Wood Grading

[Andrew Salkin]

Been learning more and more and seeing more vendors websites, IGs, etc.

Seen words like Queen, King, Baby King, Underwater (imagine sinking means same thing), semi-sinking, incense grade, crayon, collection grade?

Do different countries have different grading systems? Is the below range about right?

C
B
A
AA
AAA
Super
Double Super
Triple Super
Queen
Baby King
King
Half-Sinking
Sinking
Fast Sinking

 

[Joe King]

I think that is correct generally, although some suppliers may have differing idea's. Also my understanding is underwater is supposed to mean the tree was found submerged, and I am not sure if this is being applied correctly. There is also soil wood which is from trees that have been found beneath the ground.
edit: it should be noted that grade does not necessarily equate to the quality of smell.

 

[Mr.P]

I didn’t realize all those fancy grades were still not sinking quality. Somehow I thought king and super king would sink!

the grading system is comical. The whole industry - it’s like people have been exaggerating and hyping their wares for centuries and ever more self-aggrandizing labels are needed.

it’s like Spinal Tap’s amplifiers going up to 11...

can we add “rainbow unicorn” and “super ultra”??

 

[Joe King]

I didn’t realize all those fancy grades were still not sinking quality. Somehow I thought king and super king would sink!

the grading system is comical. The whole industry - it’s like people have been exaggerating and hyping their wares for centuries and ever more self-aggrandizing labels are needed.

it’s like Spinal Tap’s amplifiers going up to 11...

can we add “rainbow unicorn” and “super ultra”??

Yes indeed the industry is self regulated and mostly relies on vendors honesty. Grading is supposed to relate to the amount of resination of the wood, high resination does not always mean sinking.
edit. I did have an amplifier that went to 11 but the smoke got out ...

 

[Alkhadra]

Been learning more and more and seeing more vendors websites, IGs, etc.

Seen words like Queen, King, Baby King, Underwater (imagine sinking means same thing), semi-sinking, incense grade, crayon, collection grade?

Do different countries have different grading systems? Is the below range about right?

C
B
A
AA
AAA
Super
Double Super
Triple Super
Queen
Baby King
King
Half-Sinking
Sinking
Fast Sinking

Hey there! I'd list it more like this:

C
B
AB
A
Super
Double Super
Triple Super (Not an actual grade, in the Malay/Indonesia region, large, chunkier pieces of double super are called triple super)
Half-sinking
Sinking
Fast Sinking
Then afterwards comes all the king stuff. Baby king, king, blah blah.

But every place has their own grading scheme, what I call super others call triple super, what you call C others call A.

The grading system that follows the C, B, A, AA, AAA, and so on is an entirely different one.

To make matters worse, go to Cambodia, they call their AB grade "Triple King Super". lol

As for the rest of the terms you've mentioned. crayon, collection grade, incense grade, those can be considered marketing terms. Vendors can create their own criteria for a certain quality of wood and give it a name so that customers can be familiar with what that vendor is offering.

Semi-sinking is basically half-sinking.
Underwater means the Oud doesn't float if you put it in water...ie, sinking. In the gulf region, Sinking grade is called Underwater.

Queen grade is a difficult one though, and I'm not about to invade my Oud and start checking its gender either. That's considered a form of harassment in these parts.

 

[Andrew Salkin]

Is it just me or are smaller pieces actually preferable in the lower grades? I find that bigger chunks of gotten of "Super" or "Double Super" are just disappointing because upon cutting open, the center is usually devoid of any resin...

I'm about to buy a package of wood from one of these isntagram sellers - probably agarwoodvietnam or the like - I see them post all the time really great looking wood at epicly low prices. I'll be the guinea pig

 

[Moe Ab]

Is it just me or are smaller pieces actually preferable in the lower grades? I find that bigger chunks of gotten of "Super" or "Double Super" are just disappointing because upon cutting open, the center is usually devoid of any resin...

I'm about to buy a package of wood from one of these isntagram sellers - probably agarwoodvietnam or the like - I see them post all the time really great looking wood at epicly low prices. I'll be the guinea pig

Share your experience please.

 

[Imran S]

Is it just me or are smaller pieces actually preferable in the lower grades? I find that bigger chunks of gotten of "Super" or "Double Super" are just disappointing because upon cutting open, the center is usually devoid of any resin...

I'm about to buy a package of wood from one of these isntagram sellers - probably agarwoodvietnam or the like - I see them post all the time really great looking wood at epicly low prices. I'll be the guinea pig

Smaller pieces have worked better for me as well



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Anwar]

Is it just me or are smaller pieces actually preferable in the lower grades? I find that bigger chunks of gotten of "Super" or "Double Super" are just disappointing because upon cutting open, the center is usually devoid of any resin...

I'm about to buy a package of wood from one of these isntagram sellers - probably agarwoodvietnam or the like - I see them post all the time really great looking wood at epicly low prices. I'll be the guinea pig

Amber Oud has really awsome looking chips. He aslo seems to take special care in the cleaning process to get rid off all of the "bunk" aspects. From his vids, his chips almost "ping" like a silver coin, compared to some other vendors' nickel! Also, azman_oudh. His pieces look amazing, and numerous forum users have praised his product.

 

[Andrew Salkin]

Never heard of amberoud. Instagram?

 

[iori]

Never heard of amberoud. Instagram?

https://amberoud.com
https://www.instagram.com/amber_oud/

 

[Oudamberlove]

Just for the record
I have no affiliation with Amber Oud

But talk about presentation...
the pictures of the oudh chips on that site
are so beautiful

 

[Andrew Salkin]

Hmm - I was actually thinking they look like your standard cultivated fare. I haven't had a chance to convert the pricing into US to see what they are charging per gram yet. If under 5, I'd be game to try some of this wood.

 

[Anwar]

Hmm - I was actually thinking they look like your standard cultivated fare. I haven't had a chance to convert the pricing into US to see what they are charging per gram yet. If under 5, I'd be game to try some of this wood.

He does have Trat. But also a lot of other woods, Hindi, Cambodi, etc. Prices vary. And the Kuwaiti Dinar is STRONG, compared to the dollar!

 

[Godoud]

Been learning more and more and seeing more vendors websites, IGs, etc.

Seen words like Queen, King, Baby King, Underwater (imagine sinking means same thing), semi-sinking, incense grade, crayon, collection grade?

Do different countries have different grading systems? Is the below range about right?

C
B
A
AA
AAA
Super
Double Super
Triple Super
Queen
Baby King
King
Half-Sinking
Sinking
Fast Sinking

Ok, all the king queen prince all does not exist lol these are all fanciful terms started by Arabs AAA, supet double super loL
Sinking, half sink, all these yes. And most importantly only 2 group
Wild natural or others ( fake, stimulant, cultivated,)

 

[iori]

^ so true, most of people here use that terms here and ofcourse its different from person to person, each grade it what he say ofcouse 99& of time it's not correct, so far in market many so called double super or triple barely any good

 

[Godoud]

Yes ignore all these self made terms.
Natural wild means natural wild no more no less. Double means? Injection plus boiling lOl
How all these people twisted and make new term making simple stuff complicated

 

[Alion22]

Do the sinking grade ouds have less top notes ?

 

[Godoud]

Do the sinking grade ouds have less top notes ?

Depends on the nature of the wood

 

[dmaisu]

Hey there! I'd list it more like this:

C
B
AB
A
Super
Double Super
Triple Super (Not an actual grade, in the Malay/Indonesia region, large, chunkier pieces of double super are called triple super)
Half-sinking
Sinking
Fast Sinking
Then afterwards comes all the king stuff. Baby king, king, blah blah.

But every place has their own grading scheme, what I call super others call triple super, what you call C others call A.

The grading system that follows the C, B, A, AA, AAA, and so on is an entirely different one.

To make matters worse, go to Cambodia, they call their AB grade "Triple King Super". lol

As for the rest of the terms you've mentioned. crayon, collection grade, incense grade, those can be considered marketing terms. Vendors can create their own criteria for a certain quality of wood and give it a name so that customers can be familiar with what that vendor is offering.

Semi-sinking is basically half-sinking.
Underwater means the Oud doesn't float if you put it in water...ie, sinking. In the gulf region, Sinking grade is called Underwater.

Queen grade is a difficult one though, and I'm not about to invade my Oud and start checking its gender either. That's considered a form of harassment in these parts.

Hi. I am new to oud and learning alot of stuff on this forum. I note you listed the grading. Can you state the specifications of each grade, how is a wood determined to be in a certain grade.
Thanks and appreciate the response.