What Is Oud and Why Is It Called Liquid Gold in Perfumery?

Often commanding prices upwards of $30,000 per kilogram, Oud (agarwood) is widely referred to as 'liquid gold' in haute perfumery.

### The Origin of Agarwood
Oud does not occur naturally in healthy trees. When the Aquilaria tree of Southeast Asia is attacked by a specific mold (Phialophora parasitica), it produces an aromatic, dense, dark resin as an immune defense. Over decades, this resin-soaked wood transforms into precious agarwood.

### The Scent Profile of True Oud
Real oud is dark, balsamic, smoky, woody, and slightly animalic. When expertly balanced with sweet notes like wild raspberry, vanilla, or saffron—as in **AORA Shadow Oud** and **Arabian Gold**—it creates an aura of regal authority.