The Origin of the Word Agarwood: From Sanskrit to Oud's English Names
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While the Arabs call it oud, the English-speaking world knows it as agarwood, and by other names too, such as aloeswood and eaglewood. Where did these names come from? The surprise is that they all go back to a single Eastern root. In this article we trace the origin of the word agarwood and its sister names: from the Sanskrit aguru to the English names in common use today.
From aguru to agarwood
The three common English names have closely related origins, the foremost of which reaches back to Sanskrit:
| The English name | Its likely origin |
|---|---|
| Agarwood | "Agar" from the Sanskrit aguru, plus "wood" |
| Aloeswood | From the Greek agallochon, which gave "aloes" |
| Eaglewood | From the Portuguese aguila, a reshaping of aguru |
A single Eastern root behind the names
What these names share is that they mostly go back to the Sanskrit word aguru, known to ancient India, as we mentioned in oud in ancient India. The word "agar" is a development of aguru, and from it came "agarwood." "Aloeswood," meanwhile, comes from an old Greek name for oud, and "eaglewood" from a Portuguese reshaping that took the word to be connected with the eagle. The multiplicity of names here changes nothing of the essence: a genuine resinous wood such as Indonesian oud. To get to know it for yourself, begin with an oud sample.
The botanical genus that produces oud is called Aquilaria, derived from the Latin aquila, "eagle" — the very same source as the name "eaglewood." An old linguistic reshaping that left its mark even in botany.
Why so many English names?
The many English names reflect the many routes by which oud reached the West: each intermediary language left its imprint on the name, from Sanskrit to Greek to Portuguese. In modern usage "agarwood" has become the most common in scientific and commercial contexts, while the Arabic word "oud" has come to dominate the world of fine perfume. And every language has its own story with oud's name, as we detail in the names of oud across languages.
Some assume "agar" is a Malay word, but it is originally the ancient Sanskrit aguru, which passed into the languages of the region and then into English. The name is a linguistic journey as much as oud is a journey of trade.
Conclusion
The English names "agarwood," "aloeswood" and "eaglewood" mostly go back to a single Eastern root, the Sanskrit aguru, diverging as the intermediary languages diverged. "Agarwood" has remained the most common scientifically, and "oud" the most common in perfume. At Oud Treasure, we offer this authentic wood — by whatever name — straight from its source.
We are an oud supplier from the source in Indonesia: oud, agarwood, call it what you will — a genuine, high-quality wood, in wholesale quantities. Start with a sample or browse wholesale oud.
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