What does agalloch mean?
Agalloch is the fragrant, resin-rich heartwood that forms inside certain Aquilaria trees of Southeast Asia after they become infected by a particular mold. In response to the infection, the tree produces a dark, aromatic resin that saturates the wood, creating one of the most precious raw materials in the perfumer's world — often called agarwood, oud, or aloeswood. Prized since antiquity across the Middle East and Asia, agalloch has been burned as incense in temples, distilled into attar, and traded at extraordinary prices, sometimes rivaling gold by weight. In English it survives mainly as a literary and historical term, appearing in older translations of the Bible and in accounts of Eastern trade, while modern usage favors its synonyms. The word carries connotations of rarity, luxury, and sacred ritual, evoking smoke-filled sanctuaries and ancient trade routes rather than everyday life.
nounA fragrant, resinous heartwood produced by certain Aquilaria trees when they become infected with mold, prized as incense and perfume material; also known as agarwood or aloeswood.
- The dark, aromatic resin-impregnated heartwood of infected Aquilaria trees, valued for incense, perfume, and traditional medicine.
"The temple air was thick with the sweet smoke of burning agalloch."
"Merchants once crossed the Indian Ocean carrying agalloch, whose scent commanded prices beyond silver."
"She lit a sliver of agalloch, and the room slowly filled with its deep, woody fragrance."
Rarely used; agalloch is almost always treated as an uncountable mass noun referring to the wood itself.
"The merchant's warehouse held agallochs from Assam, Siam, and Cochin."
This humble-sounding wood can be worth more per ounce than gold — it forms only when Aquilaria trees fight off a fungal infection.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of agalloch
The word comes through Latin 'agallochum' from Greek 'agallochon', which itself was borrowed from a Semitic source (compare Hebrew 'ahalim'/'ahaloth'), ultimately referring to the same aromatic wood. It entered English in the early modern period, around the sixteenth century, largely through biblical translation and accounts of Eastern commerce. Its Semitic origin ties it to the ancient incense trade of the Near East, where the wood was known long before Europeans encountered it.
How agalloch is actually used
A rare, literary word in modern English; most contemporary writing uses 'agarwood' or 'oud' instead. It appears chiefly in historical, religious, and perfumery contexts.
Easily confused with agalloch
Aloe is a succulent plant of the genus Aloe used medicinally, whereas agalloch is the resinous fragrant heartwood of Aquilaria trees used as incense.