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In today's market, the term 'sinking agarwood' appears very commonly. To be a wise buyer, you need to clearly distinguish between different types of sinking agarwood.
1. Definition of sinking agarwood#
Sinking agarwood (Tram Sanh Chim) is formed from the outer bark layer of the Aquilaria tree. When the tree is injured, resin is secreted to cover the wound, forming thin layers. 'Sinking' here means the essential oil content in the agarwood piece is so high that its density is heavier than water, causing it to sink when placed in water.
2. Natural vs. Laminated Sinking Agarwood#
In nature, solid pieces of sinking agarwood are very thin and rare. Therefore, to create products like bracelets, people use the lamination method. They stack thin layers of agarwood and use a specialized glue to bind them together, then turn them into beads.
3. The truth about quality#
Because glue is used, laminated agarwood usually doesn't have the same durability as natural solid agarwood. Some low-quality glues can cause skin irritation for sensitive people. However, if made with good glue and quality agarwood, laminated products still offer great aesthetics and fragrance at a reasonable price.
4. How to identify poor quality glue-pressed agarwood#
These bracelets often have artificial dark black colors, a pungent chemical smell, and unnatural wood grain. After wearing for a while, the beads are prone to cracking or losing scent quickly.
Conclusion: Laminated sinking agarwood is a beautiful popular product, but buyers need to know exactly what they are buying to have the right expectations of value and durability.