Indonesian oud oil is graded by resin origin (wild vs plantation), distillation purity, and aroma character — and priced accordingly, not by volume alone. As of 2026, bulk oud runs roughly USD 30,000-80,000 per kg, which works out to about USD 350–930 per tola (11.66 g); finished retail oils quote USD 200–1,000+ per ml. Grade sets the number.
What is a tola, and why is oud sold by it?
A tola is a traditional South Asian unit of mass equal to about 11.66 grams. The oud and attar trade adopted it long ago, and most collector bottles are still sized to a tola — usually filled to roughly 12 ml, because oud oil’s density sits near 0.9 grams per millilitre. That one detail causes most pricing confusion: a “per tola” figure can mean by weight (11.66 g) or by bottle (about 12 ml). Before you compare two quotes, ask which basis each seller is using.
How is Indonesian oud oil graded?
Grading starts with the wood the oil was distilled from. Graders read three objective signals in the feed material — density, tested by water immersion, where sinking indicates higher resin; resin saturation, seen as black-brown “tiger-stripe” veining rather than a uniform, plastic-like black; and aromatic intensity, checked by hot-plate or steam testing. Higher resin content correlates with stronger fragrance, higher density, and a higher grade, and that quality carries straight into the oil.
Two more factors sit on top for the oil itself: resin origin and distillation purity. A serious Indonesian agarwood oil supplier will document whether the feedstock is wild (CITES source code W) or plantation and artificially propagated (source code P), because that distinction sets the price ceiling — wild agarwood from Papua and Maluku is regarded as typically superior. Distillation purity then separates single-origin, unadulterated distillate from blended or diluted oils.
| Grade signal | What graders look for | Effect on the oil |
|---|---|---|
| Resin origin | Wild (source code W) vs plantation/cultivated (source code P) | Wild Papua/Maluku material sets the ceiling; plantation is more sustainable and easier to permit |
| Resin saturation | Tiger-stripe veining, high density (feed wood sinks in water) | Deeper resin means richer aroma and better distillation yield |
| Distillation purity | Single-origin, unadulterated distillate, checked by GC-MS | Blended or diluted oils grade lower; pure single-origin grades higher |
| Aroma profile | Intensity and complexity on hot-plate or steam testing | Stronger, more layered profiles grade up |
Grading systems here are industry conventions that vary by region and tradition, not an official Indonesian national standard. Treat any grade label as a starting point for questions, not a guarantee.
What does Indonesian oud oil cost per tola, per ml, and per kg?
The canonical band depends heavily on whether you buy in bulk or as a finished retail bottle. Bulk distillate is quoted per kilogram; small collector bottles are quoted per millilitre and carry distillation, branding, and small-quantity markups on top.
| Pricing basis | Canonical band (as of 2026) | Approx. per tola* |
|---|---|---|
| Bulk / wholesale | USD 30,000-80,000 per kg | USD 350–930 per tola (11.66 g) |
| Finished retail | USD 200–1,000+ per ml | USD 2,400–12,000+ per tola (12 ml bottle) |
*Using 1 tola ≈ 11.66 g by mass, or ≈ 12 ml by the attar-trade bottle convention. All figures are indicative; a final quote confirms grade and scope.
For context on the wood that feeds these oils, plantation agarwood chips run roughly USD 500-7,000 per kg depending on grade, from low-resin to super. Retail chip guides quote Indonesian material at about USD 5–15 per 10 g for low grade (C/D), USD 20–60 per 10 g for mid grade (B/A), and USD 100–300+ per 10 g for premium Super A. Those wood prices help explain why the finished oil sits where it does.
Why is the per-tola range so wide?
Grade, not volume, drives almost all of the spread. Market commentary in 2026 notes that superior pure wild agarwood can reach around USD 290,000 per kg, while artificial or plantation material may sit near USD 100 per kg — a gap that flows directly into oil prices. A tola of oil pressed from top wild Papuan stock and a tola from young plantation wood are simply not the same product.
The trajectory is long-running. TRAFFIC’s report “Heart of the Matter: Agarwood Use and Trade” recorded field data from Apau Kayan, East Kalimantan in 1997, where “super grade A” agarwood was reported at IDR 1,250,000 per kg — about USD 450 per kg at the time. Compared with today’s wild premiums, that shows how far scarcity has pushed the top of the market. It also explains why sellers who quote a single flat “price per tola” without naming the grade should be treated with caution.
How is oud oil purity verified?
The honest answer is that no single test proves purity outright, but GC-MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) comes closest. It fingerprints the individual compounds in a distillate, so it can flag added synthetics, carrier oils, or blending — strong evidence for or against authenticity. What GC-MS cannot do on its own is certify a specific purity percentage or confirm a geographic origin claim. Pair lab results with distillation records and a permit-compliant, traceable supply chain rather than relying on any one number. We do not publish or endorse unverified purity figures.
What are the rules for exporting Indonesian oud oil legally?
Most Aquilaria and Gyrinops species are listed under CITES Appendix II, so international trade is allowed but regulated. Legal export requires a CITES export permit and a BKSDA recommendation, and it is subject to a Non-Detriment Finding (NDF) confirming the trade will not harm wild populations. Indonesia’s 2024 NDF set a wild Aquilaria malaccensis quota of 24,110 kg. CITES paperwork distinguishes source code W (wild) from P (plantation/artificially propagated), and plantation material is generally easier to permit and more sustainable — which is why plantation-sourced oud is the responsible default.
Confirm the current requirements with the CITES Management Authority (Indonesia) and your import country before you commit to any shipment. This site is a sourcing broker and information hub, not a permit authority; we never sell permit certainty or guarantee customs clearance, and we never facilitate illegal wild-harvest.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many grams are in a tola of oud oil?
A tola is a traditional South Asian mass unit equal to about 11.66 grams. In the oud and attar trade it doubles as a bottle size of roughly 12 ml, because oud oil’s density sits near 0.9 grams per millilitre. Because sellers mix mass and volume, always confirm whether a “per tola” price is by weight or by bottle.
Why is wild Indonesian oud priced so much higher than plantation oud per tola?
Wild agarwood — especially from Papua and Maluku — carries deeper resin saturation and scarcity that markets reward heavily. 2026 commentary notes superior pure wild material reaching around USD 290,000 per kg, while plantation stock can sit near USD 100 per kg. That gap flows straight into per-tola oud prices, which is why grade matters far more than volume.
Can GC-MS testing prove an Indonesian oud oil is pure?
GC-MS fingerprints the compounds in a distillate, so it can flag added synthetics, carrier oils, or blending — strong evidence of authenticity. It cannot, on its own, certify a single purity percentage or confirm origin. Pair any lab result with distillation records and a traceable, permit-compliant supply chain rather than trusting one figure in isolation.