沉香木的报道

沉香木的需求高，但是，它的供应有限。因此，沉香木的价值很高。低品质的香木也可以以一克几千零吉的价钱卖出。而在沉香树种植的市场上，还没有一个公认有效的沉香诱导技术。因此大家都会打野生沉香树的主意。

就在今年4月26号，星洲日报报道了野生沉香树盗伐的案件。霹雳州森林局局长拿督罗期兰在发布会上公布了今年最大宗的野生沉香树盗伐的案件。而这起案件发生在北霹雳的森林保护区里。以下是这则新闻的报道。 

（霹靂‧怡保26日訊）霹靂州森林局局長拿督羅斯蘭說，該局於2月20及22日在北霹靂的森林保護區，破獲今年最大宗的盜伐原始沉香樹，12名本地和外籍人士分別涉及3項走私活動而被扣，起獲400公斤的沉香木，估計市值高達200萬令吉。

他今日召開新聞發佈會說，12名被扣者介於25至35歲，包括2名本地巫裔男子、5名越南籍男子和5名巴基斯坦籍男子，他們被控触犯1984年森林局法令（313法令）第68和84條文，罪成者可被判罰款不超過5萬令吉，或監禁不超過5年或兩者兼施。

“用來走私的四驅車、貨車、國產轎車、鋼鐵工具、塑料麻包袋已被充公。”

他說，這3宗走私案分別發生在20日凌晨1時（由內政部的防範走私單位執法）、22日下午4時30分（由防範走私單位巡邏發現）及晚上8時30分（由霹靂國家公園與野生動物保護局、皇家柏隆公園及大馬世界自然基金會巡邏發現）。

“執法人員偽裝成普通人，在森林保護區及附近公路上發現可疑的外籍人士，背著大袋木材和車輛載有木材，揭發不法活動。”

他將執法行動的成就歸功於各單位參與的國家藍海策略與“一個天然資源和環境部執法組”。他說，走私地點位於北霹靂的皇家柏隆公園（總面積11萬7千500公頃）和安定繁榮森林保護區（總面積1萬8千866公頃）。

走私沉香木或製香薰產品

羅斯蘭說，走私的沉香木很可能被加工製成香薰產品如值錢的精油，短如尾指的小瓶精油市值500至2千令吉。

他指出，市場上的沉香木分為A（市值每公斤8千至1萬令吉）、B（市值每公斤5千至8千令吉）和C級（市值每公斤1千至5千令吉），越高級（A級）的沉香木色澤越黑香味越濃。

霹森林保護區通大路易走私

羅斯蘭說，由於公路穿梭霹靂州的森林保護區，如東西大道、新邦波賴金馬崙大道及打巴金馬崙公路，所以走私人士容易盜伐原始樹木。

“他們開車到森林的公路旁，放下外勞就離開。”他呼吁居住在森林保護區附近的人士，若發現當地出現可疑人士和交通工具，可聯絡森林局或警方。

Identification and selection of gaharu

There is a China gaharu authority website that teaches us how to identify and select gaharu products. The following article is taken and translated from this gaharu authority website.

Identification and selection of gaharu

The aroma will enter into the heart through nose and mouth. Thus, it has a very direct impact on the physical and mental aspects. Therefore, good quality aromas need to have pleasant smell, without bringing risk to the health and can recuperate our physical and mental. These are the basic principles in identification of gaharu products. Its aroma has various forms. In terms of cultures (Wén), its about living a healthy lifestyle; in terms of quality (zhì), its about enhancing one's health. With the healthy lifestyle and enhanced health, it’s the essence and real beauty for gaharu.

            However, there are wide ranges of gaharu. Thus, it is unsuitable to generalise the identification of gaharu. So, the following aspects listed should be paid attention during the identification.

Raw materials, formulation and processing

Natural flavours (including natural spices extracts) have higher health value as compared to synthetic fragrances. Synthetic fragrances are mostly made from coals chemicals, petrochemicals and other chemical raw materials that contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and other elements. It smells good, however, the chemical substances do bring a different levels of health hazards especially for smouldering incense products.

            Natural spices, as a contrast, it has high health values, nice aroma and rich in nutrient. Precious spice incense products are generally categorized as “chén tán lóng shè” which refers to gaharu, sandalwood, ambergris and musk. Gaharu is the essence in these four types of high quality spices. There are also other good quality spices that are widely used which are turmeric, roses and more.

            A good quality spices just like medicine. Both of them need to have good materials and good recipe. Single spice’s potency is usually biased. Thus, when we have two same quality spices (pure and mixture of spices), often, mixture of spices is more effective as compared to the pure spice.

Aroma characteristics

For people with general usage of incense, it is difficult for them to determine the incense quality from its appearance. So, smelling is the most direct and reliable determination method. However, there is a higher requirement on the person. There are some people that unawarely using poor quality incense. Unconsciously they formed habits of using low quality incense which can lead to low evaluation criteria. For new incense products, even experienced incense connoisseur might not able to have the right judgement. But, everything has a learning process. With more attention and careful during identification of gaharu quality, you will be more experienced. Thus, being able to determine a good quality gaharu will not be a problem. 

Due to different types of gaharu, there is no standard method in the identification. However, good quality of gaharu generally has the following characteristics:

• Fresh aroma and would not feel dizziness even smell it for a long time.
• Feeling refresh and sense of pleasure that would not cause impatient.
• Mellow smell, would not feel irritate even take a deep breath.
• Even it smell rich, you will not feel greasy. Or if the smell indifferent, its aroma also clearly discernible.
• Cannot trace any artificial flavour in the aroma even when the smell is obvious. You still can experience the natural smell.
• Its smell can make people relax and be in quiet and beautiful mood.
• It could produce a sense of physical and mental nourishment which make people willing to be in it.
• Mellow smell and you would not feel tired or bored with the smell.
• Long lasting.
• Natural gaharu can often reveal bitter and herbs smell from the aroma.
• Higher quality smouldering incense often have pale green whitish smoke, slightly smoke or smoke free.

            Abovementioned is just the general quality characteristics of gaharu. For the highest quality of gaharu, without personal experience, its smell is far beyond your imagination. Ancients describe high quality incense is panacea. It can help people with diseases. To have this high quality incense, your need to have superior quality gaharu, extraordinary recipe and professional incense maker. However, these are very hard to find in nowadays market.

Appearance

Basically, ordinary people are unable to determine gaharu quality just from its appearance. To make incense, all the materials need to go through a meticulous grinding and mixing processes. So, you can hardly see even one spice extract characteristic from its appearance. Low quality chemical additives can be used in making the incense surface look more attractive, smooth and clean while for most natural spices, its is in grey colour. Other than that, low quality chemical fragrance also can be used in producing pleasant aroma. Packaging also can be used in feigning a high quality and high grade incense. For a medium or low quality gaharu raw materials, it is unlikely that you cannot differentiate it. However, there are many ways could be applied to cover up and modify its quality.

            Hence, appearance could only provide limited information. High quality gaharu may look indifferent while low quality gaharu may look gorgeous. Therefore, we should be careful while determine the quality so that we would not mislead by its appearance. Basically, the most reliable identification method is through its aroma. For incense and incense coil, it could be determined with its weight. Although it’s not saying that heavier incense is better quality, but generally, lighter incense are mostly made from low quality raw materials such as plant ashes. Nevertheless, you cannot determine its quality by looking at their “volume”. There are many thick and long incense is made without proper compression which also means its materials bind very loose. 

For more information, please feel free to contact me with following contact details:

Office: +60 82 456095 (Ms. Jong)

Email: +60 14 6995976

沉香的鉴别与选择

中国权威沉香门户的沉香网当中有教我们该如何鉴别。而以下的文章就是从沉香网当中刊登的。

香气从口鼻入，通于肺腑气血，对身心两方面都有很直接的影响。所以，好香既要芳香宜人，还须不危害健康，且能调养身心，这应是鉴别香品的基本原则。可以说，其芳香是形式的，“文”的方面；其养生是内容的，“质”的方面。以养生养心为基础，达到芳香宜人，才是文质相成，真正的美轮美奂。

对于香品的鉴别，由于种类繁多，不便一概而论，但应注意以下几个方面：

原料、配方、工艺

天然香料（包括天然香料的萃取物）的养生价值远高于合成香料。合成香料系化学制品，其原料取自煤化工原料、石油化工原料等含有碳、氢、氧等元素的化学材料，虽然气味芳香，但作为化学制剂，对健康都存在不同程度的危害，熏烧类的香品尤其明显。

而天然香料正好相反，几乎都是药用植物，不仅有香气，还含有十分丰富的营养成分。名贵的品香香料一般是：“沉檀龙麝”，指的是沉香、檀香、龙涎香、麝香，以沉香为首，其它的还有郁金、玖瑰等，

好香就像良药，既要有好的材料，还要有好的配方。单一香料药性常有偏颇，所以若原料品级相同，其功效常不及多种香料配成的合香。而在两种合香之间，品质的高下则取决于香方的水准。

香气特征

对于普通的用香者来说，很难从外观上判断出香品的质量，所以品味香气是最直接也是较为可靠的鉴别方法。不过，这也对鉴赏者的水平有较高的要求。有些人可能长期使用品质较差的香而不觉察，不知不觉中形成了一些不好的用香习惯和评价标准；对于新接触的香品，即使有经验的用香者也未必能有正确的判断。但凡事都有一个学习的过程，只要注意多积累经验，多用心，培养出较好的判断力也不是件难事。

由于不同的香品其风格各异，没有划一的鉴别方法，但品质较好的香其香气一般都具有以下特点：

•香气清新，爽神，久用也不会有头晕的感觉；

•醒脑提神，有愉悦之感，但并不使人心浮气躁；

•香味醇和，浓淡适中，深呼吸也不觉得冲鼻；

•香味即使浓郁，也不会感觉气腻，即使恬淡，其香也清晰可辨；

•没有“人造香味”的痕迹，香气即使较为明显，也能体会到一种自然品质；

•使人身心放松，心绪沉静幽美；

•有滋养身心之感，使人愿意亲之近之；

•气息醇厚，耐品味，多用也无厌倦之感；

•留香较为持久；

•天然香料作的香，常能感觉到在芳香之中透出一些轻微的涩味和药材味；

•较好的熏烧类的香品，其烟气浅淡，为青白色，或微烟、无烟。

以上只是普通优质香的特点，至于上乘的极品合香，其美妙神奇则远远超出常人的经验，没有切身的体会难以想象。古人所云好香如妙药灵丹，可助人化病疗疾，开窍通关，悟妙成真，皆非虚言。要制出这样的好香，不仅要有上乘的香材，妙验的香方，还须有极高明的制香家，现在一般的市面上已很难见到了。

香品的外观

对普通人而言，基本上无法从香品的外观判断其品质。

香的原料在制作过程中都要经过细致的粉碎、搅拌处理，在成品中丝毫看不出材质的特点；利用劣质的染色剂可以调出漂亮的颜色（而天然香料做的香，颜色其实大多偏灰）；利用特殊的化学添加剂可以轻易使香品表面变得光滑洁净；利用低档的化学香精就可以芳香怡人；在包装上更容易貌似优质与高档。即使对于原态香材，也仅仅是稍好一点，不至于完全看不出优劣，但也有很多办法来掩盖和修改。

所以，香品外观所能提供的信息非常有限，质优香可能外观平平，质劣香可能外观华美。所以，应注意别被香品的外观所误导，基本上还是要靠香气来鉴别。

对于线香和盘香，还可以掂量其重量，虽然不是越重越好，但一般而言，很轻的香质量都较差，大多是使用了草木灰之类的原料。但不要看其“体积”，许多很粗很长的香，其实材料很疏松。

如有任何疑问，欢迎您联系我。
办公室号码：+60 82 456095
Email: hopebiotech.jong@gmail.com

沉香缘 - CCTV 10

沉香在华人文化中拥有着丰富的历史。它在中国文化中有着举足轻重的角色。除了在CCTV 7 上映的节目，中国电视台CCTV 10，探索科•发现的节目中也介绍了沉香。由此您可以看到沉香在中国市场有着什么样的身份和价值。

您可以从以下的链接观看沉香缘的节目。

http://www.artww.com/Videos/Play-1247-1911

沉香缘（上）

http://www.artww.com/Videos/Play-1247-1914

沉香缘（下）

如想了解更多详情，欢迎您联络我。

办公室：+60 82 456095

或可电邮致：hopebiotech.jong@gmail.com

中国电视台 CCTV 7 《致富经》

中国电视台，CCTV 7 《致富经》 里头有一个很特别的节目。它在介绍受折磨的木头，价钱却贵比黄金。 而它说的正是沉香！大家可以看看这节目，以便更了解沉香。除此之外，节目受访人，沈汝青也在节目里教授如何辨别真假沉香。

这节目可用链接观看。祝你享受这节目！
http://sannong.cntv.cn/program/zhifujing/20140311/105485.shtml

如有任何疑问或想了解更多详情，欢迎您联络我：
办公室： +60 82 456 095 （Ms. Jong）
或是电邮至： hopebiotech.jong@gmail.com

沉香市场报告 - By Sustainable Asset Management

上次我有分享“沉香市场报告”的连接，而现在为了方便您了解沉香的市场，我会把这份报告的主要内容和摘要分享出来。这份报告是由新加坡的Sustainable Asset Management所准备的。

沉香是一种非常珍贵的非木材森林产品。在3,000年前，它已被记录用于文化和宗教目的，横跨中东，埃及，日本，中国和印度。而它被广泛用于香水，香，药物，芳香疗法和文化宗教的仪式。在宗教记录中，沉香被伊斯兰教用于庆祝人生大事；佛教用于治疗病痛；而基督教用沉香熏基督的身体。

野生沉香树

沉香树是沉香的重要来源。而沉香树主要的生长地区为东南亚地区，如印度，泰国，马来西亚，向东到巴布亚新几内亚(Papua New Guinea)。健康的沉香树木为白色，柔软，无树脂。这些部位不能被加工成木材，因此，此部位价格较低。

可是，当沉香树收到某些外部因素，如雷击，虫咬或被微生物入侵时，它的防御系统会产生树脂，而这树脂就是沉香。据估计，自然感染发生的几率为3-7%。然而，沉香树是否被感染无法从其外部得知。因此，为找寻这价值高昂的沉香，许多沉香树被非法砍伐。

保护机构

为维持这珍奇的沉香，世界上最大的两个野生动植物保护机构都将沉香树列入濒危物种。而这两个机构为国际自然保育联盟（IUCN）和濒危野生动植物种国际贸易公约（CITES）。这两个机构在根除非法沉香交易，保护此物种和找出最有效的方法以持续发展沉香的合法市场扮演着很重要的角色。

沉香树种植

随着沉香产品交易的监管和认证的需求，企业制定了一共可以持续发展沉香市场的解决方案，那就是沉香树种植。而现在的科学已经能做在种植的沉香树上制造出感染的现象，从而引发沉香的产生（此方法也被称为植菌）。因此，沉香种植园主们可以生产可进行买卖而不被限制的沉香。

商业应用

沉香可用于制作许多产品。而这包括了香水，医药，饮料，沉香吊饰，甚至是日常用品如洗发水和肥皂。高需求，有限供应，使得它成为全世界最昂贵的木材。

沉香市场

根据估计，沉香产品的年度贸易介于美元60 – 120 个亿。其中只有月20%是合法并拥有CITES的许可证。沉香的贸易量是非常难以确定。那是因为绝大多数的贸易并没被记录。因此，它的价值并不容易取得。而高品质沉香油的价格范围从每升50,000美元至80,000美元。

每托拉（约11.6克）沉香油零售价格（美元）

每公斤沉香碎片的价钱（美元）

沉香等级

沉香的市场和价格一般是根据市场专家的标准而定制，并没有一套通用的沉香分级标准。而当他们在鉴定沉香的品质时，他们会根据以下的性质决定。

沉香碎片是根据：

• 香气，
• 原产国，
• 香味的持续时间，
• 沉香的颜色，和
•  大小和厚度。

而沉香油是根据： 

• 香气，
• 原产国，
• 香味持续时间，和
•  颜色、厚度和密度。

结论

沉香是一个很特别的木材。在它未受感染前，树的价值有限。只有在他被感染后，它所含有的树脂，使其价格飙升。在沉香树种植的投资是属于林业投资。他应被视为中长期机会，以最少的供应和需求的波动为基础。它耐用的性质和多样化的应用提供了稳定和持续的回酬。

Summary of Agarwood Market Report by Sustainable Asset Management

As what I found in this report is very informative in agarwood (gaharu) worldwide market. Thus, I would like to summarise the important details in this report. 

Gaharu is being highly prized as a non-timber forest product which has a history dating back thousands of years. As recorded, gaharu had been used for cultural and religious purposes dating back over 3,000 years spanning the Middle East, Egypt, Japan, China and India. As reported, gaharu had been used in Islam in celebrating important life events; Buddhism used gaharu in ailing people and Christianity used gaharu to embalm the body of Christ. 

Gaharu trees in the wild
Gaharu trees are the most important source of gaharu. Gaharu trees are an indigenous species to the Southeast Asia region such as India, Thailand, Malaysia and eastwards to Papua New Guinea. The healthy wood of gaharu trees is white, soft and without resin. These parts cannot be processed into timber, thus, the value is very low. 

When the trees are being affected by certain external factors such as the lightning strike, animal grazing, insect attack or microbial invasion, it will produce resin as the defensive reaction and this resin is known as gaharu. Estimates suggest the naturally occurs infection in the wild are as few as 3 - 7% only. Nevertheless, it is difficult to know from the exterior whether the tree is infected or not. Consequently, many gaharu trees are illegally logged in order to find this small number of infected trees. 

Protecting the species today
The two most notable protectorate bodies involved in active preservation of the gaharu tree are IUCN and CITES. Both organisations are critical in the drive to eradicate the illegal trades, protect the species and identifying pragmatic and effective methods to sustainably develop a legal market place for gaharu. 

Gaharu trees plantation
With the regulation and certification fo trade in the gaharu products, there comes an opportunity for businesses to develop a sustainable market based solution - gaharu trees plantation. Science nowadays has been able to recreate the infection process in plantation grown trees which is known as inoculation. As a result, gaharu trees plantation owners can now produce commercially viable quantities of gaharu for sales and distribution. 

Commercial application
There is many commercial application for the gaharu, from cultural, social and medicine to haute couture. The high global demand, with limited supply, makes it the most expensive wood in the world. It is used in cancer research, to treat respiratory disorders; given as gifts and used in ceremonial practices for both religious and non-religious all over the world. It is also carved into sculptures, beads and boxes; and luxury perfumery houses also use the oil in their fragrances. It is also used in making gaharu tea that believes can bring health benefits. 

Gaharu market
It has been estimated that the worldwide annual trade in gaharu is somewhere between USD 6 - 12 billion of which it is estimated that only about 20% is legal and carries the appropriate CITES permits. The worldwide trade in gaharu volumes is extremely difficult to ascertain because the vast majority of the business is undocumented. Data on pricing and values are therefore not easy to obtain. The price of high quality gaharu oil varies and can range from USD 50,000 to USD 80,000 per litre, depending on perceived quality. 

Another type of common gaharu product sell is gaharu chips. It may sell for several hundred to several thousand US dollars per kilogram. Gaharu chips and flakes are the most common forms of gaharu traded. 

Retail prices of gaharu oil per tola (USD)

Price per kilo of gaharu chips (USD)

The same observation can be made for both the market for gaharu chips and gaharu oil. A combination of factors such as: stock depletion in the wild leading to reduced supply, tighter regulation imposed by protectorate bodies has fueled the perception of rarity leading to rising prices.

Gaharu grading
The market and pricing for gaharu chips and gaharu oil can be subjective and dependent on unofficial grading and pricing mechanisms - generally determined by market experts as opposed to a common set of market standards. When considering the quality of gaharu chips and oil, the following characteristics are taken into account. 

• Gaharu chips
• Aroma,
• Country of origin,
• Duration of fragrance,
• Colour of wood, and
• Size and thickness.
• Gaharu oil
• Aroma ,
• Country of origin,
• Duration of fragrance, and
• Colour/Thickness/Density.

Conclusion
The gaharu tree is a special story. In its uninfected state, the tree has limited value and only when it becomes infected, does it then contain the illusive resin that makes the value soar. 

An investment in gaharu trees plantation is an investment in forestry and should be considered a medium to long term opportunity underpinned by minimal supply and demand fluctuations. It's durable nature and its varied applications offer stable and constant returns. It is widely accepted that investment in forestry assets, especially those with specialist applications, will offer lasting benefits not only to the investor, but also the forestry industry and the environment as a whole.