Agarwood's Fragrance: Analysis of Core Agarwood-Producing Areas in China
Known as the "top of all fragrances," agarwood is not a type of wood, but a composite of resin and wood formed when agarwood trees are damaged. As a traditional agarwood-producing country, China has formed a production pattern centered in Lingnan (the southern region south of the Nanling Mountains) and extended to the southwest since the Han Dynasty. Agarwood from producing areas such as Hainan, Guangdong-Guangxi, and Yunnan once "topped the world," leaving behind numerous legends in the history of incense culture.
Hainan: The Sacred Land of "Qiongzhi" Valued "a Piece Worth Ten Thousand Coins"
Hainan agarwood, anciently called "Yaxiang" (Cliff Agarwood), benefits from Hainan's tropical island climate—with an annual average temperature of 22-25℃ and humidity exceeding 70%—making core producing areas like Wuzhi Mountain and Jianfeng Ridge "golden zones" for agarwood growth. The Song Dynasty work Tieweishan Congtan (Collected Talks from Iron Screen Mountain) highly praised it, stating, "Agarwood from Shandong Cave in Wan'an Li Prefecture is unrivaled under heaven." During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it was even designated as an exclusive tribute to the imperial court, earning the reputation of "Qiongzhi" (Precious Agarwood of Hainan, as "Qiong" is the abbreviated name of Hainan).
Its fragrance is characterized by purity and richness: when burned, it releases a quiet and sweet aroma; when used in incense burners, it emits a rich nutty scent with strong penetration. Classified by the form of resin formation, it includes types like "Tiebing Chen" (Iron Disc Agarwood) and "Chongyan Chen" (Insect-Bored Agarwood). Among them, "Heiyouge" (Black Oil Grid) agarwood is as black as jade, and its mellow and refreshing fragrance when burned has earned it the title of "the gentleman among agarwoods." Regrettably, after thousands of years of over-harvesting, wild Hainan agarwood is nearly extinct, with only a small number of artificially cultivated forests producing agarwood.
Guangdong-Guangxi: The "Sweet Fragrance World" of "Wanxiang" (Dongguan Agarwood)
Agarwood from Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hong Kong is collectively called "Wanxiang" (Dongguan Agarwood) because it was traditionally traded in Liaobu Town, Dongguan. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the Liaobu Incense Market, together with Guangzhou Flower Market, was known as one of the "Four Famous Markets of Guangdong." Its cultivation history dates back to the Eastern Han Dynasty, and since the Tang Dynasty, it has been used as a tribute to the imperial palace. Today, it is mainly distributed in places such as Dianbai, Zengcheng, and Fangcheng.
The essence of Wanxiang lies in its "layered sweet fragrance": when first burned, it reveals a faint and sweet aroma, and agarwood from Hong Kong and Shenzhen even carries a slight floral note; when placed in an incense burner, it turns into a rich nutty scent that lingers for hours. A small amount of "Qinan" (Kyara, the premium agarwood) is also produced in Huizhou and Hong Kong. Its initial fragrance is pungent, numb, and cool, the main fragrance is sweet and smooth, and the after-fragrance is mellow—known as "one fragrance with three transformations." Interestingly, the name "Hong Kong" (literally "Fragrant Harbor") originates from agarwood trade: in ancient times, Shek Pai Wan was famous for transporting agarwood, so it was called "Fragrant Harbor" by foreigners, which later became the name of the entire island.
Yunnan: The "Southwest Treasure" with "Fragrance Near Neighbors"
Yunnan agarwood is mainly distributed in mountain forests at an altitude of about 1,200 meters, such as Xishuangbanna and Mengla. Bordering Vietnam, it shares similar climate and soil conditions, so its fragrance is related to Vietnamese agarwood but with a richer texture. Its resin formation cycle is long—at room temperature, it emits a faint and sweet aroma; when burned, the nutty after-fragrance is pure without astringency.
Its unique resin formation forms have created a variety of types: "Zhuomuniao Chen" (Woodpecker Agarwood) gets its name from resin formed by woodpecker pecking; "Zi Qinan" (Purple Kyara) has dark purple heartwood resin and emits a cool and sweet fragrance even at room temperature, becoming a popular item for niche collections. However, the number of wild Yunnan agarwood is extremely rare, mostly hidden in protected areas, making it rarely seen in the market.
Other Producing Areas and Resource Status
Sporadic wild agarwood still exists in the primeval rainforests of Nanjing County in southern Fujian, and there are also distributions in places like the Shiwandashan Mountains in Guangxi. However, their output is scarce and their fragrance is relatively weak. Today, due to thousands of years of over-harvesting, wild agarwood resources in China are nearly exhausted, and only artificially cultivated forests remain to support the supply.
From Hainan's agarwood valued "a piece worth ten thousand coins" to the "prosperous Wanxiang markets" in Guangdong-Guangxi, the regional imprints of Chinese agarwood have long been integrated into the blood of incense culture. Although wild resources are scarce, various regions are exploring artificial resin-inducing technologies to continue the heritage of this "national fragrance."