Nestled in the midst of the sandalwood forest region of Karnataka, the city of Mysore is renowned for its production of the fragrant sandalwood products and is commonly referred of as the sandalwood city of Karnataka. Mysore sandalwood is reputed all over the world for its quality and fragrance. The twigs and the bark of the semi parasitic sandalwood tree are used to produce various products like cosmetics, perfumes, incense sticks, essential oils and powered talc. The tree is also of herbal and medicinal value. The soap industry has profited through the production of the Mysore Sandal Soap that has created a niche for itself in the international market.
The sandalwood has been a great boon to the traders over the years. It is used for many purposes like making incense, medicinal products, beautiful handicrafts, soaps, etc. Even various cosmetic products and perfumes are made out of it. Among others the talcum powder made out of sandalwood also is quite popular for its fragrance. The people also use the oils made out of sandalwood product widely. The fragrance is simply irresistible.
Sandalwood is the common name given to the honey colored heartwood and roots of the sandal tree. The sandal tree, species name santalum album. There are nine known species of these small, graceful evergreen trees. Each is semi-parasitic; they obtain most of their nutrients through photosynthesis, but also rely on a host plant(s), via its sucker roots, for water and minerals.It takes some 15 to 20 years for sufficient essential oil to develop in the roots and heartwood of the tree to even consider using it for oil extraction. Full maturity is reached after 80 years. The oil-rich core of the dark heartwood gradually develops, its aroma improving with age.
In India, sandalwood is primarily distributed on the Deccan Plateau. The total extent of its distribution is approximately 9000 km2 of which 8200 km2 is located in the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The heartwood of the fragrant tree is considered sacred and prized.The oil distilled from it, 60 kg of oil can be extracted from a ton of heartwood, is used in the formulation of perfumes, lotions, soap and candles.Mashed into a paste, it is used in folk medicine and spread on the skin to purify the complexion and heal rashes.It is dabbed on the forehead during religious ceremonies and burnt as incense in temples.The sandalwood industry employs thousands of people, especially in Mysore, known as "Sandalwood City."Employees work in incense factories, rolling sandalwood paste on bamboo skewers.Craftsmen carve the hard yellow wood into boxes, combs, beads and statues of Hindu gods and elephants.
Due to its high value and increased demand in internal and external markets, sandalwood prices have skyrocketed.The increase in price is partly due to a decrease in supply during the 1930s-1950s.In 1950, 4,000 tons of heartwood were produced, in 1990, this was down to 2,000 tons. Increase in demand can be attributed to the popularity of aromatheraphy and trends in the cosmetic industry toward natural products.Legislation by the Indian government to protect the sandalwood tree has been inconsistent as the sandalwood trade represents a significant area of export to the U.S. and Middle East.
Sandalwood is an evergreen tree which generally grows in the dry, deciduous forests of the Deccan Plateau. A circle with the city of Bangalore as its center and a radius of 200 km is the main zone of the natural distribution of sandalwood.It can grow to a height of 20 m and obtain a girth of 1.5 m. It thrives best under rainfall conditions of 500-2000 mm and at elevations of 650-1200 m.It can occur beyond these ranges, but under high rainfall conditions the heartwood formation is negligible.The dry habitat makes it prone to fire damage. 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. If protected, established plants start fruiting and regenerating naturally.
The Mysore sandal soap is manufactured by the KSDL Company, which utilizes the original sandalwood oils. Sandalwood has a therapeutic effect on skin problems and is endowed with antiseptic properties. The essence of the Mysore sandal soap has also aided the company in gaining popularity in the soap market. The company produces various products of Mysore sandal soaps. The Mysore Sandal Rose Soap, Mysore Sandal Classic Soap and the Mysore Sandal Baby Soap are some of the reputed products of the sandalwood soap industry. The baby soap contains almond oil and natural sandalwood oil that take precious and tender care of the soft and delicate baby skin. The rise in the use of sandalwood from has led to the tree being endangered from extinction. The tree has been declared as the protected species leading to the rise in the prices of the rare Mysore sandalwood.
The most famous sandalwood of Mysore is called the Byakudan sandalwood. This kind of sandalwood has an excellent quality and the fragrance is unparalleled. But the sandalwood of this kind is being exported by India only to companies like Baieido in Japan
Although trade in Indian sandalwood is officially restricted,smuggling remains a serious threat to the tree. The Indian sandalwood tree has become endangered in recent years, and in an attempt to curb its possible extinction the Indian government is trying to limit the exportation of sandalwood.The tree is already government controlled, and removal is prohibited whether on private or temple grounds until the tree is thirty years old.This has not stopped many poachers from cutting trees down as soon as authorities are not watching.Smuggling of sandalwood has created socio-economic and law and order problems in areas bordering the state of Tamil Nadu.Sadly, many sandalwood forests are depleted and the precious tree is now considered an endangered species, which is why it is extremely expensive. In order to be used as a fragrance, a tree must be at least 40-80 years old. Sandalwood is harvested by toppling the entire tree so that oil from the trunk and roots can also be used, so they can not be regenerated when they are harvested. Experimentation with replanting in forests in India has met with limited success. The wood is also used for fine furniture and smuggling of the wood is common, further undermining efforts to save it.