Scent plays a vital role in human sexuality. Pheromone perfumes find prominence in upmarket western fragrance lines for their ability to attract the opposite sex. But ancient sciences discovered the aphrodisiacal properties of agar centuries ago. The earthiness and warmth of agarwood’s highly potent fragrance is known to improve sexual energy.

Apart from Chinese medicine, Unani has also advocated the use of agarwood oil to improve overall health and boost sexual stamina. “Agarwood oil has been an integral part of Unani formulations. Tried and tested remedies like ‘Qurs Kushta Tila Kalan’ and ‘Lahmina’ tonics that boost sexual vigour have a portion of it,” says Tajul Islam Bakshi of Assam Aromas, one of India’s foremost agarwood distillers and exporters. He says that although the skyrocketing cost of agarwood oil has limited its use in Unani medicine, there are still some hakims in Delhi who use it.

It is believed that burning agarwood chips over charcoal during sex can improve performance. “Oud being aphrodisiacal is subjective,” says Singh. “Auto-suggestions and placebos can work on the human psyche. I have even heard of some bizarre cases when people mixed a tiny drop of oud oil with their paan to improve sexual performance! It’s like a doctor I know who would make his male patients virile with his ‘secret magic remedy’—nothing but a simple B-complex injection!