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Sandalwood and its synthetic substitutes

Sandalwood is a class of woods from trees in the genus Santalum. The woods are heavy, yellow, and fine-grained, and, unlike many other aromatic woods, they retain their fragrance for decades. Sandalwood is often cited as one of the most expensive woods in the world. Sandalwood oil contains more than 90% sesquiterpenic alcohols, of which 50-60% is the tricyclic α-santalol, and β-santalol comprises 20-25%.

Since the wood is rare and expensive, cosmetic companies use synthetic substitutes of similar structure and scent. Common synthetic substitutes include Brahmanol, Ebanol, Firsantol, Sandalore and Sandaxol. On a blotter, Javanol lasts over 400 hours.

Cedarwood

The most important cedarwood oils are distilled from the wood of various junipers and cypresses rather than true cedars. All the cedarwood oils of commerce contain a group of chemically related compounds, including cedrol and cedrene, in proportions that depend on the species. Cedar oil from eastern red cedar wood contains a wide variety of terpenes, and its three major components, alpha-cedrene, thujopsene and cedrol, make up more than 60% of the essential oil. The fragrant heartwood of eastern red cedar is soft and very light, and its best portions are one of the few woods suitable for making pencils.

Wood, lignin and light

Lignins are particularly important in the formation of cell walls, especially in wood and bark, because they lend rigidity and do not rot easily. The cellulose content of wood is 40-50%. In a study of southern yellow pine, wood exposed outdoors or to ultraviolet light showed changes in brightness and colour. In that study, the photochemical reactions took place primarily in lignin. Driftwood is wood that has been washed onto a shore or beach of a sea, lake, or river by the action of winds, tides or waves.

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