Sandalwood and the sandalwood oil industry is one of the oldest fragrances in the world of perfumes. It has been traded for its fragrant wood and essential oil. Since Indian sandalwood oil can blend well with most of the natural essential oils, it is in great demand in the perfumer industries. Synthetic substitutes have been produced as early as 1960, but are in no way identical to that of the natural material, that it could be replaced in the perfumery industry.
New sandalwood based industries have evolved after 1990 using greater amounts of natural sandalwood oil, hence there was over exploitation of this species in the world, consequently its production and availability is on the decline. The essential oil and allied industries have been using more than 5,000 tons of sandalwood annually.
The genus ‘Santalum’ grows naturally throughout the Pacific and Eastern Indian Ocean regions. Sandalwood tress are evergreen ranging in size from tall shrubs to large trees. They grow in a variety of climates ranging from Australian desert to sub-tropical New Caledonia and at elevations from sea level to 1800 meters. It is distributed in peninsular India, parts of Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand and Polynesia extending to the Hawaiian Archipelago and Juan Fernandez Islands. The species belonging to this genus are usually partial root parasitic plants, equipped with special structures (hostoria) on its root that penetrate the roots of host plants to obtain nutrients.
Some of the species furnish fragrant heartwood, known as sandalwood, yielding different kinds of sandalwood oil.
Sandalwood is the fragrant heartwood of some species of genus Santalum (Santalacease). All the sandalwood oil or fragrant wood traded in international market comes from species in the genus Santalum (Family Santalaceae). The genera contain 16 recognized species, and more than 12 varieties, distributed throughout the world. Out of them only few species, produce commercially exploitable scented heartwood (S. album, S. yasi, S. spicatum, S. austrocaledonicum, S. lanceolatum, S. ellipticum and S. paniculatum). These species are important for their fragrant scented heartwood and for essential oil. Other species of Santalum also produce fragrant heartwood and oil; however their contribution to essential oil industry is limited. Sandalwood wood is also an excellent material for carving and to make curious handicrafts.
All species occur in natural forest in different habitats. Most of the species are over exploited and are under threat as endangered species. The demand for the scented heartwood and natural sandalwood oil is increasing and the supply is on the decline. Because of inconsistent supply, the prices have gone up very steeply depriving its use in various industries. They only alternate is to produce sandalwood commercially with high input and management technique to make a short-term rotation crop.
The genus represented by Santalum album Linn. Produce rich scented heartwood and oil. Its wood is known commercially as “East Indian sandalwood” and the distilled essential oil from it as “East Indian Sandalwood Oil” Sandalwood oil in one of the oldest perfumery materials and commercially important. Both wood and oil are used in incense, jaw-sticks, perfumes, soaps and in medicine. Sandalwood is one of the finest woods for carving, since it is closely grained with fewer knots. It is used for making idols, boxes and other curios of exquisite beauty. Wood and oil of S.yasi is almost similar to that of S.album
@ S.spicatum, popularly known as West Australian sandalwood is also one of the important species producing scented heartwood and oil. Wood has been exported to different countries since 1844. The oil has different chemical composition and better medicinal properties. It is used in perfumery, incense sticks, soaps, toiletries and aromatherapy. Wood is also used for carving. Recently it has become an alternate source for essential oil for sandalwood based industries.
- lanceolatum is second major type of sandalwood native to Australia; the heartwood contains fewer odors, heartwood yield comparatively less oil; mixes well with other sandalwood oil. The scented oil used in perfumery industry.
@ S.accuminatum is also a native species of Australia and the trees are cultivated for fruits rather than oil.
@ S. austrocaledonicum, is an important species growing in New Calednia and Vanuatu islands, scented heartwood is used for making beautiful handicraft items and the oil produced from heartwood is highly scented and is sold as New Caledonian oil or New Caledonian sandalwood oil. The oil is highly priced and very much sought after in the perfume industries.
@ S.yasi grows in Fiji and in Tonga islands, its scented heartwood yield high quality sandalwood oil, equivalent to Indian sandalwood.
@ S.ellipticum and S.paniculaturm grows in Hawaii Islands, scented oil is used in perfumery industry.
@ Santalum macgregori, called the Papua New Guinea sandalwood is another species producing scented heartwood and oil used in perfumery.
@ Several non-Santalum species (e.g. Osyris tenuifolia, O.laceolata from East Africa and Amyris balsamifera L.from West Indies) are also used as sources of “Sandalwood” type. The less fragrant wood and the distilled oil are different when compared to true sandalwood.
The sandalwood has good history behind and is more culturally attached to different religions, and the products derived from it have been in use for several centuries. Other species of “Santalum” are only of academic interest since their production and contribution to the essential oil industry is limited; however, they are the important species of the region contributing to the cultural heritage and use. Many species are endemic to the region and have not been tried to be introduced into different geographical zones for their performance. Because of over exploitation of the species, many have disappeared are in the endangered list.