Definition

Noun: 1. Agarwood; aloeswood; eaglewood: A fragrant, dark, resinous wood produced by certain species of Aquilaria trees (genus Aquilaria) in Southeast Asia when they become infected by a specific type of mold. The tree produces a dark, aromatic resin in response to the infection, which saturates the heartwood. This valuable, fragrant wood is used for incense, perfume, and traditional medicine. 2. The tree producing agarwood: A large tree (genus Aquilaria) with long leaves and light yellow wood with dark veins, which can produce the valuable fragrant resinous heartwood.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Material):
  • Mùi trầm hương tỏa ra từ chiếc lư hương. (The scent of agarwood wafted from the incense burner.)
  • Vòng tay làm từ trầm hương rất được ưa chuộng. (Bracelets made from aloeswood are very popular.)
• Noun (Tree):
  • Rừng trầm hương tự nhiên ngày càng khan hiếm. (Natural forests of the agarwood tree are increasingly rare.)

Advanced Usage

• "Đốt trầm hương": To burn agarwood (incense).
  • Người ta thường đốt trầm hương trong các nghi lễ tôn giáo. (People often burn agarwood in religious ceremonies.)
• "Tâm trầm hương": The highest grade of agarwood, referring to the most resin-saturated part of the wood, which sinks in water.
• "Khói trầm hương": The smoke from burning agarwood.
  • Khói trầm hương cuộn lên một cách thanh khiết. (The smoke of burning agarwood rose in a pure, swirling manner.)

Variants and Related Words

• Trầm (n): A common shortened form for "trầm hương," specifically referring to the fragrant wood.
  • Mua một ít trầm về đốt. (Buy some agarwood to burn.)
• Kỳ nam (n): An even higher and rarer grade of fragrant wood from the same tree family, often considered superior to regular . It has a richer, more complex aroma and higher resin content.
• Gỗ dó (n): A general name for trees of the genus before they produce the fragrant resin. It refers to the non-resinous, ordinary wood.

Synonyms

• Agarwood (n): The most common international English term.
• Oud (n): The Arabic term for agarwood, widely used in the global perfume industry.
• Aloeswood (n): An older English term, now less common than "agarwood."
• Eaglewood (n): Another historical English name.
• Gaharu (n): The Malay/Indonesian term for agarwood.

Related Phrases / Compounds

• Tinh dầu trầm hương (n): Agarwood essential oil; oud oil.
  • Tinh dầu trầm hương có giá trị rất cao. (Agarwood essential oil is very valuable.)
• Nhang trầm hương (n): Agarwood incense sticks or coils.
• Trầm cảm (n): This is a completely different word. It means "depression" (the mental health condition). Do not confuse (fragrant wood) with (depression).

Cultural Notes / Idioms

• "Thơm như trầm": (As fragrant as agarwood) An idiom used to describe something or someone with a pure, precious, and highly valued fragrance or character.
• Agarwood holds significant cultural, spiritual, and economic value in Vietnam and across Asia. It is deeply associated with Buddhism, meditation, luxury, and traditional healing practices. Its rarity and unique scent profile make it one of the most expensive natural raw materials in the world.

noun

1. aloe wood