Through a journey both dark and beautiful, we trace one of the world’s most expensive commodities from its end users in the Middle East to its source in the forests of Southeast Asia.

For as long as he can remember, oud, or agarwood, has been a part of Ali Mohamed al-Woozain’s life. In his birthplace, Qatar, the scent of this rare and special wood was used in his home, in the homes of his neighbours and in the mosque.

Known as the "Wood of the Gods", oud is the basis of some of the world’s most extravagant perfumes.

Derived from the resinous bark of a tree that only grows exclusively in parts of Southeast Asia, it is also one of the world’s rarest and most expensive commodities - kilo for kilo, it is more costly than gold.