Solubility in 70 % ethanol (v/v) @ 20 °C: less than 5 volumes of 70 %
ethanol for 1 volume of oil
Chemical characteristics:
Acid number: maximum 5
Ester number: minimum 4.5; maximum 10
Ester number after acetylation: minimum 199
Total alcohol content, calculated as santalol not stated, but should be 90 %
minimum.
9 Quality Specifications of Sandalwood Oil
The quality of sandalwood oil depends on the level of santalol content in the oil.
Indian sandalwood is of the highest quality in the World market. Several Pacific
sandalwoods are similar in quality, especially sandalwoods from Fiji (S. yasi) and
New Caledonia and Vanuatu (S. austrocaledonicum).
In general, older sandalwood trees have more heartwood and produce higher
quality of oil since santalol contents are higher. High-quality sandalwood oil comes
from trees that are at least 30 years old. Sandalwood trees normally start producing
heartwood at around 10–15 years. Growth of heartwood depends mainly on genetic
factors and also on soil type, rainfall, exposure to sun light and different
agro-climatic conditions. Trees that grow in shallow soil or in soil with a high level
of stone inclusions, with distinct annual dry period and exposure to full sun develop
heartwood more rapidly and could be harvested after at least 15–20 years. For trees
that grow in deep, fertile soil, with high and evenly distributed rainfall throughout
the year and a shaded canopy, harvesting should be delayed until the trees are at
least 30–40 years old (Nagaveni and Vijayalakshmi 2003). Given its high price and
low availability, there is a high risk of adulteration. Buyers are very wary about
buying sandalwood oil. European buyers expect a good, reliable level of quality;
most of them expect suppliers to follow the HACCP principles for food processing.
The supply and demand of sandalwood, and the price of substitute products in the
market, will be important factors in influencing market conditions for sandalwood
products in the future.
The following requirements are also often referred to as mandatory in sustained
resource management of sandalwood.
• Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) is not obligatory for cosmetic ingredient
producers, but compliance can provide a competitive advantage.
• Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP), even though legally
binding for medicinal plants, is a common practice for farming and wild collection of cosmetic ingredients, prior to processing. But unfortunately, GACP is
not formulated for S. album, the prime species of India.
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M. Srinivasa Rao et al.
ethanol for 1 volume of oil
Chemical characteristics:
Acid number: maximum 5
Ester number: minimum 4.5; maximum 10
Ester number after acetylation: minimum 199
Total alcohol content, calculated as santalol not stated, but should be 90 %
minimum.
9 Quality Specifications of Sandalwood Oil
The quality of sandalwood oil depends on the level of santalol content in the oil.
Indian sandalwood is of the highest quality in the World market. Several Pacific
sandalwoods are similar in quality, especially sandalwoods from Fiji (S. yasi) and
New Caledonia and Vanuatu (S. austrocaledonicum).
In general, older sandalwood trees have more heartwood and produce higher
quality of oil since santalol contents are higher. High-quality sandalwood oil comes
from trees that are at least 30 years old. Sandalwood trees normally start producing
heartwood at around 10–15 years. Growth of heartwood depends mainly on genetic
factors and also on soil type, rainfall, exposure to sun light and different
agro-climatic conditions. Trees that grow in shallow soil or in soil with a high level
of stone inclusions, with distinct annual dry period and exposure to full sun develop
heartwood more rapidly and could be harvested after at least 15–20 years. For trees
that grow in deep, fertile soil, with high and evenly distributed rainfall throughout
the year and a shaded canopy, harvesting should be delayed until the trees are at
least 30–40 years old (Nagaveni and Vijayalakshmi 2003). Given its high price and
low availability, there is a high risk of adulteration. Buyers are very wary about
buying sandalwood oil. European buyers expect a good, reliable level of quality;
most of them expect suppliers to follow the HACCP principles for food processing.
The supply and demand of sandalwood, and the price of substitute products in the
market, will be important factors in influencing market conditions for sandalwood
products in the future.
The following requirements are also often referred to as mandatory in sustained
resource management of sandalwood.
• Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) is not obligatory for cosmetic ingredient
producers, but compliance can provide a competitive advantage.
• Good Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACP), even though legally
binding for medicinal plants, is a common practice for farming and wild collection of cosmetic ingredients, prior to processing. But unfortunately, GACP is
not formulated for S. album, the prime species of India.
336
M. Srinivasa Rao et al.