Sandalwood is the wood of trees of the genus Santalum, and found in India, Hawaii, and many south Pacific islands. It is most commonly used for incense, aromatherapy, and perfume, rather than building. However, temples have been built with sandalwood in India and retain the aroma after centuries. It is said to have been used for embalming the corpses of native princes in Ceylon since the 9th century. Jewelry boxes, fans, and ornate carvings continue to be made in many parts of Asia using sandalwood.

Source

Indian sandalwood (S. album) is currently in serious shortage and very expensive. Although all sandalwood trees in India are government owned and their harvest is strictly controlled, many of the sandalwood trees are still illegally cut and smuggled out by local gangs for export. Sandal essential oil prices

There has been some successes in sandalwood cultivation.

West Indian sandalwood (Amyris balsamifera) is neither Indian nor in the sandalwood family; it is in the rue family. Components of amyris essential oil are fully different from sandalwood oil.

Cultivation

Sandalwood is difficult to cultivate, not only due to its germination and growth needs, but also the amount of growing time required for the tree to properly mature. Germination of sandalwood seeds is not completely understood. Seeds cannot be effectively stored, and must be planted upon harvesting them from a fruiting tree. Even in doing this, the seeds may not germinate. As

Furthermore, although sandalwood photosynthesizes on its own, the plant itself is a semi-parasite whose roots will seek out and tap the root systems of surrounding trees for water and nutrients. This requires that each sandalwood sapling be grown together next to four to five host trees. Pruning of host trees are also needed at times since sandalwood require much sunlight.

To produce commercially valuable sandalwood with high levels of fragrance oils, the trees have to be at least 40 years of age but 80 or above is preferred. As such, those who begin cultivation of sandalwood will not live to reap the rewards of their work. However, inferior sandalwood that has been cut or toppled at 30 years old can still fetch a decent price due to the demand for real sandalwood.

Beyond that, growing sandalwood is not difficult since it becomes more resistant to pest and disease as it matures.

Use

Fragrance

Sandalwood essential oil provides perfumes with a striking wood base note. Sandalwood smells are not unlike other wood scents with the exception that it has a bright and fresh edge with few natural analogues. When used smaller proportions in a perfume, it is an excellent fixative to enhance the head space of other fragrances.

Religious use

Sandalwood is considered in alternative medicine to bring one closer with the divine. Sandalwood essential oil, which is very expensive in its pure form, is used primarily for Ayurvedic purposes, and treating anxiety.

In Buddhism, sandalwood are considered to be of the Padma (lotus) group and attributed to the Bodhisattva Amitabha. Sandalwood scent is believed to transform one's desires and maintain a person's alertness while in meditation.

Sandalwood, along with agarwood, is the most popular and commonly used incense material by the Chinese and Japanese in worship and various ceremonies.

Medicine

Sandalwood essential oil was popular in medicine up to 1920-1930, mostly as urogenital (internal) and skin (external) antiseptic. Today it is used in aromatherapy.

Bibliography

• Mandy Aftel, Essence and Alchemy: A Natural History of Perfume, Gibbs Smith, 2001, ISBN 1-58685-702-9

Santal Cendana Sandelhout 香木