What are the other names for small-leaf red sandalwood? A detailed guide

Introduction to small-leaf red sandalwood

Sandalwood red sandalwood is mostly produced in tropical and subtropical primeval forests, with Indian red sandalwood being the finest. It is often said that of ten red sandalwood trees, nine are hollow; the largest red sandalwood trunk is only about 20 cm in diameter, so its preciousness is easy to imagine.

Red sandalwood is hard in texture, and its color ranges from deep black to red, varied and diverse, with fine grain. There are many types of red sandalwood; it grows slowly, adding only one growth ring every 5 years, and takes more than 800 years to mature. Its hardness ranks first among woods, and it is called the "wood of emperors," beyond comparison with ordinary woods.

After polishing, the wood is extremely oily, with a luster like rhino horn, and has fine, beautiful, vivid ox-hair grain. Its color is deep purple or black-purple, deep and steady, making it an excellent material for furniture.

In the early Qing Dynasty, red sandalwood furniture was almost monopolized by the imperial court, and the Ministry of Revenue set up special purchasing points in South Asia and Southeast Asia to procure red sandalwood for the court. After the reform and opening up, as people's incomes increased and living standards improved, a liking for classical traditional furniture gradually became a fashion.

Red sandalwood furniture became a favorite for use and collection by the middle class. Market demand grew day by day, and moreover red sandalwood was about to be listed for environmental protection, with logging banned, entering the same protected category as ivory and rhino horn.

Relevant countries also strictly control exports. Therefore the price of red sandalwood rose rapidly; compared with five years ago, the price has risen more than tenfold, and the current market price has exceeded one million yuan per ton.