History of sandalwood
SANDALWOOD IS A VALUABLE AROMATIC WOOD PRODUCED FROM TREES OF THE GENUS SANTALUM
History of sandalwood
SANDALWOOD IS A VALUABLE AROMATIC WOOD PRODUCED FROM TREES OF THE GENUS SANTALUM
HISTORY OF SANDALWOOD
Global trade in sandalwood (timber and related products from the genus Santalum) has been well documented for over one thousand years with references to its spiritual and therapeutic use across Asia with 25 known species found across Australasia, Indomalaya and Oceania ecozones.
For the last couple of hundred years, demand for sandalwood has focused in particular on Western Australian sandalwood (Santalum spicatum). Australia became a major exporter of sandalwood to Asia in the 19th Century with early European settlers exporting up to 14,000 tonnes of Western Australian sandalwood per year from Fremantle Port.
More recently, global demand for sandalwood has grown rapidly driven by an increasing population and income, in particular in Asia. This demand has resulted in a significant depletion of all sources of naturally occurring wild sandalwood. This depletion has led to the protection of sandalwood in most countries where it naturally occurs. Regulations governing the harvest, trade and processing of sandalwood derived from wild stands have been broadly introduced. Despite this protection, the decline of remnant sandalwood has continued with an insufficient natural resource to satisfy global demand.
The evolution of a plantation industry offers the solution to provide an environmentally sustainable supply for the long term.
Sandalwood Plantation Industry
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PLANTATION INDUSTRY
Sandalwood Plantation Industry
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PLANTATION INDUSTRY
THE PLANTATION INDUSTRY
Industry and governments have responded to this decline by developing plantation production systems for both the Western Australian and Indian sandalwood species.
Leading this drive internationally is Australia with the first recorded sandalwood plantation established in the 1990s with Australia now home to an estimated 20,000 hectares of Australian sandalwood (Santalum spicatum) plantations.
The ongoing transition to a sustainable plantation resource will facilitate a smooth conversion from a market starved of wild wood and asscoiated derivative products to one that offers a reliable supply from sustainable plantation resources.
santalum spicatum compared to santalum album
Frequently asked questions
santalum spicatum compared to santalum album
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions
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Are there different types of Sandalwood?
Of the 15 different species of sandalwood that grow throughout the world, there are 2 main varieties that are traded internationally. These are Santalum spicatum (Australian sandalwood) and Santalum album (Indian sandalwood). Australian sandalwood currently supplies well over half of all sandalwood traded around the globe annually. Australian sandalwood has historically been used in the agarbatti and incense markets in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and other Asian countries. It has been widely accepted in these areas for over 150 years. In recent years Australian sandalwood oil has been incorporated into many high end perfumes and other cosmetic products. Australian sandalwood does produce a lower oil content when compared to Indian sandalwood although it consistently produces the oil forming heartwood from a young age. Australian plantation sandalwood has been tried and tested in plantations throughout Western Australia for over 25 years by both private and Government organisations.
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What is the difference between Australian & Indian Sandalwood?
Whilst the two main species of sandalwood grown in plantations both belong to the Santalum genus they differ in plant physiology, production techniques, markets and applications. Some of the main points of difference include:
Geographical Zone & Natural Distribution
Australian Sandalwood:
Native to Australia, it is the only desert species that grows in low rainfall areas without irrigation. Commercial produced in the Wheatbelt of Western Australia. Exported from Australia since 1840s and was once Western Australia’s largest export earner.
Indian Sandalwood:
A tropical tree native to India that is commercially produced under irrigation in India, Northern Australia, China, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.
Wood Products
Australian Sandalwood:
Primary harvested and sold in log form graded for heartwood content. Australian sandalwood is unique in the fact that the white sapwood does not require removal prior to oil distillation. Logs are primarily processed for either essential oil or as wood powders for incense. WA Sandalwood currently exports to Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
Indian Sandalwood:
Primarily harvested for oil extraction, Indian sandalwood logs require the additional step of removing sapwood prior to distillation as the sapwood impacts the oil quality.
Value of the Oil
Australian Sandalwood:
Oil currently sells for around US$1,500 per kg. The lower production and processing costs enables Santalum spicatum oil to be used in several applications and products targeting the emerging Asian middle class.
Indian Sandalwood:
Oil currently sells for around US$2,500 per kg with the price primarily driven by the alpha santalol content.
Sandalwood logs and oil
S a n d a l w o o d U s e s
Sandalwood logs and oil
S a n d a l w o o d U s e s
