western australia

cunderdin museum

Sandalwood isn't just for incense

@JudyEv (358471)

Rockingham, Australia

July 14, 2025 1:39am CST

I wrote earlier about the sandalwood cutters. The whole tree was pulled out of the ground as the roots were quite substantial and could be used in processing. The sandalwood was carried on drays pulled by either horses, donkeys or camels. One man could cope with six drays. Once the drays were loaded and started, the horses would plod down the tracks until stopped by a command from the driver. The photo was taken in the Cunderdin Museum and shows an eggcup and fan made from sandalwood with a close-up to show the intricate detail of the fan.

16 people like this

16 responses

@rsa101 (39085)

• Philippines

14 Jul

I see a lot of that in my place. I just dont know where it came from. I just realized that's from sandalwood. I seem to observed that over time they become brittle and would easily break over time.

2 people like this

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@rsa101 (39085)

• Philippines

14 Jul

@JudyEv yeah now i know there is this slight scent i smell.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (358471)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 Jul

That could easily be so. Have you smelt it? It has a wonderful perfume.

1 person likes this

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@LooeyVille (68)

• United States

19h

What delicate carving on the fan.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (358471)

• Rockingham, Australia

51m

I was really impressed by the carving.

@youless (113309)

• Guangzhou, China

23h

I have several of the sandalwood fans at home. They were long time ago. I guess my mom bought them when she was young.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (358471)

• Rockingham, Australia

51m

They have probably lost their perfume by now.

@LadyDuck (478955)

• Italy

21h

I would not use the eggcup fearing it gives a "scent", but the fan is beautiful and I am sure you can smell the scent of sandalwood waving it.

1 person likes this

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@LadyDuck (478955)

• Italy

45m

@JudyEv Yes, it is a shame because it's a lovely fragrance.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (358471)

• Rockingham, Australia

48m

It's a lovely fragrance. Over time, the scent becomes less which is a shame.

1 person likes this

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@rakski (143086)

• Philippines

7h

I didn't know those kinds of fans were made from sandalwood. I like the smell of sandalwood

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (358471)

• Rockingham, Australia

50m

They are made from other things too of course.

@pitsipeahie (5357)

•

20h

I actually have that fan! I just don’t know where it is now — probably stashed somewhere inside the cabinet. I hope I can post a photo once I find it. It smelled so good — a rich, calming sandalwood scent that instantly filled the air. But you really had to be careful with it. The strings that held the fan together were quite delicate. If you opened it too roughly, they could snap easily. Such a waste when that happens.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (358471)

• Rockingham, Australia

49m

It's a beautiful perfume. I remember as a young child we'd sometimes burn a small piece in the fire. It was a wonderful scent.

@snowy22315 (192722)

• United States

19h

They are beautiful, and probably scented nicely. I don't really care for the sandalwood fragrance, but if I had a fan like that, I would use it.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (358471)

• Rockingham, Australia

49m

On our hot summer days, I often wish I knew where my fan was.

@wolfgirl569 (119225)

• Marion, Ohio

19h

The fan is pretty

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (358471)

• Rockingham, Australia

48m

The pattern is very intricate.

@RasmaSandra (86912)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

11h

I just love the scent of sandlewood,

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (358471)

• Rockingham, Australia

50m

I do too but I don't come across it often.

@xFiacre (13901)

• Ireland

15h

@judyev Just hearing the word sandalwood transports me to India and I go weak at the knees. Was unaware of the Australian connection.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (358471)

• Rockingham, Australia

47m

We were the world's biggest exporter of sandalwood at one stage.

1 person likes this

@BACONSTRIPSXXX (15396)

• Torrington, Connecticut

19h

I love the craftsmanship and detail

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (358471)

• Rockingham, Australia

47m

The carver was very good at his work.

Anindita Sengupta

@aninditasen (17257)

• Raurkela, India

18h

In India sandal wood is very much on demand and therefore very expensive. We make sandal wood articles and use sandal wood paste in temples and in houses too.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (358471)

• Rockingham, Australia

46m

We used to export a lot of sandalwood. I don't know how much we export nowadays.

@porwest (103178)

• United States

19h

Amazing, aside from Sandalwood, what people are able to do with wood. Never ceases to amaze me the intricate detail. It also seems to be such a lost art these days.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (358471)

• Rockingham, Australia

46m

It would surely be difficult to get the same pattern over and over.

@Beestring (15624)

• Hong Kong

14 Jul

I own one of this type of fan. I bought it in Japan.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (358471)

• Rockingham, Australia

46m

Lucky you! It's a very lovely fan.

@LindaOHio (194499)

• United States

14 Jul

The fan is amazing.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (358471)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 Jul

It's very beautiful, isn't it?

@arunima25 (91538)

• Bangalore, India

14 Jul

That's one beautiful fan with such intricate designs. And I am sure that it would fill the air with the divine aroma of sandalwood. The southern states in India are famous for sandalwood trees. Now, sandalwood cutting is banned owing to the rampant smuggling of the wood. But for sure, some bit of smuggling still goes on despite all laws in place.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (358471)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 Jul

There are strict laws in our country too. You have to have a licence for starters. There is very little now in a natural state.