Our Family Story

Three generations, one trust in Vietnamese agarwood.

From our grandparents’ journeys into the forest to our showroom in Westminster — the story of Trầm Hương Nguyễn has been written in sweat, patience, and a deep reverence for one of Vietnam’s most sacred woods.

The Nguyễn family — three generations keeping the agarwood tradition alive
Three generations of the Nguyễn family beside pieces from our family’s archive.

It began in the forests of central Vietnam

The story goes that when my grandfather was a young forester in the mountains of Quảng Nam, he spent his days with the Aquilaria tree — the mother tree of agarwood. Every time he found a natural piece of agarwood, he would bring it home, set it aside, and tell his children about the true value of this wood.

Agarwood is not a product you rush. It is the result of decades — sometimes centuries — of the Aquilaria tree slowly accumulating resin, turning ordinary wood into something fragrant, warm, and rare.

My grandfather used to say: “Agarwood isn’t meant to be sold to anyone who wants to buy. It must reach the hands of someone who understands its worth.”
Hương Nguyễn — our founder Agarwood pieces from the Nguyễn family

Continuing on — my mother’s generation

My mother — Hương Nguyễn — grew up surrounded by the scent of agarwood. Through Vietnam’s hardest years, she learned how to tell real agarwood from fake, how to pair it with gold, and how to read a scent and know where the wood was born.

When she came to America to start over, she didn’t just bring a suitcase of clothes — she brought an entire family craft with her. She knew that the overseas Vietnamese community missed home, and that agarwood was one way to keep that connection alive.

A simple philosophy

Our family only sells what we would be willing to wear ourselves. No pressed oils, no scented treatments, no blending. If it’s not good enough for someone in our family, it’s not good enough to sell to you.

Westminster — our new home

In 2008, Trầm Hương Nguyễn officially opened its showroom inside Asian Garden Mall (Phước Lộc Thọ) in Westminster — the heart of the Vietnamese community in Southern California.

We chose this location for one simple reason: we wanted customers to come in person, hold the piece in their hand, smell the wood, and look the seller in the eye before making a decision. Buying agarwood shouldn’t be a rushed online transaction — it should be a meeting.

Seventeen years have passed, and our showroom is still at the same address. Customers come and go — but many return after five, ten years, to tell their children about the strand they once bought here.

Hương Nguyễn — Founder of Trầm Hương Nguyễn
From The Founder

Hương Nguyễn

I don’t see myself as a seller of agarwood. I’m an heir — inheriting from my grandparents, from my mother, from the foresters who spent their lives finding precious wood. My work is to make sure that when a strand reaches your hand, it still carries the soul of the forest.

Trầm Hương Nguyễn will never be a large brand — because real agarwood cannot be mass-produced. But we commit to always being a place you can trust.

Our Customers

Where the Vietnamese community has trusted us.

Customer of Trầm Hương Nguyễn
Customer of Trầm Hương Nguyễn
Customer of Trầm Hương Nguyễn
Customer of Trầm Hương Nguyễn
Customer of Trầm Hương Nguyễn
Customer of Trầm Hương Nguyễn
Customer of Trầm Hương Nguyễn
Customer of Trầm Hương Nguyễn
Core Values

Three things that never change.

I.

Transparency of origin

We can tell you where every strand comes from — which province, which type of tree, when it was harvested. There is no trade secret worth hiding.

II.

Fair pricing

Our prices reflect the true value of the piece — not inflated to look “luxury,” not discounted to undercut others. Compare us with anyone.

III.

After the sale

Every piece comes with a warranty and long-term care guidance. Five, ten years from now — if you need us, we’re still here.

Request Consultation

Want to know more about us?

Visit our showroom in Westminster, or send a request — we’ll call you back and share more about our pieces, their origin, and how to choose the right agarwood.

Or reach us directly: (714) 588-9989 · Messenger
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