Agarwood vs Oud: What's the Difference?
slug: agarwood-vs-oud
type: comparison
title: Agarwood vs Oud: What's the Difference?
description: Agarwood and oud refer to the same fragrant resinous wood. Agarwood is the English name; oud is the Arabic term widely used in fragrance. Here is the plain-English explanation.
locales: [en]
The short answer
Agarwood and oud are the same material. Agarwood is the standard English name; oud (or oudh) is the Arabic word that the fragrance world adopted. There is no difference in the wood itself.
Where the names come from
- Agarwood: from the plant families and botany literature.
- Oud: from Arabic, carried into perfumery and incense culture.
Why the confusion
Fragrance brands often label products "oud" for its heritage and scent profile, while botanists and material sellers say "agarwood." Both point to resinous Aquilaria heartwood.
Buying by scent, not by name
Judge by origin, resin density, and aroma profile rather than the label. At VANCIRA we describe every piece by material source, grade, and scent layers.