What is incense?
It is a substance that is burned to produce an aromatic scent and provide peace and comfort due to its calming effect, in addition to many other uses. The origins of incense date back to ancient times and are derived from the Latin word meaning "to burn." Incense was highly valued in ancient times.
What are the types of incense?
Ma'amul or Mabthooth
Ma'amul and Mabthooth are made from a fragrant substance mixed with a flammable but compact substance, preventing it from burning quickly. Instead, they burn gradually, allowing the scent of incense to permeate the space and last as long as possible. Cinnamon, musk, and sandalwood are also aromatic materials used in incense, giving it a wonderful scent similar to that of perfume. However, it is intended for air freshening, not body fragrance. As for the flammable material used in its manufacture, wood is used for this purpose. Incense is manufactured in various forms, depending on its intended use. These forms include sticks, cones, powders, and many other forms that have been seen throughout the history of incense manufacturing up until the present day.
Classified Incense or Oud
What is the Oud tree and where are its most common sources?
The Oud tree is the tree from which oud and oud oil are extracted. This tree is characterized by its very long lifespan. The older the oud tree, the more oud oil and sticks with a strong, penetrating scent can be extracted from it. This tree grows extensively in tropical regions, especially in India, Malaysia, Cambodia, and other regions extending across Southeast Asia. It is known by the common name of incense, such as Cambodian oud, Malaysian oud, Indian oud, and Moroccan oud.
Uses and Benefits of the Oud Tree
There are many uses for the oud tree. Oud and its oil are extracted from it, primarily for hospitality, especially in the Arab region, particularly the Gulf region. Oud wood is also used in wood carvings in Asian countries. Oud oil is also used in the manufacture of some perfumes, which are considered among the most expensive types of perfumes. Due to the rarity of this tree in the Arab region, most sticks and oud oil are imported from abroad, increasing its market value, especially for the original, natural, unadulterated variety.
Where is Oud Extracted From?
Oud is extracted from The oud tree is approximately 50 to 100 years old. The older the tree, the higher its quality and fragrant aroma.
When the tree is between 10 and 20 years old, it is scratched. This process occurs in two ways: naturally or through human intervention. Natural scratches occur through the formation of bacteria within the tree trunk, which damages the internal parts of the tree trunk. This leads to the formation of a rotting substance where the bacteria (the worm) is active. A black layer then forms around the rotting substance. This layer is the oud layer from which the oud and oud oil are extracted. Aoud trees can also be scratched by uprooting them, and when the tree falls, it falls on neighboring trees, causing scratches.
Human intervention involves scratching the tree trunk with nails inserted deep into the tree. After the nails are scratched from the outside in, bacteria are activated at the site of the scratch, destroying parts of the tree trunk, forming a rotting substance within the trunk that surrounds the oud layer.
When an agarwood tree reaches 40 years of age or older, it is completely uprooted, and the tree trunk is cut into pieces that can be transported and distributed to oud extraction factories.
In oud extraction factories, the tree trunks are cut into medium-sized pieces using cutting machines. Then, it's the turn of the workers to carefully handle each piece of the tree trunk, which is considered a valuable treasure and must be handled carefully, using only manual methods. The tree trunk consists of four layers:
The first layer is the outer layer, called the bark. The outer layer is peeled off and discarded or used as firewood.
The second layer is the white layer, which is discarded.
The third layer is the semi-oxidized layer surrounding the oud, the part from which the oud oil is extracted.
The fourth and final layer is the treasure, containing the oud incense layer. This layer is oxidized and appears black.
It is handled with extreme caution to avoid damaging the oud.
