Sandalwood, rosewood, ... wood.

[Toki Wartooth]

I'm not sure if this is the right forum for this, but feel free to move if needed?

I actually have bracelets made out of the actual woods of the two mentioned in my topic title. I have two bracelets with sandalwood beads, which smell rather strongly, and one bracelet made of rosewood, which doesn't seem to have a smell.

Are there any "attributes" or "uses" for materials, particularly in their basic, wooden form? I know there are scented EOs for them, as well as incense, but I'm actually wearing the wood. Does it even matter?

I had read in a few threads here that sandalwood is good for protection and purification, though someone else said they felt it was a good, "all-purpose" sort of aroma. I haven't seen as much on rosewood, though, unfortunately.

[Godgifu]

As I was taught, sandalwood is for "peace" sort of uses, and therefore can be used in some protection and uncrossing works, as well as certain love or prosperity deals where one is particularly trying to avoid turbulance or instability.

Rosewood I mostly see recommended as a replacement for rose oil, but Lucky Mojo suggests it for "healing and spiritual work." I think its minimal magical associations comes of its most commonly being a furniture wood, not an incense like sandalwood.

[Toki Wartooth]

Oh, interesting! Thanks for sending the info my away. :)

[banondraig]

Isn't rosewood endangered?

[Toki Wartooth]

???? I don't believe so. Wikipedia makes no mention of this, and judging by this place (http://www.hobbithouseinc.com/personal/woodpics/rosewood,%20misc.htm), it seems there are tons of types of rosewood...and doesn't seem to be in any danger.

Granted, some things marked rosewood are actually other types of wood. *Shrugs*

[Godgifu]

I think both sandalwood and rosewood are borderline endangered from overharvesting, but not yet "true" endangered.

I occasionally work with a fellow who is in the wood industry -- he invented some new patina technique that allows a lot of cheaper woods that usually don't take stain well to be finished nicely. (I'll plug him -- www.purecolorinc.com (http://www.purecolorinc.com) ) One of his prouder achievements I recall was a mock-rosewood he made out of some way cheaper wood like pine.

Anyway, I'd bet rosewood oil is made from the sawdust and branch leftovers of the timber industry.

[Kalena]

Rosewood oil is made from wood chippings but not those left over from the timber industry, there would be too many impurities in it from the machine oil, lubricant etc used to saw the wood.
It is endangered but mainly because it is extensivley felled while clearing the rain forests in South America.
If you are after a similar fracrance then try HoWood (Cinnamomum camphora L.), this is oftn used to adulterate Rosewood Essential Oil and is very similar.

Sandalwood is distilled from the heartwood and roots of the tree so the tree is destroyed to produce the essential oil. However there are now several different types from more sustainable sources available -
Australian Sandalwood (Santalum spicatum (R. Br.) A. DC.)
and
New Caladonian Sandalwood (Santalum austrocaledonicum Vieille)

Both smell very similar to Indian Sandalwood (Santalum Alba) and can be used in place of it.

If you use the latin name to do a search you are more likely to get the correct oil.