Firewood

References to agarwood appear in Sanskrit texts from around 2000 BCE, where it was called gaharu and described as praana, the spirit of life. Ancient Indian physicians, including Sushruta in his seminal medical treatise, documented oud's therapeutic applications for treating inflammation and other ailments. The ingredient moved westward through trade routes, with pharaonic Egypt incorporating oud into embalming rituals for nobility.

Chinese records from the Han dynasty period document agarwood's use in funerary practices, while Buddhist traditions throughout East Asia elevated the material as sacred incense for meditation ceremonies. Japanese classical texts mention Cambodian-sourced scented wood as early as the eighth century. The Silk Road carried agarwood from these eastern origins into Arabian markets, where it became integral to Gulf cultural traditions. Today, oud persists as a bridge between Eastern heritage and Western luxury perfumery, gracing compositions from houses including Tom Ford, Dior, and Creed.