Long diên hương is a gray wax substance produced in the digestive system of beavers, hardening over time and extremely rare.
This type of stone used to be used in the perfume industry, but today it is largely replaced by synthetic materials and is only used in some expensive perfumes.
Many times Vietnamese fishermen have accidentally caught this valuable product.
In June 2019, Mr. Tran Anh Vũ Th. (resident of Thong Nhat ward, Pleiku City, Gia Lai) was given 2 stones weighing nearly 1.5kg. The special thing about these 2 stones is that they have a very fragrant scent similar to perfume.
Mr. Th. shared that the two stones were found by a fisherman. Initially, they were covered with a layer of dirt, smelled foul, so the person sold them to a scrap buying shop. A friend later bought them back and gave them to Mr. Th., including a white stone weighing about 0.9kg and a red stone weighing about 0.6kg.
A person is willing to pay 5 billion VND for the two stones believed to be long diên hương.
Someone has asked to buy the two stones for 5 billion VND, but Mr. Th. refuses to sell. Many enthusiasts have also determined that Mr. Th.’s two stones are special and rare long diên hương stones, sought after by many people in the gemstone and medicinal herb collecting community.
Shortly after that, in July 2020, a diver named N.H.T. living in Quang Ngai province also accidentally discovered a red stone block weighing about 4kg lodged between rocks under the sea. Feeling strange, he picked it up and brought it home. The surprise is that this stone block emanates a very pleasant fragrance like perfume.
The owner of a seafood business in Quang Ngai province, after hearing the news, came to Mr. T.’s house to see the stone block. Then, this person offered 1.2 billion VND to buy the stone block. Mr. T. accepted the offer and sold it to the business owner.
The stone believed to be long diên hương found by Mr. T. before (right) and after (left). (Photo: PLVN)
A few days later, Mr. T. went back to the beach and discovered another stone block, similar to the initial one but larger in size. Then, Mr. T. brought this stone block home.
The stone block emits the same fragrance as the old one, beautiful red color, with a weight of 14kg. On the surface of this wax stone, there are also fossils.
In November 2022, a fisherman named Tran Quan (resident of Thuan An ward, Hue City, Thua Thien-Hue province) said that while fishing at sea, the fishermen on Mr. Quan’s fishing boat recovered a strange object believed to be a rare long diên hương stone.
The strange object is round in shape, with a grayish-white exterior and a light pink interior, weighing nearly 3kg, currently being preserved by Mr. Quan at home. This object is flexible, sticky like wax and has a peculiar fragrance. After touching this object, even after washing it several times, the fragrance still lingers.
The stone believed to be long diên hương found by Mr. Quan. (Photo: CAND)
When picked up, the outer surface of this object is quite lumpy, has a very fragrant smell, and is flexible. Comparing the shape and color of this object with images of long diên hương, Mr. Quan has determined that it is long diên hương.
