1.19% | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceAnalysis of high quality agarwood oil chemical compounds by means of SPME/GC-MS and Z-score technique https://www.ukm.my/mjas/v17_n3/Nurlaila.pdf (Table 2, JBD oil 80C column; alpha-guaiene 1.19%; CAS 3691-12-1 via NIST WebBook https://webbook.nist.gov/cgi/cbook.cgi?ID=C3691121) |
| alpha-Humulene | 0.79% | 0.79–0.79% | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceAnalysis of high quality agarwood oil chemical compounds by means of SPME/GC-MS and Z-score technique https://www.ukm.my/mjas/v17_n3/Nurlaila.pdf (Table 2, JBD oil 80C column; alpha-humulene 0.79%; CAS 6753-98-6 via PubChem https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Humulene) |
| E-beta-Farnesene | 0.15% | 0.15–0.15% | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceAnalysis of high quality agarwood oil chemical compounds by means of SPME/GC-MS and Z-score technique https://www.ukm.my/mjas/v17_n3/Nurlaila.pdf (Table 2, JBD oil 80C column; E-beta-farnesene 0.15%; CAS 18794-84-8 via NIST WebBook https://webbook.nist.gov/cgi/cbook.cgi?ID=C18794848) |
| alpha-Bulnesene | 2.61% | 2.61–2.61% | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceAnalysis of high quality agarwood oil chemical compounds by means of SPME/GC-MS and Z-score technique https://www.ukm.my/mjas/v17_n3/Nurlaila.pdf (Table 2, JBD oil 80C column; alpha-bulnesene 2.61%; CAS 3691-11-0 via PubChem https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/alpha-Bulnesene) |
| gamma-Cadinene | 2.67% | 2.67–2.67% | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceAnalysis of high quality agarwood oil chemical compounds by means of SPME/GC-MS and Z-score technique https://www.ukm.my/mjas/v17_n3/Nurlaila.pdf (Table 2, JBD oil 80C column; gamma-cadinene 2.67%; CAS 1460-97-5 via Good Scents https://www.thegoodscentscompany.com/data/rw1595501.html) |
| delta-Cadinene | 2.21% | 2.21–2.21% | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceAnalysis of high quality agarwood oil chemical compounds by means of SPME/GC-MS and Z-score technique https://www.ukm.my/mjas/v17_n3/Nurlaila.pdf (Table 2, JBD oil 80C column; delta-cadinene 2.21%; CAS 483-76-1 via NIST/TCI https://webbook.nist.gov/cgi/cbook.cgi?ID=C483761 and https://www.tcichemicals.com/OP/en/p/C3734) |
| alpha-Muurolene | 1.78% | 1.78–1.78% | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceAnalysis of high quality agarwood oil chemical compounds by means of SPME/GC-MS and Z-score technique https://www.ukm.my/mjas/v17_n3/Nurlaila.pdf (Table 2, JBD oil 80C column; alpha-muurolene 1.78%; CAS 10208-80-7 via NIST WebBook https://webbook.nist.gov/cgi/cbook.cgi?ID=C10208807) |
| ar-curcumene | 5.36% | 5.36–5.36% | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceAnalysis of high quality agarwood oil chemical compounds by means of SPME/GC-MS and Z-score technique https://www.ukm.my/mjas/v17_n3/Nurlaila.pdf (Table 2, JBD oil 80C column; ar-curcumene 5.36%; CAS 4176-17-4 via Good Scents https://www.thegoodscentscompany.com/data/rw1019231.html) |
| Elemol | 4.53% | 4.53–4.53% | sesquiterpene alcohol | View sourceAnalysis of high quality agarwood oil chemical compounds by means of SPME/GC-MS and Z-score technique https://www.ukm.my/mjas/v17_n3/Nurlaila.pdf (Table 2, JBD oil 80C column; elemol 4.53%; CAS 639-99-6 via Good Scents https://www.thegoodscentscompany.com/data/rw1021701.html) |
| Spathulenol | 2.54% | 2.54–2.54% | sesquiterpene alcohol | View sourceAnalysis of high quality agarwood oil chemical compounds by means of SPME/GC-MS and Z-score technique https://www.ukm.my/mjas/v17_n3/Nurlaila.pdf (Table 2, JBD oil 80C column; spathulenol 2.54%; CAS 6750-60-3 via PubChem https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Spathulenol) |
| Viridiflorol | 1.46% | 1.46–1.46% | sesquiterpene alcohol | View sourceAnalysis of high quality agarwood oil chemical compounds by means of SPME/GC-MS and Z-score technique https://www.ukm.my/mjas/v17_n3/Nurlaila.pdf (Table 2, JBD oil 80C column; viridiflorol 1.46%; CAS 552-02-3 via Sigma-Aldrich https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/US/en/product/sial/72999) |
| beta-Gurjunene | 3.97% | 3.97–3.97% | sesquiterpene hydrocarbon | View sourceAnalysis of high quality agarwood oil chemical compounds by means of SPME/GC-MS and Z-score technique https://www.ukm.my/mjas/v17_n3/Nurlaila.pdf (Table 2, JBD oil 80C column; beta-gurjunene 3.97%; CAS 73464-47-8 via Good Scents/Common Chemistry https://www.thegoodscentscompany.com/data/rw1103541.html and https://commonchemistry.cas.org/detail?cas_rn=73464-47-8) |
| 10-epi-gamma-eudesmol | 9.02% | 9.02–9.02% | sesquiterpene alcohol | View sourceAnalysis of high quality agarwood oil chemical compounds by means of SPME/GC-MS and Z-score technique https://www.ukm.my/mjas/v17_n3/Nurlaila.pdf (Table 2, JBD oil 80C column; 10-epi-gamma-eudesmol 9.02%; CAS 15051-81-7 via NIST WebBook https://webbook.nist.gov/cgi/cbook.cgi?ID=C15051817) |
| gamma-Eudesmol | 10.01% | 10.01–10.01% | sesquiterpene alcohol | View sourceAnalysis of high quality agarwood oil chemical compounds by means of SPME/GC-MS and Z-score technique https://www.ukm.my/mjas/v17_n3/Nurlaila.pdf (Table 2, JBD oil 80C column; gamma-eudesmol 10.01%; CAS 1209-71-8 via FooDB https://foodb.ca/compounds/FDB020791) |
| alpha-Eudesmol | 13% | 13–13% | sesquiterpene alcohol | View sourceAnalysis of high quality agarwood oil chemical compounds by means of SPME/GC-MS and Z-score technique https://www.ukm.my/mjas/v17_n3/Nurlaila.pdf (Table 2, JBD oil 80C column; alpha-eudesmol 13.00%; CAS 473-16-5 via Good Scents https://www.thegoodscentscompany.com/data/rw1023401.html) |
Profile source: Comparison of Compositions and Antimicrobial Activities of Essential Oils from Chemically Stimulated Agarwood, Wild Agarwood and Healthy Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Gilg Trees; Analysis of high quality agarwood oil chemical compounds by means of SPME/GC-MS and Z-score technique; Agarwood - Eden Botanicals; DAdvance Agarwood Solutions IFRA certificate for Agarwood essential oil (Aquilaria Sinensis) · https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules16064884 ; https://www.ukm.my/mjas/v17_n3/Nurlaila.pdf ; https://www.edenbotanicals.com/agarwood-5-1-ml.html ; https://cdn1.sgliteasset.com/nycxagar/images/texteditor/uploadedFile/2023_liv_CM3566_AGARWOOD_OIL_IFRA_51_v2_1730867212.pdf
A TRADITION OF BOTANICAL CURIOSITY
Traditional & reported uses
These uses reflect the profile's reported traditions and literature. They are not established treatment recommendations.
- Traditionally used as incense and in perfumery.
- Reported in the literature as a long-lasting agarwood fragrance material with sedative-hypnotic framing in inhalation research.
For aromatherapy and wellness use only — not medical advice. Effect statements are traditional/reported associations, not treatment claims. The Synergy Rating scores blend craft, harmony and safety, not medical efficacy. Read the safety framework.
What we're still learning · 3 data gaps
Good decisions start with knowing what is — and isn't — in the evidence.
- No single universal chemotype could be verified from open sources because composition varies strongly by species and induction method.
- This profile combines Aquilaria sinensis hydrodistilled data with a published high-quality agarwood oil GC-MS profile to reach usable mass coverage, so it should not be generalized across all agarwood species or extraction methods.
- No source-backed volatility rate or tenacity-hours value was verified in this pass.