uniqueness of Sandalwood

Sandalwood is a part of Indian culture and heritage. It is the epitome of excellence, imparting fragrance sandalwood is an evergreen tree which generally grows in the dry, deciduous forests. It can grow to a height of 20 m and obtain a girth of 1.5m. it thrives best under rainfall conditions of 500-2000 mm and at elevations of 650-1200m. Sandalwood is capable of growing in different kinds of soils like clay, sand, laterite, and loam. Even very poor or rocky soils can support sandalwood.
Sandalwood is the name of woods from trees in the genus Santalum. The woods are heavy, yellow, and fine-grained, and unlike many aromatic woods, they retain their fragrance for decades. Sandalwood oil is an essential oil obtained from the steam distillation of chips and billets cut from the heartwood of various species of sandalwood trees. Sandalwood oil is used in perfumes, cosmetics, and sacred unguents (a soothing or healing solvent, ointment).
The health benefits of sandalwood essential oil can be attributed to its properties as an antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antiphlogistic, astringent, cicatrisant, carminative, diuretic, disinfectant, emollient, expectorant, hypotensive, memory booster, sedative and tonic substance.
Recently the Indian government relaxed its restrictions on the export and production of sandalwood within India as a result once redundant factories and plantations are now springing back into commercial life. Throughout the world , Indian sandalwood is known as the best and most consistent one in quality. Sandalwood from the Mysore region of Karnataka (formerly Mysore), and marayoor forest in Kerala, Southern India, is high in quality. Trade in sandalwood dates back to the beginning of trading in India. Realizing its value, the Sultan of Mysore declared it a royal tree in 1792. It continues to retain that place today and no individual may own a sandalwood tree in India.
For centuries, sandalwood has reserved a place of dignity and respect in many civilizations and religions of the world, especially in the Hindu Religion, where it is considered holy and indispensable in almost all of the social and religious rituals and ceremonies, from the birth of an individual until their death. In every step, sandalwood is required. It is offered to the various Hindu gods and goddesses, used in decorating babies on their birthdays, used in marriages to decorate brides and bridegrooms, mixed with flowers and other ceremonial offerings, used to embalm bodies and foreheads which is a common practice among people of many communities in India, and it is also burnt with the pyre when cremating the dead.

Interesting Facts:
Sandalwood can reach 33 to 66 feet in height. It is semi-parasite, means it can survive on its own, but prefers to steal nutrients from the roots of nearby plants by using tube-like structures (modified roots) called haustoria. By doing so, sandalwood exhausts resources of the host plant and prevents its normal growth. Sandalwood has large, leathery leaves, which resemble the leaves of laurel. Sandalwood produces red flowers with 4 petals. It blooms all year round. Flowers attract honey bees and ants, which are responsible for the pollination of these plants. Fruit of sandalwood is round shaped and pea-sized. It contains one black seed.
Sandalwood is best known by its beautiful scent. Intensity of scent of sandalwood depends on the types of soil. Essential oils of best quality are produced on the very poor soil. It is used in treatment of inflammation, skin disorders, rashes, cough, fever, flu, hypertension and restlessness. Essential oils are used to improve functioning of liver, heart and stomach and to strengthen the gums of teeth and muscles. Essential oils of sandalwood are used in the industry of perfumes, soaps and lotions. Sandalwood water (leftover of steam distillation) is used in the manufacture of aftershaves. Ground sandalwood is often used for the preparation of incense sticks.
Heartdwood of sandalwood is being used in temples and statues of Hindu Gods and elephants in India. Due to belief that sandalwood plays a role in reincarnation, essential oils are often used in the funeral rituals and for embalming. As far as quality is concerned, Indian Sandalwood (botanical name Santalum Album) is considered best. The Indian variety is on the verge of extinction and is exorbitantly expensive. Sandalwood oil and the paste of sandalwood is used in medicines, skin and beauty treatments and numerous industrial products including mouth fresheners, edibles, incense sticks, room fresheners, deodorants, perfumes, soaps, lotions, and creams.