1) Sinking agarwood:
Wood that sinks underwater.
Def: The term ‘sinking’ agarwood may refer to any resinated pieces of wood from a freshly harvested tree which still retain so large a concentration of moisture that they will sink in water. But a piece of agarwood from a newly harvested tree may lose up to 50% of its weight once the water leaves; a process that can take upwards of six months! At this point, it will just be another piece of floating wood. Longer the Agarwood traders keep the woods, higher the moisture content evaporates, sometimes substantial loss is suffered.
2) Sinking-grade agarwood:
Agarwood that sinks underwater, even once thoroughly dried.
Def: The term ‘sinking-grade’ agarwood refers to a piece of agarwood so densely resinated that it sinks in water. Not to be mistaken for ‘sinking’ agarwood where resin content is confused with moisture content. Once a piece of sinking agarwood is found, professional dealers in collectible sinking-grade wood leave it to de-moisturize for at least six months (depending on the size) before thinking of selling it as genuine sinking-grade agarwood.
Gaharu 沉香 Agarwood 