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MYSORE HERITAGE SANDALWOOD 1965 • Indian Government Production Sandalwood Essential Oil 1965 • India
MYSORE HERITAGE SANDALWOOD 1965 • Indian Government Production Sandalwood Essential Oil 1965 • India
History in a bottle. We feel very fortunate to have acquired a quantity of this historical classic Indian sandalwood, produced by the Government of India in 1965. While this sandalwood oil presents a beautifully aged profile, it proffers a different character when compared to our highest-grade sandalwood offerings, like our renowned Golden Bough 100-year Mysore or the extraordinary Zen One from Japan (both in-house craft distillations from much older trees). Nevertheless, we believe Mysore Heritage 1965 to be an absolutely beautiful oil, rich in historical significance and a delightful addition to any sandalwood lover's collection. This particular oil was most likely crafted from trees aged between 25–40 years, yielding a lighter, softer, and uniquely delicate aromatic profile—while still an authentic, pure, and entirely enjoyable classic “Mysore sandalwood” experience. Of even greater interest, however, is the profound effect of such extensive aging on this oil, imparting a silky smooth, muted, buttery, and truly vintage sandalwood appeal. It is a fascinating artifact from a pivotal era of Indian sandalwood production and an overall pleasing olfactory experience, which we are able to offer at a much lower price than our most coveted premium sandalwood selections.
Understanding the Origins of the 1965 Mysore Heritage Aromatic Profile
The aromatic depth and intensity of Indian sandalwood (Santalum album) is intrinsically linked to the age of the tree from which it is distilled. The prized essential oil is primarily concentrated in the tree's inner heartwood. This heartwood, rich in the complex molecules known as α-santalol and β-santalol, only begins to form after a tree reaches 10–15 years of age. However, a commercially viable volume of high-quality oil, with well-developed heartwood and adequate olfactory depth and intensity, typically does not emerge until the tree is between 25 and 30 years old. Our 1965 Mysore Heritage Sandalwood, with its distinctively lighter and softer presentation, aligns with this understanding. It is highly probable that this oil originated from trees aged between 25 and 40 years. This younger origin lends the 1965 Mysore Heritage a truly unique and delicate aromatic signature, which has been profoundly transformed by its extremely long aging process.
The Incomparable Elegance of Extended Aging
Beyond its historical intrigue, the most interesting aspect of this rare sandalwood oil lies in the effect of six decades of undisturbed aging. Time has transformed this oil, imparting subtle qualities unlikely to be replicated in newly distilled oils.
Scent description: The extensive aging process has smoothed any sharp edges, deepening its overall warmth and creaminess. This oil presents a silky smooth, muted, and beautifully buttery sandalwood profile, with a distinct vintage appeal that is challenging to describe. At the outset there is a spicy note, reminiscent of baked allspice or simmering gourmet black peppercorn, but this element is extremely smooth and muted, disappearing almost entirely quite early in the drydown. The citrus note, common in sandalwood oil, here is mellowed by time and comes through as a soft, continuous, deep orange-marmalade nuance that is surprisingly tenacious. This oil’s journey through time has cultivated a distinct, mellow complexity that connoisseurs will cherish. It also offers a poignant comparative study of sandalwood’s variances for the aficionado, and an opportunity to directly explore how time refines and transforms a revered aromatic treasure.
India’s Sandalwood Industry in 1965
This remarkable 1965 sandalwood oil offers a direct connection to a pivotal moment in the history of Indian sandalwood production. For centuries, Santalum album was revered as a “royal tree” in the Kingdom of Mysore, a tradition meticulously continued by post-independence governments. By the mid-20th century, the state of Mysore (now Karnataka) maintained a near-absolute monopoly over every stage of sandalwood production, from harvesting and trade to centralized distillation in iconic facilities like the Government Sandalwood Oil Factory in Mysore, established in 1916.
The period from the 1950s to the 1970s was one of immense global demand for this precious commodity, placing significant pressure on India’s natural sandalwood forests. Decades of extensive logging, exacerbated by the devastating “sandal spike disease,” led to a concerning depletion of wild trees. To meet the insatiable market appetite, government forestry departments, despite efforts to preserve ancient growth, often had to rely on a harvest that included trees in the 25–40 year age range. This “massive overharvest and mismanagement,” as described in historical forestry reports, pushed the species and the industry itself towards the brink.
Today, the Indian sandalwood industry is quite different and has seen broad improvements. The era of government monopoly and overharvesting gave way to a crisis of scarcity, driving prices sky-high and leading to widespread illegal poaching. In response, strict conservation efforts were implemented, and new, sustainable plantations have emerged not only in India, but also globally. These modern plantations are carefully managed to ensure more sustainable production and long-term viability, often allowing trees to mature for much longer periods to optimize santalol content. While far from perfect, the modern sandalwood industry, both in India and abroad, has greatly improved.
MYSORE HERITAGE SANDALWOOD 1965 • Indian Government Production Sandalwood Essential Oil 1965 • India
History in a bottle. We feel very fortunate to have acquired a quantity of this historical classic Indian sandalwood, produced by the Government of India in 1965. While this sandalwood oil presents a beautifully aged profile, it proffers a different character when compared to our highest-grade sandalwood offerings, like our renowned Golden Bough 100-year Mysore or the extraordinary Zen One from Japan (both in-house craft distillations from much older trees). Nevertheless, we believe Mysore Heritage 1965 to be an absolutely beautiful oil, rich in historical significance and a delightful addition to any sandalwood lover's collection. This particular oil was most likely crafted from trees aged between 25–40 years, yielding a lighter, softer, and uniquely delicate aromatic profile—while still an authentic, pure, and entirely enjoyable classic “Mysore sandalwood” experience. Of even greater interest, however, is the profound effect of such extensive aging on this oil, imparting a silky smooth, muted, buttery, and truly vintage sandalwood appeal. It is a fascinating artifact from a pivotal era of Indian sandalwood production and an overall pleasing olfactory experience, which we are able to offer at a much lower price than our most coveted premium sandalwood selections.
Understanding the Origins of the 1965 Mysore Heritage Aromatic Profile
The aromatic depth and intensity of Indian sandalwood (Santalum album) is intrinsically linked to the age of the tree from which it is distilled. The prized essential oil is primarily concentrated in the tree's inner heartwood. This heartwood, rich in the complex molecules known as α-santalol and β-santalol, only begins to form after a tree reaches 10–15 years of age. However, a commercially viable volume of high-quality oil, with well-developed heartwood and adequate olfactory depth and intensity, typically does not emerge until the tree is between 25 and 30 years old. Our 1965 Mysore Heritage Sandalwood, with its distinctively lighter and softer presentation, aligns with this understanding. It is highly probable that this oil originated from trees aged between 25 and 40 years. This younger origin lends the 1965 Mysore Heritage a truly unique and delicate aromatic signature, which has been profoundly transformed by its extremely long aging process.
The Incomparable Elegance of Extended Aging
Beyond its historical intrigue, the most interesting aspect of this rare sandalwood oil lies in the effect of six decades of undisturbed aging. Time has transformed this oil, imparting subtle qualities unlikely to be replicated in newly distilled oils.
Scent description: The extensive aging process has smoothed any sharp edges, deepening its overall warmth and creaminess. This oil presents a silky smooth, muted, and beautifully buttery sandalwood profile, with a distinct vintage appeal that is challenging to describe. At the outset there is a spicy note, reminiscent of baked allspice or simmering gourmet black peppercorn, but this element is extremely smooth and muted, disappearing almost entirely quite early in the drydown. The citrus note, common in sandalwood oil, here is mellowed by time and comes through as a soft, continuous, deep orange-marmalade nuance that is surprisingly tenacious. This oil’s journey through time has cultivated a distinct, mellow complexity that connoisseurs will cherish. It also offers a poignant comparative study of sandalwood’s variances for the aficionado, and an opportunity to directly explore how time refines and transforms a revered aromatic treasure.
India’s Sandalwood Industry in 1965
This remarkable 1965 sandalwood oil offers a direct connection to a pivotal moment in the history of Indian sandalwood production. For centuries, Santalum album was revered as a “royal tree” in the Kingdom of Mysore, a tradition meticulously continued by post-independence governments. By the mid-20th century, the state of Mysore (now Karnataka) maintained a near-absolute monopoly over every stage of sandalwood production, from harvesting and trade to centralized distillation in iconic facilities like the Government Sandalwood Oil Factory in Mysore, established in 1916.
The period from the 1950s to the 1970s was one of immense global demand for this precious commodity, placing significant pressure on India’s natural sandalwood forests. Decades of extensive logging, exacerbated by the devastating “sandal spike disease,” led to a concerning depletion of wild trees. To meet the insatiable market appetite, government forestry departments, despite efforts to preserve ancient growth, often had to rely on a harvest that included trees in the 25–40 year age range. This “massive overharvest and mismanagement,” as described in historical forestry reports, pushed the species and the industry itself towards the brink.
Today, the Indian sandalwood industry is quite different and has seen broad improvements. The era of government monopoly and overharvesting gave way to a crisis of scarcity, driving prices sky-high and leading to widespread illegal poaching. In response, strict conservation efforts were implemented, and new, sustainable plantations have emerged not only in India, but also globally. These modern plantations are carefully managed to ensure more sustainable production and long-term viability, often allowing trees to mature for much longer periods to optimize santalol content. While far from perfect, the modern sandalwood industry, both in India and abroad, has greatly improved.