Sandalwood dye

Two samples Sandalwood dye on silk
Uemera Dye Archive

Description

A water insoluble red dye from sandalwood, Pterocarpus santalinus, that grows in tropical Asia. Sandalwood dye contains santalin along with santarubin. Obtained from the heartwood chips, the colorants are soluble in alcohol but not in water. The deep blood-red to brown color has been used for textiles and for tanning leather. Similar water insoluble dyes are obtained from barwood, camwood, and narrawood.

• [Uemera Dye Archive]: Akagi (178), Akagi (179)
• [Uemera Dye Archive]: Benishitan

Synonyms and Related Terms

Pterocarpus santalinus; Natural Red 22; CI 75540; bois de santal (Fr.); Sandelholz (Deut.); legno sandalo (It.) madera de sandalo (Esp.); sandelhout (Ned.); santeli (Fin.); sândalo (Port.); barwood; camwood; narrawood; ruby wood; sandelwood; sanderswood; Sander's Wood; Saunderswood; Saunder's Wood; red Sanders; red Saunders; santal wood; sandal wood; mock Turkey red; santalin

FTIR (MFA)

Physical and Chemical Properties

• Soluble in methanol, ethanol, ether, sulfuric acid.
• Insoluble in water.
• Slightly fluorescent

Resources and Citations

• J.Hofenk-de Graaf, Natural Dyestuffs: Origin, Chemical Constitution, Identification, Central Research Laboratory for Objects of Art and Science, Amsterdam, September 1969.
• R.J. Adrosko, Natural Dyes in the United States, Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC, 1968
• S. Grierson, The Colour Cauldron, Oliver McPherson Ltd., 1986
• G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 657
• The Merck Index, Martha Windholz (ed.), Merck Research Labs, Rahway NJ, 10th edition, 1983 Comment: entry 8532
• "Violin Varnish Glossary" at www.violins.on.ca/luthier.vargloss.html - gives tree name as Pterocarpus santalunis
• F. Crace-Calvert, Dyeing and Calico Printing, Palmer & Howe, London, 1876
• Website: http://www.coloria.net/varita.htm - Finnish name, NR 22, 75540
• Judith Hofenk-de Graaff, Natural Dyestuffs: Origin, Chemical Constitution, Identification, Central Research Laboratory for Objects of Art and Science, Amsterdam, 1969
• The American Heritage Dictionary or Encarta, via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998
• The Plant Lady: select Natural Dye Table