An agarwood bracelet is many people's first agarwood piece. When starting out, you don't need to get it right in one step—steadily taking three steps is more important than chasing high prices.
The prerequisite for collecting is recognizing the "true scent." It is recommended to first encounter several natural agarwood pieces from different producing regions and at different price points, repeatedly smelling them and remembering the direction of each scent. Once you have a baseline in your mind, when you encounter an off scent, your nose will raise the alarm earlier than the parameters.
The value of a bracelet is largely written in its oil lines. Oil lines from natural resin formation follow the grain and vary in depth; traces of artificial or treated pieces tend to be more "neat." You don't need to be an expert, but being able to distinguish "natural" from "deliberate" will let you avoid most low-quality pieces.
Daily wear, gifting, and long-term collection follow different budget logic. For daily wear, simply choose one with a comfortable scent and proper appearance; for long-term collection, then consider producing region and completeness. For beginners, buying the first bracelet as something they "like and that is genuine" is far more meaningful than buying something "expensive."
Collecting is a matter of dealing with the long term. The first bracelet need not be perfect, but it should live up to your own nose.
Explain your specific situation clearly, and we will give corresponding judgments and suggestions—sourcing, personal use, and authentication are all accepted.
Consult about agarwood-related questions