SCENTED WOODS 



671 



has "a pleasant and strong aromatic fragrance." The 

 dry specimens examined by the writer had a mild rancid 

 odor. Some woods give off a very disagreeable odor 



when burned. 

 Among these 

 may be mention- 



Photograph' by C. H. Pearson. 



TRUE LIGNUM VITAE, QUEEN'S PARK, 

 BARBADOES, B. W. I. 



ed the Indian tamarix, the Philippine 

 bantino and the palo verde of our 

 desert Southwest. 



The most famous of all scented 

 /uods is the incomparable sandal- 

 wood. The true sandalwood (Santalum album) is an 

 wnental tree whose use for perfumery and incense began 



Java, one from Australia and another from the West 

 Indies and Venezuela. The Philippine agaru has "a 

 distinct characteristic odor, when fresh, reminding one 

 of sandalwood ; it soon disappears superficially, but is 

 again perceptible on merely scraping the surface." The 

 Venezuelan wood is now generally imported as amyris 

 wood and the oil distilled from it 

 bears not the slightest resemblance 

 to the sandalwood. 



Fragrant woods have always been 

 held in highest esteem among primi- 

 tive people and were considered es- 

 pecially pleasing to the gods. Ac- 

 cordingly, they have figured promi- 

 nently in their religious ceremonies 

 and burial rites. Sandalwood is of 



BARK OF THE ODORIFEROUS SLIPPERY 

 ELM, REMINDING 

 FRESH LICORICE 



ONE ALWAYS OF 



the first rank in 



China nnrl nthpr A SECTION OF WOOD OF THE CATALPA 

 ^mud. dim uiuci TRFE WITH AN ODOR PECULIARLY LIKE 



countries where it kerosene 



can be obtained. In Borneo there is a large tree called 

 kayu gharu which occasionally forms a small black- 

 ish and highly resinous heartwood highly valued for in- 





PINION PINE GROWING IN CRACK OF ROCKS IN COLORADO. 

 THE WOOD HAS A DISTINCT ODOR OF BEESWAX 



thousands of years ago and whose popularity remains 

 undiminished. The later Greeks considered it one of 

 their greatest luxuries and no festivities were complete 

 without it. There are many false sandalwoods, at least 

 three from India, one or two from the Philippines and 



ARBORVITAE GROWING IN A TEMPLE COURT IN CHINA AND 

 BELIEVED TO BE BETWEEN 800 AND 1,000 YEARS OLD. ITS 

 WOOD IS CONSIDERED SACRED BY THE ORIENTALS 



