Hidden Cruelty Behind Agarwood Farming

Agarwood, also known as oud, has been an essential part of my healing and spiritual practice for years. This sacred wood carries an energy unlike anything else—its fragrance can transport the soul, purify spaces, and deepen meditative states. In traditional medicine and shamanic work, agarwood is revered for its ability to open spiritual gateways, calm the mind, and even aid in deep healing. But as I’ve delved deeper into its origins, I’ve come to see the darker side of agarwood farming—one filled with cruelty, exploitation, and the suffering of these ancient trees.

The Sacred Nature of Agarwood

In its natural state, agarwood is formed when trees from the Aquilaria or Gyrinops species are infected with a specific mold (Phialophora parasitica). This infection triggers the tree’s immune response, producing the rich, resinous heartwood we know as oud. However, this process doesn’t happen overnight—it takes decades, sometimes a lifetime, for the resin to fully develop.

Traditionally, healers and mystics would only harvest agarwood from trees that had naturally fallen or completed their cycle of life. These trees carried a profound spiritual essence, a gift from nature rather than something forcefully taken. I’ve always believed that the power of a plant or tree comes not just from its chemical makeup, but from its spiritual integrity—and that’s exactly where modern agarwood farming goes terribly wrong.

Forced Wounding and Chemical Inoculation of Agarwood Trees

The Cruelty of Commercial Agarwood Farming

With the rising demand for oud in perfumes, incense, and luxury products, wild agarwood trees have been harvested to the brink of extinction. To meet market demand, commercial plantations have resorted to brutal and unnatural methods to speed up resin production.

Here’s what’s happening behind the scenes:

1. Forced Wounding & Chemical Inoculation

Farmers drill deep holes or make repeated cuts into the tree, intentionally wounding it to force resin production. Many even inject synthetic chemicals or fungal spores to accelerate the process. This isn’t a natural defense mechanism anymore—this is a tree being tortured for profit. I can only imagine the stress and suffering these trees endure.

2. Repeated Trauma & Weakening of the Tree

In nature, an agarwood tree undergoes resin formation slowly, over decades. But in these plantations, trees are repeatedly wounded over just a few years, leaving them weakened, diseased, and in a constant state of survival. I’ve always felt that trees, like all living beings, have an energy field. When they are kept in a state of fear and pain, that energy is imprinted into the wood.

3. Energetic Depletion & Poor Quality

Sacred plants and trees carry wisdom, but when they are forced to produce rather than allowed to flow naturally, their medicine becomes diluted. Farmed agarwood lacks the same depth, richness, and spiritual potency as wild-harvested oud. I’ve tested and burned both, and the difference is unmistakable—the forced oud feels hollow, almost lifeless, compared to the deep, grounding energy of naturally formed agarwood.

4. Deforestation & Destruction of Ecosystems

Even though some plantations claim to be sustainable, the reality is that illegal logging continues, wiping out entire forests to fuel the agarwood trade. It’s devastating to think about the loss—not just of these ancient trees, but of the entire ecosystems they support.

Dead Agarwood Tree after Forced Harvesting

A Call for Ethical & Sacred Harvesting

I refuse to support this kind of exploitation, and I urge others to seek out ethical alternatives. If we truly honor agarwood as sacred, we must change the way we source and use it. Here’s how we can do better:

• Support Wild Conservation Efforts

Instead of funding exploitative farming, I advocate for efforts to restore natural agarwood forests. Trees should be allowed to live their full lifespan before being harvested.

• Choose Naturally-Fallen or Naturally-Infected Agarwood

In my practice, I only seek out agarwood from trees that have completed their journey. This ensures that the wood is harvested in harmony with nature, carrying its full energetic imprint.

• Buy from Ethical & Regenerative Sources

Some plantations operate with integrity, allowing trees to grow for decades before harvesting. I look for suppliers who use natural resonance methods, such as sound vibration or prayer, to work with the trees rather than against them.

• Honor the Spirit of the Tree

Before using agarwood, I always take a moment to acknowledge its journey. Whether I’m burning it in ceremony or using it for healing, I offer gratitude to the tree for its sacrifice. This simple act of reverence ensures that its energy is received with respect, rather than consumption.

Conscious Choices Matter

Agarwood is more than just a luxury product—it is a sacred gift. But when we extract it through force and suffering, we strip it of its true power. Would you burn incense made from a tree that endured years of agony? Would you wear an oil that carries the energy of pain?

For me, the answer is clear: If we are to work with sacred plants and trees, we must do so with reverence. The trees are our teachers, our allies, and our elders. It is time we start treating them that way.