To the untrained eye, two pieces of dark wood might look the same. But in the world of Oud, the difference between standard agarwood and Kynam is the difference between silver and gold. Here is how to distinguish them through the eyes of our craftsmen.
The Definite Comparison
| Marker | Standard Agarwood | Kynam (Kyara) |
|---|---|---|
| Raw Scent | Requires heat to release aroma. Woody and subtle. | Powerful room-temperature fragrance. Cooling and minty. |
| Physical State | Hard, rigid, and brittle. Carves like typical hardwood. | Soft, sticky, and malleable. Carves like beeswax. |
| Density | Floats or semi-sinks unless premium grade. | Sinks rapidly. Heavily saturated with oleoresin. |
| Resin Formation | Resin lines follow the wood grain. | Wood and resin are fused into a single solid mass. |
Standard High-Grade Agarwood
The Dense, Sticky Core of Kynam
Why the Difference Matters
Because Kynam is so rare, many "Standard" agarwoods are manipulated to look like Kynam. We see lead injections and synthetic oil boiling daily in the market. As a factory-direct provider, our goal is to show you the authentic physical behavior of the wood. When we cut a piece of Kynam, the blade gums up with resin—a biological reaction that standard agarwood simply cannot mimic.
Macro detail of Kynam resin lines: Dark, rich, and naturally forming.