Resin-rich agarwood from matured Aquilaria trees is carefully harvested and chipped into small pieces. These chips are soaked in water for several days to initiate natural fermentation. The softened wood is then placed in large copper vessels called deg along with water and gently heated. As the steam rises, it carries the complex oud aroma through pipes into a receiver (bhapka). Over many days, the oil gradually separates from the water and is collected drop by drop. This traditional hydro-distillation or deg-bhapka technique captures the deep, authentic essence of oud in its purest, most natural form without any synthetic additives.