How agarwood, ‘black gold’ worth up to US$25,000 a kilo, is under threat

Hong Kong incense master Aaron Tang Ho-chuen scoops up chunks of agarwood and breathes in their rich, smoky scent.

“Agarwood creates a sense of calm, making it perfect for peaceful activities like meditation and yoga,” says Tang, the founder of the Hong Kong Incense Company, which makes incense with natural ingredients using traditional recipes.

Agarwood – a dark, infection-fighting resin created when incense trees, or Aquilaria sinensis, are cut or damaged – is highly sought-after for its use in traditional medicine, religious ceremonies, incense and perfumery.

Sometimes called “black gold”, it is one of the world’s most expensive natural resources, with high-grade agarwood fetching as much as HK$200,000 (US$25,700) per kilogram.

But there is a dark side to the agarwood trade: its high value has created a multibillion-dollar illegal market that fuels the poaching of wild trees, pushing many species towards extinction.

Illegal harvesting goes against the spirit of traditional incense, says Tang, who ethically sources his agarwood from China and India.

Sustainability is a vital element of the incense industry, and Tang wants to educate people about Hong Kong’s rich incense heritage, which took root when incense trees were planted in ancient villages during the Song and Ming dynasties.