There are many different types of trees in the world. Throughout existence, people have used wood according to their needs. But, as you know, you have to pay for everything. This also applies to trees.

Grenadil (African ebony). Cost of 1 kilogram – $10,000

This tree has the most expensive wood in the world. Grenadil wood is often used for production musical instruments. By the way, these trees are an endangered species, so it is almost impossible to find them on earth.

Agar. Cost of 1 kilogram – $10,000

Agar is a type of tree that has a dark core. The first Agar trees appeared about 3,000 years ago, and oil is produced from it, which has an amazing aroma. Due to the increasing demand for its wood, Agar has become a valuable commodity.

Ebony – $10,000 per kilogram

Diospyros wood, or also ebony, is quite thick and does not absorb water well. In addition, it is known for its use in the creation of pianos, cellos, fingerboards, violins, bows, harpsichords and other musical instruments.

Sandalwood – $20,000 per kilogram

Sandalwood is known as an aromatic wood, which is one of the most expensive in the world. This unique tree produces several natural oils that belong to the sandalwood family. Sandalwood is also unique in that it can retain its aroma for many years.

Pink Ivory or Umnini – $7,000-$8,000 per board foot (0.00236 cubic meters)

This type of African tree is also popular under the name Red Cat. Pink ivory grows intensively in Zimbabwe, South Africa and Mozambique. Basically, the Pink Ivory tree itself is used for the production of billiard cues, knife handles and other medicinal purposes.

Backout – $5,000 per board foot (0.00236 cubic meters)

Backout is also known as the tree of life. It belongs to the genus Lignum Quaiacum, and is mainly grown along the northern coastline South America

and in the Caribbean. The tree is one of the most expensive in the world due to its strength, hardness and density.

Amaranth (Purple Heart) –$12,000 per board foot (0.00236 cubic meters)

One of the most unique types of colored wood is Amaranth. The tree is one of the most expensive in the world, and grows in 13 different types in the humid, warm areas of South and Central America.

Dalbergia –$14,000-$16,000 per board foot (0.00236 cubic meters)

This type of wood is from the Albertina family, which grow from small to medium-sized trees. This type of tree grows in warm regions South and Central America.

Bubinga –$19,000 per board foot (0.00236 cubic meters)

Bubinga is one of the most expensive woods in the world. The tree itself is a flowering plant belonging to the Fabaceae Bubinga family. In addition to being one of the most expensive woods, it is also the most valuable wood. It grows in flooded forests and swampy places.

Bokota – $33,000 per board foot (0.00236 cubic meters)

The most expensive wood on our list is Bokota, which is very related to Cordia. Due to the huge demand for this wood, it has become the most expensive wood that can be bought on our planet. This tree is native to only a few areas in the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America.

Since ancient times, wood has been used by man to build houses, ships, carts, and to make furniture and household utensils. And today we appreciate the reliability, beauty and natural warmth of this material.

The current selection includes the most valuable wood species, which are used for luxury furniture, in shipbuilding, and in the manufacture of musical instruments.

10. Rosewood

Rosewood wood is yellow to pink in color with a reddish pattern. This valuable material has a pleasant smell.

The high price of the material does not allow it to be used in solid pieces, so veneer is used in the furniture industry. Solid wood is used in the production of expensive musical instruments.

9. Karelian birch

Beautiful patterns, hardness and strength make this wood especially valuable. Karelian birch is easily distinguished by its dark brown inclusions on a light background.

This wood is used as an ornamental material, as well as in luxury furniture production. Since the population of Karelian birch is actively declining, instead of solid wood, birch veneer is increasingly used in surface finishing.

8. Rosewood

The color of rosewood varies from pinkish brown to chocolate. This wood has a pleasant floral aroma, which gradually disappears when dried.

Rosewood is one and a half times harder than oak. It is used in the production of parquet, musical instruments, and furniture.

7. Paduk

Another name for this wood is Burmese mahogany. Paduk is valued for its original color, durability, and decorativeness. This wood is used in shipbuilding, furniture, veneer, parquet, musical instruments, and billiard cues.

6. Merbau

This wood is harder than oak, polishes well and does not require protection from insects and fungi.

Merbau is used to make parquet, steps, furniture, wall panels, and musical instruments.

When exposed to light, this wood darkens over time.

5. Wenge

Dark, heavy wenge wood is very pressure resistant and has excellent resistance to insects and fungi.

The texture of wenge is very decorative, so it is not recommended to varnish it; it is much more correct to use waxing.

Wenge is used to make furniture, stairs, and flooring.

4. Zebrano

The "zebra tree" grows only in West Africa. Because The population of these trees is rapidly declining; environmentalists are actively protesting against the use of this beautiful striped wood in the manufacture of furniture and finishing materials.

By the way, creating complex decorative elements from zebrawood is not easy - the tree is quite capricious when processed.

3. Balsamo

This reddish-brown wood has a pleasant vanilla aroma. Balsamo is used in furniture production, shipbuilding, and the production of finishing materials.

Balsamo grows only in South and Central America. This material is supplied to the European market in very limited quantities.

2. Backout

It is also called ironwood. The cost of a cubic meter of backout wood is just under $100,000. Backout grows in Guatemala, Honduras, Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, and also in Puerto Rico.

Due to its very high resin content, this wood is very dense, which previously made it indispensable in shipbuilding. Backout is not afraid of moisture and has a noble aroma. Gunsmiths love this tree, using it to make knife handles.

1. Ebony

The cost of a cubic meter of ebony is about $100,000. The ebony tree grows in Africa, Ceylon, and also in South India. Ebony wood is incredibly dense, hard, and is never attacked by fungus or termites.

Ebony wood is moisture resistant and, when polished, acquires a beautiful shine. Today, imitation of this wood is increasingly used, because The habitat of ebony is rapidly declining due to intensive logging.

The famous ebony is nothing more than the heartwood of ebony without pronounced growth rings.

Grenadil (African ebony) - $10,000 per kilogram

This type of wood is one of the most expensive on the planet. African ebony wood is used mainly for making musical instruments. However, this is now an endangered tree species and they are becoming less and less common in the world.

Agar - $10,000 per kilogram

The Agar tree belongs to the dark-hearted tree species. Agar has been around for over 3,000 years and produces a natural oil with a special aroma. The demand for this type of wood is growing, making it an expensive commodity.

Ebony - $10,000 per kilo

Diospyros wood, or also ebony wood, is quite thick and does not absorb water well. In addition, it is known for its use in the creation of pianos, cellos, fingerboards, violins, bows, harpsichords and other musical instruments.

Sandalwood - $20,000 per kilogram

Sandalwood is known as an aromatic wood, which is one of the most expensive in the world. This unique tree produces several natural oils that belong to the sandalwood family. Sandalwood is also unique in that it can retain its aroma for many years.

Pink Ivory or Umnini - $7-8 per board foot (0.00236 cubic meters)

This type of African tree is also popular under the name Red Cat. Pink ivory grows extensively in Zimbabwe, South Africa and Mozambique. Basically, the Pink Ivory tree itself is used for the production of billiard cues, knife handles and other medicinal purposes.

Backout - $5 per board foot (0.00236 cubic meters)

Backout is also known as the tree of life. It belongs to the genus Lignum Cuaiacum, and is mainly grown along the northern coastline of South America and the Caribbean. The tree is one of the most expensive in the world due to its strength, hardness and density.

Amaranth (Purple Heart) -$11.99 per board foot (0.00236 cubic meters)

One of the most unique types of colored wood is Amaranth. The tree is one of the most expensive in the world, and grows in 13 different types in the humid and warm areas of South and Central America.

Dalbergia -$14-$16 per board foot (0.00236 cubic meters)

This type of wood is from the Albertina family, which grow from small to medium-sized trees. This type of tree grows in warm regions of South and Central America.

Bubinga -$18.99 per board foot (0.00236 cubic meters)

Bubinga is one of the most expensive woods in the world. The tree itself is a flowering plant belonging to the Fabaceae Bubinga family. In addition to being one of the most expensive woods, it is also the most valuable wood. It grows in flooded forests and swampy places.

Bokota - $32.99 per board foot (0.00236 cubic meters)

The most expensive wood on our list is Bokota, which is very related to Cordia. Due to the huge demand for this wood, it has become the most expensive wood that can be bought on our planet. This tree is native to only a few areas in the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America.

There are trees on the planet, the wood of which is incredibly valuable and expensive, used in the production of exclusive furniture and musical instruments. The high cost of raw materials is determined by its exoticism, strength, aromatic properties, and external qualities.

This tree received its unusual name for the original color of the wood, reminiscent of zebra skin. The light brown base is intersected by many dark brown stripes.

Zebrawood is valued not only for its visual appeal, but also for its very durable structure. The combination of strength and beauty allows the material to be used for interior decoration expensive cars, floors and walls in high-status offices.

Cost of 1 cubic. m of zebrawood wood starts from $6,000.

The tree, whose range covers central Africa and the island of Madagascar, has wood with a soft structure. The coloring is an alternation of narrow stripes. Rosewood was once less valuable and was actively used for furniture production. Gradually, natural reserves of raw materials were depleted, the tree became rare and expensive.

Manufacturers of inexpensive furniture today paint plywood sheets and wood panels in the color of rosewood to imitate the expensive look of the product. And rosewood itself is used exclusively in the production of veneer.

Cost of 1 cubic. m of rosewood can reach up to $10,000.

Native to Cuba, Jamaica and other island territories of the Caribbean and also called "ironwood", buckout is an incredibly strong and heavy wood that can withstand extreme mechanical pressure. It does not deteriorate with prolonged contact with water, therefore in past centuries it was used in the construction of sea vessels.

Today, backout is a material used by gunsmiths to turn the handles of elite edged weapons.

For 1 cubic m of backout wood costs approximately $80,000.

The wood is uniquely rich pink, therefore it is nicknamed “pink ivory” - “pink ivory”. The tree, which belongs to the buckthorn family, grows in the southern and southeastern regions of Africa.

The material is applicable in the creation of handles for collectible edged weapons, billiard cues, and exclusive decorative elements. The color range ranges from faded brown-pink to rich red, but bright pink wood is considered the most valuable.

On the world market, per board foot (0.00236 cubic meters) umnini are asking up to $8,000.

Another type of plant with wood of a unique color - purple. Belongs to the legume family, grows in hot and humid climate South America and the Isthmus of Panama. The wood, called “purple heart,” acquires its original color after drying.

Amaranth is used to decorate premises, make exquisite decorative items, and elements of sports equipment. The sensitivity of the material to ultraviolet radiation should be taken into account. Today, 13 varieties of amaranth wood are sold.

A board foot of purple heart costs $12,000.

A woody plant belonging to the genus Dalbergia, a family of legumes, native to southeastern Africa. Africans call the tree with the reddish-black heart mpingo.

Grenadile wood has been of high value since ancient times. Thanks to its excellent acoustic properties, it is used in the production of musical instruments, as well as luxury furniture and decorative elements. The activities of poachers have led to the fact that the grenadile species has almost disappeared; its sale is strictly regulated by law, which makes the cost even higher.

Grenadil is not the only valuable species of the Dahlbergia genus. Also worth noting are the cocobolo with wood of a beautiful cherry color and the bahia tree with a pinkish core.

The price of 1 kg of black grenadil wood is $10,000.

This tree with massive, incredibly durable wood grows on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. The material is so heavy that it sinks in water. Its value lies not only in this, but also in its external beauty. Thanks to its unusual red and black striped color, the wood is used in the manufacture of musical instruments, exquisite decorative elements, and in the decoration of offices and other high-status premises.

Cost of 1 cubic. m of Macassarra wood reaches $100,000.

The ebony tree, growing in small areas in Africa, southern India and Sri Lanka, is included in the Red Book. The sale of its wood is strictly regulated at the state level, but this is not the only reason for the high price of the material.

The plant, which looks more like a large shrub, was highly valued by the Egyptians and other ancient peoples. Its wood is easily mechanically affected, does not deteriorate from prolonged contact with water, and after polishing shines like a mirror.

Price for 1 cubic meter m of ebony wood exceeds $100,000.

The subtle aroma of sandalwood is known to every perfume connoisseur. The high cost of sandalwood is due to its aromatic properties. Oil is prepared from it, used in cosmetology and perfumery, and the material itself, which has a pleasant pinkish tint, is used in the production of parts for expensive furniture and souvenirs. The emitted woody aroma, reminiscent of a mixture of lemon, rose and musk, lasts for several years.

Sandalwood is a rare tree, on the verge of extinction. For 1 kg of raw materials, buyers pay about $20,000.

The tree is quite rare, its range covers only some areas of Mexico and the Caribbean. Wood is very popular among manufacturers of luxury decorative products, which is why its cost is constantly growing and has already become the highest in the world.

Bocotte wood is notable for its original and incredibly beautiful color: the base is greenish-yellow, with dark spots and stripes spreading across it, forming intricate patterns. The material is dense, heavy, resinous, and is close in quality to African black wood.

The Bokota species will most likely face the same fate as other valuable breeds - almost complete extinction. In the meantime, on the world market they are asking $33,000 per board foot.

Most tree species with valuable timber are rare and endangered. This largely explains their high price. The sale of such material is strictly regulated, and only wealthy people can afford to purchase products made from it.

You may also be interested

A simple fisherman from Hong Kong, Min Kwok, fed his family by fishing and selling his catch in markets. And nothing foreshadowed that a miracle could happen in his life!

One day, his catch almost put him into a trance, because instead of a fish, he pulled out a piece of wood from the nets. But his sadness was short-lived - he saw that a yellow liquid similar to oil was flowing out of the log. Min Kwok realized that a Goldfish had fallen into his net, because it was a huge piece of Eagle Wood, which is priceless for medicine and perfumery, as it is a source for the production of aromatic substances.

The fisherman quickly sold this log for $138 million and became very rich. Now he fishes only for his own pleasure from his own boat, which departs every day from his own pier, which is built near his own third villa on the ocean.

And now I’ll tell you what this Eagle Tree is...

Yes, this is an Agar tree (other names are aloe tree, paradise tree, eagle tree, agaru, agar, oud, oud, kalambak), Aquilária, grows in tropical forests South-East Asia, a prized tree, heads a family of only 16 trees found in the world. Most of these trees have disappeared because they were destroyed for the sake of obtaining essential oils. Average duration The life of aquilaria is 70-100 years, it grows in humid tropical regions with plenty of rain.

It's big evergreen tree from which aromatic material has been extracted for many centuries. The dark, viscous core of the tree is used. At the beginning of the tree's life, the pith is light and light, but climate and special microorganisms transform it into a unique natural aromatic substance.

Agarwood is obtained from special plantations in the jungle. The resulting wood, after drying, can be immediately used for fumigating premises, as incense, or as a raw material for producing agar oil.

Aquilaria and, accordingly, agar oil are produced and grown only in Southeast Asia and imported to Arab countries by wholesale and perfume companies. Agar oil is the result of the complex protective mechanism of the aloe tree. After a tree becomes infected with a fungus, it begins to produce resin, which, when “ripened,” impregnates the trunk and forms such valuable wood. This process takes from several decades to hundreds of years.

The oil is valued in perfumery because it is a strong fixative and is included in the recipes of exquisite oriental perfumes in small doses. The aroma of aloe tree takes about 12 hours to open up; the aroma can remain on the skin for more than a day. It is especially valued in perfumery Arab sheikhs and sultans. The aroma is strong, sweet-woody, almost balsamic, similar to the smell of styrax, vetiver, with a sweetness reminiscent of sandalwood.

The aroma of agarwood oil (Oud tree) belongs to the group of aphrodisiacs and is very expensive (more expensive than gold). Obtaining this oil is an ancient process that has been kept secret for thousands of years. Oriental aromas with oud oil is an ancient recipe known to a small circle of initiates.

Based on this aphrodisiac, expensive drugs are made to treat sexual impotence.

The botanical name Aloexylon Agallochum comes from the Greek aloe and xylon, which suggests the name "aloe-flavored tree." Apparently, when the eagle tree came to Europe, the determining factor was its bitter-astringent taste. Mentioned in the Bible in Numbers XXIV.6; in Song of Songs IV,14 under the name "Stacti"; is. Sirach XXIV; Psalm. XLIV,9. In the book of Exodus, the Lord showed Moses a tree, which he threw into the bitter waters of Marah, which made them sweet. (Exodus XV.25)

The authenticity of this legend from the Bible is confirmed by the fact that the Arabs corrected the taste of water using a piece of aloe wood. This was considered especially important for travelers. Avicenna wrote that merchants and travelers suffer from nothing more than from changing water; to correct its taste, you need to put in it a little clay taken from near your house and a piece of aloe wood.

In the fifties, they tried to grow aloe north of Nepal in India, the tree grew well, but the desired product was not formed in it, then the necessary insects living on this tree were brought in, but the insects, unfortunately, did not get along in the new climate. This is how aloe trees stand, but there are no precious fragrant pieces in their wood.

In fact, agar oil is the result of a tree disease. It is formed as a protective reaction to fungal or bacterial infection. Attacked trees begin to secrete protective resin, which accumulates in the affected areas (roots, branches, parts of the trunk). Gradually, the resin literally permeates the wood, becoming harder and acquiring a dark brown, sometimes almost black color. At the same time, the core of Aquilaria ( central part wood, darker and older than sapwood) is the most defenseless against infection. It is for this reason that in order to obtain oil it is often necessary to destroy the entire tree, although it would be more profitable to cut off only the infected parts.

Agarwood is exported in various forms (wood chips, powder, oil, as well as finished products such as perfumes, aromatics and medicines). The main oud importers are the countries of the Middle East and Far East, in particular the United United Arab Emirates And Saudi Arabia(where agarwood is known as oudh), as well as Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan.

Receipt methods

There are three known methods for obtaining agar oil, namely hydro-distillation, steam distillation and supercritical CO2 extraction. The first two are the most common. An important factor influencing the final product (oil) is the age of the tree. Old trees have a higher resin content and, like wine, their resin gets better with age. Speaking about the classification of Agarwood oil, it must also be said that the highest quality is obtained during the first distillation. After each subsequent distillation of wood, the quality of the oil decreases.

The oil obtained by hydro-distillation is valued higher than that obtained by steam distillation. Experts say the latter lacks the voluminous, smoky nuances that come with hydro-distillation. In both methods, the resulting oil is filtered, exposed to the sun and aged for some time. The longer the oil ages, the better its aroma will be.

When are synthetic substitutes needed?

The need to develop synthetic substitutes (analogs) usually arises when regular supplies of natural raw materials in the required quantities are unavailable and/or expensive. This is very relevant for the situation with oud. And therefore the perfume industry is already actively using its chemical analogues. Due to their low cost, they occupied a significant, albeit least profitable, segment of the market. It is worth noting that these analogues actually do not even come close to the imitated natural product. The main chemical components responsible for the characteristic aroma of oud, sesquiterpenes, can in principle be synthesized. However, they are very difficult and expensive to synthesize, making the process completely unattractive commercially.
Thus, the aroma of natural oud oil is very easy to distinguish from its synthetic counterparts. Real oud smells magical - it is a warm aura full of smoky, woody and balsamic shades with sweet and sour nuances. Synthetic oud smells simple - it is a woody-leather scent that lacks volume and play of shades.

Why is oud so expensive?

Low yield of oil from vegetable raw materials, complexity of the extraction process and shortage natural sources- here are the main reasons high cost good luck. The wood used to produce the oil has low resin content and typically a minimum of 20 kg of wood is required to produce 12 ml of oil. According to Nabeel Adam Ali, Director of Swiss Arabian Perfumes, the highest quality oud is obtained by processing trees over 100 years old. This of course does not mean that young trees do not produce good flavour, but it is not quite the same level of quality, heritage and tradition. However, sales of oud-based perfumes continue to grow every year, and to meet demand, many perfumers have begun using a mixture of natural and synthetic oud in their compositions. (New York Times)

Abdulla Ajmal, director of Ajmal Perfumes, estimates that approximately 20 years ago, a kilogram of high-quality “E-class” oud cost approximately $225.

Now the same amount of raw materials would cost about $1,500. This is a staggering price increase. For those willing to spend more, the highest quality oud is available at $24,950 per kilogram. But Mr. Ajmal says profits are slim at that price. (New York Times)

Now the average price per kg on the market is about 18,000 euros. This raw material is mainly used in natural perfumes to increase the durability and intensity of perfumes.

Another reason for the high cost of agar is that Aquilaria is now endangered. The most important species of Aquilaria for oud fishing are A. agollocha, A. malaccensis And A. crassna. A. malaccensis protected worldwide by CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) as well as by IUCN (World Conservation Union). A. crassna was listed as an endangered and protected species several years ago by the Vietnamese government.

Using oud

An important use of oud is in the production of incense. Agar is considered an aphrodisiac, both in oil and incense form. Oud oil is often sold in Vietnamese pharmacies. Chinese medicine uses Aquilaria powder to treat liver cirrhosis, lung and stomach diseases.

And amazing. Look at and what it looks like

This is a copy of the article located at