We own and manage a plantation of 5,000 Indian Sandalwood trees.
The Indian species of sandalwood tree is the most highly prized of all. This is due to the higher percentage and better quality of oil garnered from each tree.
The wood of the tree also has a stronger scent than other species, which makes for lovely spring and summer days as the scent slowly drifts across the estate.
The amount of oil produced is purely and solely a factor of the amount of wood processed from each tree. With this in mind, the objective is to encourage each tree to achieve its maximum growth rate.
Indian Sandalwood trees can be harvested from about 8 years of age, however, to maximise oil production, harvesting is normally left until the trees are about 15 years old. This is the optimum time to harvest as the rate of growth slows from this point.
Apart from general care and well being of the plantation, the only other requirement to maintain healthy trees and encourage maximum growth rate, is to keep them well watered. Indian Sandalwood trees thrive on water.
To maximize growth, each tree within the plantation is individually watered via a reticulation system, making good use of the many natural springs that exist on the estate.
The entire tree is used to harvest oil; trunk, stump and roots. Nothing goes to waste.
