Майсурське сандалове дерево

Origin and registration

Mysore Sandalwood Oil is registered for protection as a geographical indication under the TRIPS agreement. In 2006 it was listed under the GI Act 1999 of the Government of India as Mysore Sandalwood Oil. The heartwood of the tree gives its fragrance, and the outer sapwood is unscented. The trunk of the tree starts to develop its fragrance after about 10 years of growth, but is not ready to harvest until after 20.

Composition and quality

Sandalwood oil contains more than 90% sesquiterpenic alcohols, of which 50-60% is α-santalol. β-santalol comprises 20-25%. The ISO standard for S. album oil, ISO 3518:2002, requires 41-55% α-santalol and 16-24% β-santalol. In 1942 Mysore sandalwood oil was assessed as having an assured minimum of 90% santalol.

Supply, price and substitutes

Mysore sandalwood oil was considered one of the best of the many varieties of sandalwood oil in 1938. The sandalwood oil produced in Mysore accounted for 70% of the world's sandalwood production in 1996. Indian sandalwood production declined from approximately 4,000 tonnes per year in the 1960s to around 350 tonnes per year in 2014. In Karnataka, private cultivation was permitted in 2001. The Indian government has placed a ban on the export of the timber. As of 2020, Indian sandalwood oil was priced at about US$2,500 per kg and Australian sandalwood oil at around US$1,500 per kg.

Because the wood is so rare and expensive, cosmetic companies use synthetic substitutes of similar structure and scent. Ebanol, Firsantol and Sandalore are among the common synthetic substitutes.

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Related: Bacdanol · Firsantol · Indian Sandalwood · Paraguayan Green Sandalwood · Sandalore · Sandalwood · Sandela · Santamanol