Etymology
Agarwood is known under many names in different cultures:
* It is known as Chén-xīang (沉香) in Chinese and Jin-koh (沈香) in Japanese, both meaning "sinking incense" and alluding to its high density.
* Both agarwood and its resin distillate/extracts are known as Oud (عود) in Arabic (literally wood) and used to describe agarwood in nations and areas of Islamic faith. Western perfumers may also use agarwood essential oil under the name "oud" or "oude".
* In Europe it was referred to as Lignum aquila (eagle-wood) or Agilawood, because of the similarity in sound of agila to gaharu
* Another name is Lignum aloes or Aloeswood. This is potentially confusing, since a genus Aloe exists (unrelated), which has medicinal uses, . However, the Aloes of the Old Testament (Num. 24:6; Ps. 45:8; Prov. 7:17; and Cant. 4:14) and of the Hebrew Bible (ahalim in Hebrew) are believed to be agarwood from Aquilaria malaccensis.
* In Assamese it is called as "ogoru".
* The Indonesian and Malay name is "gaharu".
* In New Guinea it is called "ghara".
* In Vietnamese, it is known as trầm hương.[4]
* In Hindi (India), it is known as "agar", which is originally Sanskrit based.
* In Thai language it is known as "Mai Kritsana" (ไม้กฤษณา).
* In Laos it is known as "Mai Ketsana".
