Fragrant oud incense smoke rising from burning agarwood chips

Oud grading isn’t governed by one single universal standard, but most traders and suppliers assess quality based on resin content, aroma complexity and depth, colour and density of the wood, and age or origin, with grades broadly running from premium, richly resinated material at the top down to lighter, less resin-dense wood at the lower end.

What typically separates the grades

  • Top grade: dense, dark, heavily resinated wood with a deep, complex, long-lasting aroma, often from mature or wild trees
  • Mid grade: good resin content and a pleasant, clear aroma, but less depth and complexity than top grade material
  • Lower grades: lighter resin content, a simpler or thinner scent profile, often from younger trees or less resinated sections
  • Lowest grade: minimal resin, used mainly as a base note contributor rather than a standout material on its own

Because there’s no single enforced global grading body, terms like “grade A” can genuinely vary between suppliers, which is exactly why resin content, covered further in our related answer on what resin content means when grading agarwood, is such an important, more objective measure to ask about directly. Our complete guide to oud covers grading in full, our pure oud oil range is graded and sourced with this in mind, and the complete guide to perfume has the wider fundamentals. Asking a supplier directly how they define their own grading, rather than assuming a universal standard, is always worth doing before buying.