Last updated: 2026-05-27 | Author: Dr. Wu Jianhong, Botanical Consultant, SilkwayOud | PhD Forest Pathology
Quick answer: Aquilaria sinensis is the only Aquilaria species native to China, growing wild in Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, and Fujian. It produces a distinctive warm-sweet agarwood with a honey-amber profile that no Southeast Asian species replicates. Listed under CITES Appendix II since 1995.
When most people think of agarwood, they picture the dense jungles of Cambodia, Vietnam, or Indonesia. But China has its own ancient agarwood tradition - and its native species, Aquilaria sinensis, is finally earning the recognition it deserves in global markets.
What Is Aquilaria sinensis?
Aquilaria sinensis is the only agarwood species native to China, primarily found growing wild and cultivated across Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, and Fujian provinces. It has been documented in Chinese pharmacopoeia for over 1,500 years - used in traditional medicine, incense rituals, and as a luxury trade item along the ancient Silk Road.
Today, the largest concentration of farmed Aquilaria sinensis trees is in Dianbai District, Maoming, Guangdong Province - a region with a 40+ year history of agarwood cultivation and a subtropical climate perfectly suited to the species' natural resin development.
How Aquilaria sinensis Produces Oud Resin
Like all agarwood species, Aquilaria sinensis produces its prized resin as a defence response. When the tree is wounded - by insects, fungal infection, or controlled inoculation - it secretes a dark, fragrant oleoresin into the wounded tissue. Over years and decades, this resin saturates the heartwood, transforming pale, odourless timber into the richest material in perfumery.
What distinguishes Aquilaria sinensis is the chemical composition of its resin. Compared to Aquilaria malaccensis (Indian/Hindi oud) or Aquilaria crassna (Vietnamese/Cambodian oud), the Chinese species produces higher concentrations of sesquiterpene alcohols that result in a noticeably sweeter, warmer, and more honeyed fragrance profile - less animalic, less sharp, more approachable for first-time oud buyers.
Aquilaria sinensis vs Other Oud Species: Key Differences
| Attribute | Aquilaria sinensis (China) | A. malaccensis (India) | A. crassna (Vietnam/Cambodia) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scent Profile | Sweet, warm honey, clean wood | Animalic, barnyard, leathery | Fruity, earthy, complex |
| Resin Colour | Light amber to dark brown | Very dark brown/black | Dark amber to black |
| Growing Region | Southern China (Guangdong) | Northeast India, Bangladesh | Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos |
| CITES Status | Appendix II | Appendix II | Appendix II |
| Typical Use | Chips, oil, incense, beads | High-end attar, oil | Premium chips and oil |
Why Maoming Is China's Agarwood Capital
The Dianbai district of Maoming has the largest concentration of Aquilaria sinensis plantations in China, with some farms now spanning their second generation of cultivation. The region's warm, humid subtropical climate - similar to the natural habitat where wild agarwood historically thrived - creates ideal conditions for deep, consistent resin development.
At Silkway Oud, our own plantation in Dianbai has been cultivating Aquilaria sinensis for over 40 years. Every chip, oil, and incense product we sell is traceable to these trees - farm to burner, with zero middlemen.
CITES Certification: What It Means for Buyers
All Aquilaria species are listed under CITES Appendix II, meaning international trade requires documentation to verify legal, sustainable sourcing. When you buy oud from Silkway Oud, every product is accompanied by CITES certification - your guarantee that the agarwood was legally farmed, ethically harvested, and properly documented for international shipment to the UAE, KSA, and beyond.
Ready to experience Aquilaria sinensis for yourself? Explore our full range of Maoming agarwood chips, oils, and incense - all farm-direct, all CITES certified.
Aquilaria sinensis at a glance
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Native range | South China (Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, Fujian) |
| Mature tree height | 6-15 meters |
| Years to resin formation | 8-25 (typically 15+) |
| Resin trigger | Wounding, fungal infection, microbial colonization |
| Average resin yield per tree | 80-300 g (sinking grade is ~10% of total) |
| Scent signature | Honey, amber, dry wood, soft spice |
| Distinguishing markers | Smaller leaves than A. malaccensis, paler heartwood |
| Conservation status | CITES Appendix II since 1995 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Aquilaria sinensis different from A. agallocha?
Yes. They are separate species with different leaf morphology, different heartwood color, and meaningfully different scent profiles.
Can the tree produce resin without wounding?
Rarely. Natural lightning strikes or insect damage can trigger it, but cultivated trees rely on deliberate induction.
How do I verify a product is A. sinensis specifically?
CITES paperwork names the species in Latin. "Agarwood" or "oud" without species is a flag.
Where else does Aquilaria sinensis grow?
Only in southern China. It does not occur naturally elsewhere. Imported "Chinese-style" oud from Southeast Asia is a different species.
Related reading: Maoming 40 Years | Chinese vs Indian Oud | CITES Certification
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