People here may already know, it is well known, but I thought I would post just in case, most sandalwood you get and I do mean MOST if not ALL is not real.
Real sandalwood is extreeeemely expensive and precious, it is controlled by governments in Asia. The tree is endangered, and can't be farmed because of the very specific and delicate balances and conditions required, it is actually a parasitic tree and it takes at least 50 years before it is grown enough to get a good harvest/mateiral out of it. People have been killed to get the stuff, like when elephants are hunted for their ivory and people defend them. That is not to say there are not good imitations out there, that are made from a blend of other natural and organic materials to mimic the fragrance. Most of it is kept in India for spiritual use, it is traditional and therapeutic, it centers the mind yet seems to encourage the ability to step outside of it.
I do a blog on my perfume interest and ended up doing a fair amount of research into this, that is why I have become aware. If you care to read my entry on it, it's at www.indieperfumes.com, scroll down to see the entry on Sandalwood. Also on Indian aromatic materials, they have amazing things we cannot even get over here. I am hoping in the future that those will become more available to us. Unfortunately, at this time, the Indian perfume makers who have a tradition of thousands of years are being kind of taken over by imitations of Western mass market scents, because that's what their young and rich want right now. Until they wake up one day soon, and realize how great their own tradition is. Maybe in ten years...hopefully less...
Ironically, if you want to know what real sandalwood is like, you have to try the very expensive couture fragrances, like Creed Santal, they have a special exclusive deal with a temple in Sri Lanka, who sells them real sandalwood. They are actually still making their perfume the "old" way, the last ones of that type of perfumer doing this. But they are very very expensive. You can try their stuff at the places that sell it, and they like to talk about it to you, too, so it's pretty educational...
Real sandalwood is extreeeemely expensive and precious, it is controlled by governments in Asia. The tree is endangered, and can't be farmed because of the very specific and delicate balances and conditions required, it is actually a parasitic tree and it takes at least 50 years before it is grown enough to get a good harvest/mateiral out of it. People have been killed to get the stuff, like when elephants are hunted for their ivory and people defend them. That is not to say there are not good imitations out there, that are made from a blend of other natural and organic materials to mimic the fragrance. Most of it is kept in India for spiritual use, it is traditional and therapeutic, it centers the mind yet seems to encourage the ability to step outside of it.
I do a blog on my perfume interest and ended up doing a fair amount of research into this, that is why I have become aware. If you care to read my entry on it, it's at www.indieperfumes.com, scroll down to see the entry on Sandalwood. Also on Indian aromatic materials, they have amazing things we cannot even get over here. I am hoping in the future that those will become more available to us. Unfortunately, at this time, the Indian perfume makers who have a tradition of thousands of years are being kind of taken over by imitations of Western mass market scents, because that's what their young and rich want right now. Until they wake up one day soon, and realize how great their own tradition is. Maybe in ten years...hopefully less...
Ironically, if you want to know what real sandalwood is like, you have to try the very expensive couture fragrances, like Creed Santal, they have a special exclusive deal with a temple in Sri Lanka, who sells them real sandalwood. They are actually still making their perfume the "old" way, the last ones of that type of perfumer doing this. But they are very very expensive. You can try their stuff at the places that sell it, and they like to talk about it to you, too, so it's pretty educational...
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Re: Sandalwood
Mon, November 13, 2006 - 2:55 AMjavascript:ShowPopUp('www.materiaaromatica.com/acata...,100); -
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Re: Sandalwood
Mon, November 13, 2006 - 2:58 AMsorry about the mess in the previous post...
the people who supply my aromatherapy products have an interesting entry: Sandalwood - Indian or Caledonian!
Am trying to link the article here: www.materiaaromatica.com/acata...4.html -
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Re: Sandalwood
Tue, November 14, 2006 - 9:56 PM
one of the rarest REAL scents to experience.
I can only imagine what true Sandalwood smells like?
anyone care to share a bit of the "real deal" ~A~
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Re: Sandalwood
Sat, November 18, 2006 - 3:14 AMI've read they are trying to cultivate it in Australia, though it is very difficult, and it occurs naturally in some Pacific Islands, but I've read that many feel it is not the same as sandalwood from India, the soil conditions and so forth are very different, though the Pacific Islands would be more similar, much like those who produce Champagne or other special wines in France don't really care much for wines from California or Australia, or even Italy or Spain or Germany, though they are considered fine in their own right, and the ones from CA are supposedly getting very good, since the climate conditions are similar and the soil is good, tho different. It's similar with sandalwood. Also in India the best comes from the trees once they are 50-70 years old rather than 35. See this article on the aromatic traditions of India - members.aol.com/parijata/sandalwood.html
One of the most focused on smells by the large companies who build fragrance molecules, but I know of a number of natural perfumers who prefer to use blends of other materials that approximate the effect for aesthetics, and because of economic and environmental issues avoid the use of sandalwood otherwise. I have some labeled "mysore sandalwood" from eden botanicals which is a very reputable company but it probably has a very small percentage of real sandalwood in it, or if it does it comes from the bark or twigs and chips rather than the heart wood, because if it did it would not be affordable, they would have to charge hundreds of dollars for a small amount. It's one of the reasons perfume chemists feel it is more environmentally sound to create molecules that smell just like it rather than engage in the environmentally and economically harsh practices it takes to obtain true sandalwood, and I have to say, it's one of their most persuasive points. Tho my preference is for the naturals, usually, because of the therapeutic effects and complexity... -
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Re: Sandalwood
Tue, December 26, 2006 - 12:44 PMI agree that most products are a poor immitation. Best quality of sandalwood I have acquired recently was from Young Living and it cost just over $75.00 for a 5 ml. bottle.
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Re: Sandalwood
Wed, June 4, 2008 - 10:19 PMEden Botanicals is very reputable. If they say it's Mysore, you can be sure it is.
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Re: Sandalwood
Tue, January 29, 2008 - 8:40 PMLucy, your getting your apples and oranges mixed up "it is actually a parasitic tree and it takes at least 50 years", I am not an expert but I have studied some about incense woods. with sandalwood all parts of the tree's wood is incense wood and has sent of some sort, but with agarwood only the infected area of the Aquilaria trees is incense wood with scent of some sort, this is caused by a resin the tree produces as a defense against the infection. Think you are talking about aloeswood/agarwood it has many English names another is eaglewood. which is (this is from a paper I did on agarwood/aloeswood, for reasons of confusion between the plant “aloe” and the incense wood “aloeswood”, I now use the term agarwood). The original Chinese term is ( 沉水香 or 沉香, chen xiang ). You can add these words the English terms to do more searches on the subject.
below is from the paper I did.
In the Family: N. O. Thymeliaceae, Genus: Aquilaria, there are several species in the incense wood creating trees of the evergreen genus Aquilaria and is native to many countries. It is rare but these trees can begin to produce an aromatic resin. The resin is produced as an immune response and can form from an injury, cut, or a parasitic fungus or mold infection, on any woody area of a living tree, including the roots. The result of this process is an aromatic resin-impregnated wood called “Aloes-Wood”. Aloes-Wood is a kind of Incense Wood. There are many Aquilaria trees but it is extremely rare for them to have incense; because they can’t produce rich and dark incense resin. Since ancient times this is the preferred oleoresin used in making fine incense, mixed incense, and incense oils.
for the complete paper it is here...
teaarts.blogspot.com/2006/03...ore.html
icetea... -
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Re: Sandalwood
Tue, January 29, 2008 - 10:43 PMUh.... no, you are the one who is mixed up. I have been to India and purchased sandalwood and know reputable people who purchase it. In fact, it IS a parasitic tree. The only part that has a significant scent is the heartwood, and that is why it takes thirty, fifty or more years to develop. The outer wood has some fragrance but is low quality. Many many years ago, the ancient trees would fall and the insects would eat them, but the heartwood would remain. as the oil has properties that preserve the wood. And yes, the Indian government owned the trees but due to bribery and gangs and so on, they have virtually all been wiped out. And, yes, there are now some plantations mostly in other countries where they are trying to grow the trees, though none have had the extraordinary qualities of the Mysore or Tamil Nadu trees.
And, by the way, if you want to spam us with your aloeswood products don't be so obvious. -
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Re: Sandalwood
Wed, January 30, 2008 - 8:49 AMi also buy sandalwood in pieces and powder form, i don't know where it comes from, i think it is from indonesia , next time i will try to find out where "the truth", my post before was not to spam aloeswood, (i dont sell anything). sandalwood comes from many countries:
Australian Sandalwood,Chinese Sandalwood,East African Sandalwood,East Indian Sandalwood ,Indonesian Sandalwood,New Caledonian Sandalwood,Pacific Sandalwoods,Thai Sandalwood.Timorese Sandalwood. the resins help preserve the wood and that is where the Odorant concentration factor comes into play, anyway I like to heat sandalwood (or other incense woods) as oppose to burning them. i use a electric incense censor.....i feel it is more healthy and the scent is released in the air without smoke......
icetea
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Re: Sandalwood
Wed, January 30, 2008 - 11:15 AMI just want to add that my experience with Icetea's posts has been that they were just very informative and in-depth. I first read his stuff over on an incense tribe, and I enjoyed them so much, I asked him to be my friend. I have never gotten the impression he was selling anything. In fact, he doesn't even post that much, only when it's to make a specific point.
I agree it's a good idea to learn the various sources of scent materia, and support those methods which are most sustainable. -
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Re: Sandalwood
Wed, January 30, 2008 - 11:19 AMsome interesting info on sandalwood & its endangerment:
www.florapathics.com/index.asp
for those interested, lots more links to google...
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Re: Sandalwood
Wed, January 30, 2008 - 12:09 PMThis post struck me as one being just a tad harsh...how about abit more friendliness here?After all we are all learning and teaching...and enjoying the scents of this wondrous world.. -
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Re: Sandalwood
Wed, January 30, 2008 - 12:10 PMin response to James that is... -
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Re: Sandalwood
Thu, January 31, 2008 - 3:26 AMparasitic tree, ? is this true and does it mean that it grows on other trees for support?
icetea -
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Re: Sandalwood
Thu, January 31, 2008 - 5:47 PMyes, it is a parasitic tree - check out the link below to find out everything you ever wanted to know about Indian sandalwood and it's scarcity now.
has anyone tried the Vanatu Sandalwood as a substitute in natural perfume blends, and if so, what is your opinion of it???? -
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Re: Sandalwood
Thu, January 31, 2008 - 5:48 PM -
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Re: Sandalwood
Thu, January 31, 2008 - 8:04 PMthank you for the link,,,, it looks like there is white sandalwood and red sandalwood. i remember the last year when in japan or korea, for (tea culture conventions, several last year) we went to a famous temple and they had huge pieces of sandalwood they were about two or three feet wide about ten feet tall, i got pics i took, i will try to find them, we were told they were very ancient and they were in the temple.... thank you for the info... i will ask one of our intructors about it.
that is a good link you posted
icetea -
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Re: Sandalwood
Thu, January 31, 2008 - 8:09 PMCreed's Santal smells quite rank. Creed has been taken over by a new owner who does not care about its former reputation. -
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Re: Sandalwood
Sun, February 3, 2008 - 11:59 AMJust thought I'd add that I have a bottle of Australian Sandalwood by Simpler's, and though it isn't AS amazing as some of the Indian Sandalwood I've smelled, it still is quite good and I use it in my blends.
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Re: Sandalwood
Tue, February 5, 2008 - 10:25 AMhi folks,
i have very extensive experience with sandalwood essential oil (many yrs of use and study, i have 12 different mysore sandalwood oils, 4 australian samples, and 2 from vanatau, and 2 or 3 from indonesia, all collected over those 15 years)
vanatau, australian, and indian sandalwood are all similar but definetly not the same. vanatau sandalwood has a smokier, heavier scent, closer to the indian than the australian sandalwood. the top note of the australiuan is nice but it fades into a more bitter scent than the indian.
true mysore sandalwood is extremely rare these days. after getting approx 25 samples i found only 2 that were authentic (this was 7 years ago) lately i've seen about 3 or 4 real ones, all extremely expensive.
sandalwood is a semi-parisitic tree. it takes 50 yrs for the heartwood to mature which is where the goods are.
i reccomend using any sandalwood quite sparingly and treating it as the fast becoming sacred rarity that it is.
cosmicblessingsloveandlight, happy aromatizing~ -
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Re: Sandalwood (Santalum album)
Thu, February 7, 2008 - 9:23 AMthey really need to cultivate this stuff (sandalwood), or its going to be gone.
below is another factor......
Culture is a factor for both the exporting and importing
countries. Sandalwood is part of Indian culture and heritage.
It is the epitome of excellence, imparting fragrance even to the
axe that cuts it. Sandalwood is mentioned in the one of the
oldest pieces of Indian literature, the Ramayana (around 2,000
B.C.). Sandalwood has nearly fifteen different names in various
Indian languages, "chandan(a)" being the Hindi name.
In the past, it has been said that Santalum album was
introduced to India from the Timor Island of Indonesia.
Sandalwood has such strong links with Indian culture and
literature that it is difficult to support this hypothesis of its
introduction. The wood is used for burning in certain rituals by
Hindus and Buddhists. It is also believed to have antiseptic,
cosmetic and medicinal qualities. The wood paste and oil are used
as coolants to treat burns. The wood paste is also smeared on
the skin to purify the complexion and heal rashes. There are
descriptions by Kalidasa of this use of sandalwood in his
Sanskrit epics (300 B.C.) Sandalwood oil is used in soaps that
clarify the complexion. The oil also has an important place in
the indigenous system of medicine. Sandalwood oil has been used
in the treatment of bronchitis and diseases of the urinary tract.
It is also considered to be a cure against the migraine. The
hard yellow wood is used for carving into combs, beads and
religious artifacts. The sapwood is used for manufacturing joss
sticks, incense sticks burned in Hindu temples. Because of this
long history, it is inconceivable that Indians will stop using
sandalwood products despite the dwindling supply and increasing
cost.
As previously mentioned, the reverence given to sandalwood
also extends to the Middle East where the oil is regarded as a
luxury item. It is one of the few approved scents for use in the
Islamic religion. The tradition of using sandalwood and its by-
products in religious ceremonies has contributed to the current
problem.
icetea
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Re: Sandalwood
Wed, February 13, 2008 - 12:37 PMmy experience too. Can no longer get decent sandalwood. In India it is very rare. I just picked up Thai sandalwood in Thailand, but it can't touch Mysore. -
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Re: Sandalwood
Fri, June 6, 2008 - 11:01 PMSometimes you can find "vintage" mysore, years-old forgotten stores of it, stashed here & there. I bought a tiny dab of this just to have on hand for comparison...
I personally feel there are other scents that can substitute pretty well for sandalwood - at least in perfumery. (Certain religions may be less flexible...)
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Re: Sandalwood
Mon, June 2, 2008 - 11:32 AMAromatics International carries Indonesian Sandalwood. It is understandably quite expensive.
www.aromaticsinternational.com/ar...ood
