The refreshing scent of sandalwood has been a part of Asian cultures for centuries, and is used in a multitude of ways in the modern age as well. From cosmetics to aromatherapy, from medicine to technology, and in some aboriginal cultures the seeds of sandalwood plants are even used as a food source. Let's take a brief look at the differences between the two varieties of sandalwood, its many uses and how to tell the difference between the real thing and fabricated sandalwood.
Botany
The name 'sandalwood' is actually the name of a class of fragrant wood trees that are parasitic, meaning they feed on other trees in order to survive. The two most common members of the sandalwood group are Indian sandalwood and Australian sandalwood, but there are others grown in Hawaii, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia. Indian sandalwood is endemic to South India, mostly growing in the mountains of the region. In the past this has been the most over harvested and threatened class of sandalwood. However the Indian government is working towards protecting the trees, as they have now taken ownership of all sandalwood trees in the country.
Hawaiian sandalwood was first encountered by Europeans at the end of the 18th century. It was considered of very high quality and harvested in massive quantities. Inevitably that led to near destruction of the species and by 1825 Hawaiian sandalwood was extremely rare. Today the trees have begun to emerge again, but reaching their former abundance is a long way off. Australian sandalwood is the variety most used for aromatherapy and cosmetic purposes today. The single biggest difference between Australian sandalwoods and those of other regions is the concentration. Far more oil can be extracted from Australian sandalwood, which means the volume of harvest is reduced.
Harvest and Production
Sandal saplings take about fourteen years to reach full wood maturity. The wood of a sandalwood tree is heavy for the size, but has a fine grain that is well suited to decorative wood carving. A sandalwood tree is fragrant before it is harvested, but explodes with perfume once cut. Every single inch of the tree emits a scent, therefore harvesting involves pulling the entire sandalwood tree from the ground instead of just cutting it down. Both the wood itself and the oils extracted from the tree emit the iconic scent, but it is the wood that retains its fragrance for up to fifty years.
Religious Use
Sandalwood is regularly used in religious rituals in Hinduism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Shinto, Confucianism, and Taoism. Through the use of scent, it is believed a greater level of spiritual consciousness can be achieved. Those who practice Hindu use sandalwood paste in ceremonial rituals and to mark important religious instruments. Religious icons are also decorated with sandalwood paste as mark of protection and reverence. In fact, sandalwood is held in such high esteem in Hinduism that only priests may prepare the paste in a temple and during the appropriate ceremony. Buddhists believe sandalwood heightens one's senses during meditation and brings them closer to Amitabha Buddha.
The presence of sandalwood oils, paste and incense in religious rituals is perhaps the most ancient of all its uses. And in reality, the woody fragrance can certainly invoke thoughts of relaxing meditative hours in the peacefulness of a far off forest. What better place to entertain such visions of leisure than nestled in your own home? Stay tuned for the next article in this series as we explore the usefulness of sandalwood oil in medical technology, and how to find good sandalwood soap that contains the real oils and not a knock-off product.
Botany
The name 'sandalwood' is actually the name of a class of fragrant wood trees that are parasitic, meaning they feed on other trees in order to survive. The two most common members of the sandalwood group are Indian sandalwood and Australian sandalwood, but there are others grown in Hawaii, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia. Indian sandalwood is endemic to South India, mostly growing in the mountains of the region. In the past this has been the most over harvested and threatened class of sandalwood. However the Indian government is working towards protecting the trees, as they have now taken ownership of all sandalwood trees in the country.
Hawaiian sandalwood was first encountered by Europeans at the end of the 18th century. It was considered of very high quality and harvested in massive quantities. Inevitably that led to near destruction of the species and by 1825 Hawaiian sandalwood was extremely rare. Today the trees have begun to emerge again, but reaching their former abundance is a long way off. Australian sandalwood is the variety most used for aromatherapy and cosmetic purposes today. The single biggest difference between Australian sandalwoods and those of other regions is the concentration. Far more oil can be extracted from Australian sandalwood, which means the volume of harvest is reduced.
Harvest and Production
Sandal saplings take about fourteen years to reach full wood maturity. The wood of a sandalwood tree is heavy for the size, but has a fine grain that is well suited to decorative wood carving. A sandalwood tree is fragrant before it is harvested, but explodes with perfume once cut. Every single inch of the tree emits a scent, therefore harvesting involves pulling the entire sandalwood tree from the ground instead of just cutting it down. Both the wood itself and the oils extracted from the tree emit the iconic scent, but it is the wood that retains its fragrance for up to fifty years.
Religious Use
Sandalwood is regularly used in religious rituals in Hinduism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Shinto, Confucianism, and Taoism. Through the use of scent, it is believed a greater level of spiritual consciousness can be achieved. Those who practice Hindu use sandalwood paste in ceremonial rituals and to mark important religious instruments. Religious icons are also decorated with sandalwood paste as mark of protection and reverence. In fact, sandalwood is held in such high esteem in Hinduism that only priests may prepare the paste in a temple and during the appropriate ceremony. Buddhists believe sandalwood heightens one's senses during meditation and brings them closer to Amitabha Buddha.
The presence of sandalwood oils, paste and incense in religious rituals is perhaps the most ancient of all its uses. And in reality, the woody fragrance can certainly invoke thoughts of relaxing meditative hours in the peacefulness of a far off forest. What better place to entertain such visions of leisure than nestled in your own home? Stay tuned for the next article in this series as we explore the usefulness of sandalwood oil in medical technology, and how to find good sandalwood soap that contains the real oils and not a knock-off product.
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