On the list of most ancient incense elements, Sandalwood has been in use for at least 4,000 years. Sandalwood is an extremely important ingredient in Japanese incense, in both traditional and modern formulas. Currently, the Mysore forests are almost depleted and the left over trees too immature to provide high quality Sandalwood or Sandalwood oil. It is my belief that the best Sandalwood is originating out of Tamil Nadu where more mature trees can be found.
The sandal tree, botanically often called Santalum Album is One of the family Santalaceae. The sandal tree develops almost exclusively in the forests of Karnataka, followed by Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh, Timor Islands of Indonesia etc. The tree is mid-sized 12-15 meters tall. The tree reaches its full maturity in 60 to 80 years, which is when the core thin trunk has achieved its greatest oil content. As the tree develops, the essential oil develops inside the plant's roots and heartwood, which requires at the least 15 to 20 years. Full maturity is reached after 60 to 80 years. The center of dark heartwood little by little develops, which is covered by outer sapwood. The sandalwood tree is never felled, but uprooted in the rainy season, when the roots are richer in the precious essential oil. Vietnam and New Caledonia have well controlled plantations of genuine Sandalwood. The best quality oil originates from the Indian province of Mysore and Tamil Nadu the place that the harvest of Sandalwood trees are safe from the state government.These days virtually all exports of Sandalwood are very closely checked and regulated by the Indian authorities and restricted products of high quality sandalwood oil are coming out of Tamil Nadu. However, the Mysore forests are still being plundered by bandits and poachers who rape the forests of immature trees.
