Indonesia Wild Black Malaccensis 6mm 108-bead mala • 100% Wild Agarwood • Indonesia

Carefully selected limited batch wild agarwood malas (traditional 108 prayer beads).
Limited edition, small batch productions from wild trees.
Chosen individually for best appearance, aroma, craftsmanship, and price point.

•108 Bead Mala (necklace or bracelet).
•6mm approximate bead diameter.
•100% natural wild black striated A. malaccensis agarwood from Indonesia.
• Polished with light biodegradable wax which will wear off over time.
(but NOT treated, varnished, or scent-enhanced.) Shine will diminish over time.
• Completely natural prominent agarwood scent typical of untreated wild Aquilaria malaccensis.

Additional notes:

• When we say wild, we mean wild! All our “wild” designated agarwood and oil is from genuine 100% naturally occurring wild forest agarwood trees with no human interventions prior to harvest. Occasionally we might offer other options, but they will be clearly indicated as either “cultivated” (farmed) or “semi-wild” (agarwood growth influenced by human intervention in a natural setting). When we say wild, we mean wild!

• One tree wonders! We strongly prefer single-tree agarwood harvests and single tree Oud oil distillations. This has both environmental benefits and aesthetic benefits in terms of capturing the unique essence of a single, fully mature, agarwood tree. When this single-tree preference is not possible we strongly favour combining wood from only a few fully mature trees, of known provenance, from trusted and experienced harvesters. More and more you will see us moving toward single-tree productions. It’s part of our commitment to sustainability and the joy we take in honouring the individual aromatic “soul” of each tree we harvest.

THE TRUTH ABOUT THE REAL SCENT OF NATURAL AGARWOOD JEWELRY

The truth is that most natural untreated Agarwood including 100% wild Agarwood does not project aroma consistently or persistently. The aroma tends to be light and intermittent. It tends to produce slightly more aroma when rubbed or warmed. But will not fill a room with its aroma or perfume one’s skin to the same degree that an Oud oil or burned Agarwood incense would.

Even the very best and most expensive raw untreated Agarwood such as Kinam (Kynam, Kyara) does not produce a constant room-filling aroma at room temperature.

We find that people's expectations have been ruined by fakery in the Agarwood business.

We find that in general people’s expectations for the aroma of natural Agarwood have been overblown and ruined by the abundance of synthetics in artificially enhanced Agarwood aromas. And also to some degree by non-disclosure of natural enhancements of aroma such as treatment with resin or oil.

People have become used to scent-enhanced products which will simply always smell stronger than natural raw untreated Agarwood.

Most such products on the market are chemically enhanced works of outright fraud. Others are naturally enhanced with natural resin or Oud oil. (For example: It’s a very common traditional practice to rub some Oud oil into a fine piece of Agarwood jewelry to protect and care for the wood as well as to enhance the scent. There is nothing wrong with this as long as vendors disclose the practice to their customers.)

We believe that certain natural enhancements are acceptable, but that it is essential that vendors and crafters in the industry are honest about such enhancements. We accept only certain natural enhancements such as treating wood with natural Agarwood resin or natural Oud oil, and we will always disclose the specific practice to our customers. As well we will always be crystal clear on Wild, Semi-Wild, or Cultivated designations for all our Agarwood products.