FOREZA · Agarwood Education · Kyara, Agarwood, Oud Explained
By FOREZA Editorial · 2026-06-04 · 9 min read · Agarwood Education
"Kyara," "agarwood," and "oud" are often used interchangeably in Western marketing, but they are not the same thing. Kyara is the top 1% grade of agarwood. Agarwood is the resinous wood itself. Oud is the distilled oil or perfumed product made from agarwood. This page untangles the three terms, shows you the differences in price, aroma, and use, and helps you decide which one to buy.
TL;DR
- Kyara (also Qi-Nan, Kynam, 奇楠) is a grade of agarwood — the top 1% by resin density and aromatic complexity.
- Agarwood is the wood itself, regardless of grade. Sinking-grade Kyara is the highest agarwood grade; standard agarwood chips are the entry level.
- Oud (Arabic: عود) is the oil or perfumed product distilled from agarwood. "Oud" in the Gulf often means the wood; "oud" in the West often means the fragrance.
- Buying a piece of Kyara is fundamentally different from buying a bottle of oud oil. The wood can last decades; the oil evaporates.
The Three Terms, Side by Side
| Term | What it actually is | Typical price (USD, 2026) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kyara (Qi-Nan, Kynam, 奇楠) | The top grade of agarwood, defined by extreme oleoresin density, multi-layered aroma, and the ability to sink in water without hesitation. | $200 – $5,000+ per gram (collector pieces), $199/100 g retail chips | Collector, meditation, premium jewelry, single-origin perfume distillation |
| Agarwood (aloewood, eaglewood, jīn xīang 沉香) | The resinous heartwood of Aquilaria trees, regardless of grade. Includes everything from Sinking-grade Kyara down to standard chips. | $0.50 – $50 per gram depending on grade | Incense, heaters, ritual, jewelry, perfume distillation, traditional medicine (China, Ayurveda) |
| Oud (عود, "wood" in Arabic) | The essential oil distilled from agarwood, OR the wood itself when used in Gulf Arabic. The meaning depends on context. | $5 – $500 per tola (12 ml) depending on wood grade and distillation | Perfume (concentrate or attar), bakhoor incense, fabric scenting, hospitality |
Kyara: The Top 1%
Kyara (also written Qi-Nan, Kynam, or 奇楠 in Chinese; sometimes Kinam in older texts) represents the top 1% of global agarwood yield. It is defined by three properties, all of which must be present:
- Extreme resin density — the wood is so saturated with oleoresin that a piece sinks immediately in water without hesitation. Sinking-grade Kyara has a density greater than 1 g/cm³ throughout, not just at the surface.
- Multi-layered aroma — heating a small piece on an electric agarwood heater (80–120 °C) releases a sequence of distinct notes: sweet honey → cooling menthol → deep wood. A single-note "oud smell" is not Kyara.
- Soft, waxy texture — high-grade Kyara is slightly soft to the touch. You can sometimes leave a fingerprint with a firm press. This is a sign of extreme resin saturation; lower-grade agarwood is hard and woody.
For the deeper chemistry behind why Kyara smells the way it does, see Why Does Kynam Smell at Room Temperature? The Science of Oleoresins.
Agarwood: The Umbrella Term
"Agarwood" refers to the resinous heartwood of Aquilaria trees, regardless of grade. The tree produces resin as a defense response to fungal or physical injury; the resin-infused wood is what becomes agarwood. The grade depends on the density, distribution, and aromatic profile of the resin.
Within agarwood, the four official FOREZA grades are:
- Sinking-grade Kyara (top 1%)
- Premium Semi-Sinking Kyara (top 5%)
- Agarwood Chips / Slices / Granules (entry to mid-grade)
- Raw Material (block form, for hand-processing)
For the side-by-side comparison, see Four Styles of Agarwood in our Education series.
Oud: The Distillate (or the Wood, Depending on Who You Ask)
This is where the language gets confusing. The word "oud" comes from Arabic (عود) and literally means "wood." In the Gulf states — Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman — "oud" most often refers to the agarwood wood itself, the way a Westerner might say "I burn sandalwood." The phrase "oud oil" or "oud perfume" then refers to the distilled product.
In the West — particularly in niche perfumery — "oud" usually refers to the oil, attar, or fragrance. When a Western perfumer says "this fragrance has oud in it," they mean a distilled agarwood oil, not a piece of wood.
Note
"Oud oil" is made by steam- or hydro-distilling agarwood chips in a copper still for 10–20 days. Yield is low: 100 kg of wood may produce 100–500 ml of oil depending on grade. This is why oud oil is so expensive. A 12 ml tola of wild Kyara-distilled oil can sell for $500 or more. For a practical guide to oud in perfumery, see Oud for Perfumery: A Bespoke Fragrance Guide.
How to Choose What to Buy
You are not really choosing between Kyara, agarwood, and oud — those are three different product categories. You are choosing which one fits your use case. Here is a quick decision guide.
| If you want… | Buy… |
|---|---|
| To wear Kyara as a bracelet or necklace | Agarwood beads in Sinking-grade or Semi-Sinking grade. See the Signature Kynam Collection. |
| To burn or warm incense at home | Agarwood chips / slices / granules. 100 g lasts 30–60 sessions of warming. The flagship product is at /products/foreza-kyara-oud. |
| A fragrance for daily wear | Oud oil or attar. Apply a small amount to pulse points. Lasts 6–12 hours on skin. |
| A long-term collector piece that appreciates | Sinking-grade Kyara in raw block form. Properly stored, well-graded Kyara has historically appreciated in value over decades. |
| A gift for someone new to agarwood | A small sample set (3 g, multiple origins) or a single small bracelet. See our Best Agarwood for Beginners guide. |
| Raw material for your own distillation or crafting | Raw material blocks in 1 kg+ quantities. Contact us for a B2B quote at /pages/wholesale-b2b. |
Single-Origin
Guanzhu Town, Dianbai District, Maoming City, Guangdong, China — the historical "Capital of Chinese Agarwood." Every FOREZA piece is traceable to this origin.
Not Vietnam. Not Indonesia. Not Hainan. 100% authentic Guanzhu agarwood.
Explore the Signature Kynam Collection
Direct from Guanzhu. 100% natural. Sinking-tested. Worldwide shipping.
Discover Kyara →Continue Exploring
- What is Kynam Agarwood? The Ultimate Guide to the King of Oud
- Kynam vs. Regular Agarwood: Understanding the True Difference
- What is Qi-Nan Agarwood? (Education Pillar version)
- What is Agarwood? A Beginner's Guide
- Our Story — Rooted in the Capital of Agarwood
- Certificate of Authenticity
FOREZA Editorial
Direct from Guanzhu, the Capital of Chinese Agarwood. We share the heritage, craft, and truth behind authentic Kyara. Reach us at zhangxiaobao217@gmail.com.