The price of something has never stopped anyone from buying, like RM222 Nasi Kandar or RM1,000 durian, but his time, a different pricey thing broke TikTok. Agarwood or Oud, is part of a tree that was infected and healed; the defense mechanism makes severely mold-infected fibers dark, dense and fragrant.
Naturally, the prized lumber fragments have found useful roles in the scent and perfume industry. Culturally, centuries-old traditions have also developed uses, including promoting the flow of qi, pain relief, and medicinal uses. Thus, the asking prices for agarwood can reach exorbitant levels – even more so for the good stuff.
The netspace recently went ablaze with a piece of exclusive lumber that costs more than a car and/or a house, valued at a puckerworthy USD$70,000 (approximately RM313,000). In a video shared by @scentisphere, we observe what seems like part of a regular tree, but dark and slightly melted on display. However, make no mistake as this is one of the rarest and most expensive fragrance ingredients in the world: Malaysian Oud.
The shop owner explains: “You can easily get 300 grams” from the specimen, extracted by boiling the wood not for hours, but for “days and days and days”. A bit of snooping revealed that those in the know—such as perfume and fragrance brands—seek out this liquid gold, with global agarwood sales reaching USD$145.2 million (approximately RM649.84 million) in 2024.
Here’s another fun fact: Oud is also produced in Indonesia, with each country’s agarwood boasting its own distinct notes and characteristics. Naturally, this led to Malaysians and Indonesians sharing fun tidbits about their respective woods in the comments – well, not quite. Proud Indonesians claimed they are the OG oud masters, with a superior scent that’s more sought after. Ever-humble Malaysians responded with a cheeky “yee ye ye, ambil je (Sure, go ahead and claim it)”. What followed was a spirited chain of taunts and playful posturing.
While the comments may be filled with playful jabs and national pride, one thing is certain—agarwood, or Oud, is more than just an expensive chunk of tree. While it has a global allure, attaining the most desirable wild specimens involves significant exploitation, leading to some species of Aquilaria trees gaining critically endangered or vulnerable status. Some wood truly is expensive.
Watch the viral clip below:
@scentisphere Watch till the end to see why this Malaysian Oud is worth $70,000! 🏆 🔥 One of the rarest and most expensive fragrance ingredients in the world. Would you ever spend this much? #oud #luxuryfragrance #expensive #expensivetaste #fragrance
Sources: TikTok, Cognitive Market Research, PubMed
Gan contributed to this article.
