From Ancient Kamrup to Global Luxury : Assam's Agarwood Legacy and the Rise of Hindi Oud

In the heart of Assam’s misty forests, where the Aquilaria tree weaved its silent magic, Indian Agarwood was born—a treasure of fragrance, aged by time and nature. Cherished for centuries, this rare and precious resin releases a deep, hypnotic aroma, perfect for luxury perfumes, spiritual rituals, and aromatherapy.The fragrant story of Assam’s Agarwood—locally called Xaasi—is not just about a tree, or even a trade. It is a legacy, rooted in myth and empire, sustained through indigenous wisdom, and now reimagined on the world stage.

Long before the term "oud" became synonymous with luxury perfumes, the dense forests of Assam were already nurturing the resinous heartwood that would one day captivate fragrance enthusiasts from Doha to Paris.The use of Agarwood in India traces back to antiquity—its essence woven into the fabric of religious rituals, medicinal systems, and royal exchanges. In the 7th-century Harshacharita, King Bhaskaravarman of ancient Kamrup is said to have gifted Emperor Harsha “black aloe oil” and resin “dark as pounded collyrium” . This was not merely a diplomatic gesture; it was Assam's initial contribution to the international aromatic commerce.

Even the bark of the Agarwood tree served a higher purpose. Known as Xaasi Pat, it was used as a writing surface for ancient manuscripts, embedding Assam’s Agarwood not just in olfactory history but literary and scholarly tradition. Across millennia, this sacred wood maintained its spiritual and social relevance, burned in temples and mosques, infused in healing pastes, and offered in rituals that spanned borders and beliefs.

Fast forward to the early 20th century, and the narrative takes a new turn. In the village of Naharani, in Assam’s Golaghat district, an Islamic saint named Munchi Atar Ali Sahab arrived with a vision that would transform a cultural asset into an economic revolution. Introducing artisanal techniques for chipping, grading, and distilling Agarwood, he laid the foundation for what would become a cottage industry. His descendants, along with other local families, passed on these skills through generations, turning a once-wild harvest into a community-led livelihood.

Today, we see Agar trees planted in the courtyards of the villages in Sibsagar, Golaghat, and Jorhat districts of Upper Assam. This isn’t accidental. It is symbolic of the way Agarwood has become a part of life—both sacred and practical. In areas like Naharani and Hojai, nearly half the households are involved in some aspect of Agarwood cultivation or trade. What’s truly remarkable is how this local, traditional system now feeds into a global network. Assam's Agar oil—viscous, earthy, woody, and dark—has become a prized export. Traders from the Middle East and Europe source their Oud from here, drawn by its authenticity and complexity. Mumbai serves as India’s marketing hub, but the soul of Indian Oud remains firmly rooted in Assam's soil.

And yet, this story isn’t without its complications. The Aquilaria Malaccensis tree, the source of this aromatic gold, has become critically endangered due to over harvesting. Wild Agarwood is now almost extinct. But instead of letting the trade vanish with it, Assam adapted. Farmers began cultivating Agarwood in home gardens and tea plantations. Small tea growers in Upper Assam now intercrop Agar trees, allowing them to shade tea leaves while supporting biodiversity. Home gardens, in fact, have emerged as powerful tools of on-farm conservation—quietly protecting a tree that once grew wild and now survives through care and consciousness.

Assam is a story of a region turning ecological challenge into economic opportunity, tradition into innovation, and heritage into sustainability. Indian Oud, once forgotten amidst modern perfumery giants, is now reclaiming its place—not just as a scent, but as a story.

Assam’s Agarwood is not just a product; it’s a statement. It tells the world that true luxury has roots. It reminds us that behind every tiny bottle of Oud oil is an entire ecosystem—of culture, community, and conservation.