There is a wood so rare and costly that 10 grams of it is worth as much as a kilogram of gold in a society where gold and diamonds are considered symbols of prosperity. The rarest and most costly wood on Earth is Kynam, an exceptional agarwood type that is frequently referred to as the "Wood of the Gods."
Agarwood has long been valued for its rich, resinous scent and is widely distributed throughout Southeast Asia, India, china, and the Middle East. It is fundamental to the perfume business, especially in the manufacturing of oud, a very popular essential oil. But Kynam is an unfathomable oddity in the agarwood family. Prices have skyrocketed due to its unique scent and limited availability, making it a highly sought-after gem.
Kynam is one of the most costly natural resources in the world; according to a study by Al Jazeera, 10 grams of it may fetch up to Rs 85.63 lakh, or almost $103,000. One could buy almost 1 kilogram of gold for the same price at such a valuation. Large chunks of this wood have occasionally brought in enormous sums of money; for example, a 16 kg piece of 600-year-old Kynam sold for an incredible Rs 171 crore ($20.5 million).
The intricate and uncertain procedure that produces agarwood is what gives Kynam its exceptional worth. When a specific kind of mold infects the Aquilaria tree, which naturally yields agarwood, the metamorphosis takes place. The tree responds by releasing a dark, fragrant resin that gradually transforms the wood into a valuable, fragrant material. Only a small percentage of agarwood trees produce the desired resin in a condition pure enough to be categorized as Kynam, and this process takes decades.
Small bits of agarwood are customarily burned to greet visitors in the Middle East, giving homes a unique, lingering scent. The wood is used in spiritual and ceremonial rituals in china and Japan, and it is a necessary component of medicinal wines in Korea.
Assam is considered the agarwood capital of India, where the tree is grown and harvested by indigenous farmers. However, conservation measures are now crucial due to the growing demand for agarwood and its growing scarcity. Experts caution that illegal trading and overharvesting may drive the species to extinction as the number of agarwood trees in the wild decreases.
Agarwood has long been valued for its rich, resinous scent and is widely distributed throughout Southeast Asia, India, china, and the Middle East. It is fundamental to the perfume business, especially in the manufacturing of oud, a very popular essential oil. But Kynam is an unfathomable oddity in the agarwood family. Prices have skyrocketed due to its unique scent and limited availability, making it a highly sought-after gem.
Kynam is one of the most costly natural resources in the world; according to a study by Al Jazeera, 10 grams of it may fetch up to Rs 85.63 lakh, or almost $103,000. One could buy almost 1 kilogram of gold for the same price at such a valuation. Large chunks of this wood have occasionally brought in enormous sums of money; for example, a 16 kg piece of 600-year-old Kynam sold for an incredible Rs 171 crore ($20.5 million).
The intricate and uncertain procedure that produces agarwood is what gives Kynam its exceptional worth. When a specific kind of mold infects the Aquilaria tree, which naturally yields agarwood, the metamorphosis takes place. The tree responds by releasing a dark, fragrant resin that gradually transforms the wood into a valuable, fragrant material. Only a small percentage of agarwood trees produce the desired resin in a condition pure enough to be categorized as Kynam, and this process takes decades.
Small bits of agarwood are customarily burned to greet visitors in the Middle East, giving homes a unique, lingering scent. The wood is used in spiritual and ceremonial rituals in china and Japan, and it is a necessary component of medicinal wines in Korea.
Assam is considered the agarwood capital of India, where the tree is grown and harvested by indigenous farmers. However, conservation measures are now crucial due to the growing demand for agarwood and its growing scarcity. Experts caution that illegal trading and overharvesting may drive the species to extinction as the number of agarwood trees in the wild decreases.
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