The “White” Wood Myth: If you cut down a 5-year-old Sandalwood tree, you will find… nothing. The wood is soft, white, and completely odourless (Sapwood). It has zero commercial value for oil.
The Transformation (Year 8): The magic happens around the 8th year. The tree begins to deposit essential oils into the centre of its trunk.
- The Shift: The core turns from white to a dark, oily yellow-brown.
- The Density: This “Heartwood” is heavy and dense.
- The Target: With precision farming (drip irrigation), we aim for a target yield of 10kg to 15kg of heartwood per tree by Year 15.
Why Stress is Good: Interestingly, Sandalwood trees that face some “stress” (like rocky soil or controlled water stress in summer) often produce better oil than trees that are pampered with too much water.
We don’t just grow trees; we cultivate the dark, oily core where the money is.