Agarwood

Agarwood is a fast growing tropical evergreen tree of the Aquilaria species (family Thymeleaceae). The tree is native to South and Southeast Asia (including Thailand) and is found across the region from northern India through Indonesia to Papua New Guinea and The Philippines.

The tree grows well in a variety of habitats and soils up to 850 metres altitude making them ideal for managed forestry plantations.

Of the 17 known species, 7 are known to grow in Thailand. A. crassna and A. subintegra grown by Touchwood produces high quality oil and are native to the Khao Yai area. Touchwood's plantations are situated nearby ensuring optimal conditions for good growth.

The resinous heartwood of the tree produces valuable aromatic oil which has been traded for over one thousand years. Agar oil and wood chips are the most valuable forestry product in the world and can trade for thousands of dollars per kilogram.

Agarwood is used extensively in the Middle East and Asia for ceremonies, personal fragrances, incense and other scented products, a highly regarded gift for special occasions, even household decorations and furniture. Agarwood is listed in the official Chinese register of medicinal herbs. Its aroma is said to induce wellness, tranquility, aid meditation and reduce anxiety.

Agarwood forms in less than 10 percent of natural forest trees. Trees produce oleoresins as a defensive response to physical or microbial attack.

Touchwood uses a patented organic process developed by the University of Minnesota to induce the formation of agarwood in 100% of plantation trees. Indiscriminate harvesting has resulted in agarwood being listed as an endangered species with international trade controlled by CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). With demand for agarwood far exceeding supply plantation grown agarwood provides a CITES certified renewable source of agarwood helping to protect trees in natural forests from illegal harvesting.

Touchwood's agarwood plantations in Thailand are approved by the Board Of Investment and the Royal Forest Department.