Introduction:
Sandalwoods are fragrant woods. Sandalwoods are yielded by trees in the genus Santalum which contain essential oil. The wood is heavy and yellow in color. The sandalwood is very useful in medical, carving, religious qualities and in scientific purpose.
For medicine, sandalwood essential oil was used as an internal and external antiseptic. Its main component beta-santalol has antimicrobial properties.
The origin of sandalwood:
The sandal tree, botanically known as Santalum Album belongs to the family Santalaceae. The sandal tree grows almost exclusively in the forests of Karnataka, followed by Tamil Nadu, Kerada and Andhra Pradesh, Timor Islands of Indonesia etc.
The features:
The tree is medium sized 12-15m tall. The tree reaches its full maturity in 60 to 80 years. The essential oil develops in the roots and heartwood which requires at least 15 to 20 years.