Indian Sandalwood (Santalum Album) is unique and there is no real substitute to it. Taking cognizance of the supply and demand gap in sandalwood production, the forest Rights Act was amended in 2001 to promote cultivation of The Sandalwood in private lands.
Over many decades, India has been long deprived of this precious cash crop called “Sandalwood”. This unique tree yields lakhs and Crores of rupees however needs least human intervention or care for its growth. India is one among the only six countries which has the favorable soil and climate conditions to grow Sandalwood and was once a huge supplier to the rest of the world. However in the recent past the situation became such that India had to import Sandalwood from other countries as the natural resource from the forests had almost come to an extinct.
Since time immemorial, Sandalwood has been an integral part of our rich culture and heritage. Thanks to its multi-use qualities, it touches almost every aspect of our lives starting with religion to beauty/skin care products, herbal medicines, fragrances, arts and crafts etc. These are the very qualities which makes it a precious resource with great demand worldwide.
Out of 198 countries in the world only 8 countries are blessed with climatic conditions ideal for growing Sandalwood. And with Sandalwood oil content being the highest in trees grown in our country there is a huge demand, particularly for them across the globe. Generally, the tree starts flowering between 4 and 5 years signaling the formation of heart wood. And if a tree is allowed to grow for 12-15 years, the heart wood yield will be much higher -anywhere between 20 and 40 kilos- giving way for higher income.
Sandalwood is a precious tree with a highly aromatic wood. Because of its economical and cultural uses it is very important to many countries around the Pacific and Eastern Indian Ocean regions where it grows or is traded. The wood is prized for making furniture, ornaments, sacred objects, carvings and joss sticks (incense). The essential oil is used in medicine, perfume and aromatherapy. Botany/Origins
There are 16 species of sandalwood (Santalum) that grow naturally throughout the Pacific and Eastern Indian Ocean regions. Sandalwoods are evergreens ranging in size from tall shrubs up to large trees. They grow in a variety of climates–from the Australian desert to subtropical New Caledonia–and at elevations from sea level to over 8000 feet. Sandalwood is a parasitic plant, equipped with special structures on its roots that penetrate the roots of host plants and obtain nutrients. The most well-known and economically important species is Santalum album, or Indian sandalwood. Indian sandalwood has the highest oil content (6 to 7%) and a desirable aroma profile. New Caledonia’s S. austrocaledonicum and Fiji’s S. Yasi are also distilled to produce essential oil. S. spicatum from Australia has been valued for its wood for many years, and has recently also become a source for essential oil. Many of the other species are used for their wood, for building, firewood and for furniture making.
Trees harvested for oil are selected by age and size because of the higher proportion of heartwood (and thus essential oil) in larger trees. Dead-standing or fallen trees are also harvested because the wood holds onto the essential oil for many years. The whole tree is harvested and used–including the sawdust and the stump (which has the highest oil content) and the sapwood (which contains a small amount of oil). The lower grades of sandalwood, such as the sapwood, are used for incense and for chips and powder, while the better logs are used in carving (from small objects to furniture).
The fragrance of sandalwood is interwoven with Indian history and culture. The first mention of it in Indian literature is found around 2000 B.C. in the Ramayana. It was included with spices and silk among the first trade items with Middle Eastern and other countries. In 1792 sandalwood was declared a “royal tree” by the Sultan of Mysore–a status that continues today with the Indian government “owning” all the sandalwood trees. (Individuals can get up to 75% of the value of trees growing on their land in payment for growing and protecting the trees–but their harvest must be approved by the government.)
Indian sandalwood’s many uses include medicine, incense, burning of chips for ritual use, perfumes and beauty care products, and for carving religious and other artifacts.
Most Indian sandalwood grows on the Deccan Plateau in southern India, with the majority of the trees in the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Santalum albumis found in dry, deciduous forests. It is considered a slow-growing tree and is easily damaged by fire, various pests, grazing pressures and disease. The amount of heartwood in a tree varies considerably depending on age, soil and climate conditions–and other factors not entirely understood. The essential oil found in the heartwood of the trees does not even start to form until the trees are at least 7 years old, and trees are not usually harvested until they are at least 15 years old.
Sandalwood essential oil is mostly obtained by steam distillation (the practice of water distillation is considered outdated). It is colourless to pale yellow and somewhat viscous.