Sandalwood
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Description
A brick-red wood obtained from sandalwood trees (Pterocarpus santalinus) native to tropical Asia. Sandalwood has a fine-grain with a straight or wavy pattern. The wood has been used for making cabinets, musical instruments and traditional Chinese furniture. It is also sold in blocks or chips for dye preparation. Sandalwood dye contains santalin as the primary colorant. The deep red to brown color has been used for textiles and for tanning leather. Due to illegal harvesting and slow regeneration, the tree is classified as an endangered species.
Synonyms and Related Terms
Pterocarpus santalinus; red sandalwood; sanders wood; saunder's wood; santal wood; shitan; byakudan (Jap.); padauk; bois de santal (Fr.)
Physical and Chemical Properties
- Height = 8 m and diameter is 50-150cm
- Tree dies in cold weather and it is not frost tolerant
- Density = 55-65 ppcf
- Flowers produce short racemes
- Fruit is a pod 6-9 cm long
Resources and Citations
- G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 689
- Palmy Weigle, Ancient Dyes for Modern Weavers, Watson-Guptill Publications, New York, 1974
- F. H. Titmuss, Commercial Timbers of the World, The Technical Press Ltd., London, 1965
- "Violin Varnish Glossary" at www.violins.on.ca/luthier.vargloss.html
- Wikipedia: Pterocarpus santalinus Accessed May 2026