Sandalwood

It was good to actually be at a market today, even if it wasn't the busiest - usual Newhailes level. The weather was great and had a good laugh with the other stallholders, many of whom have become friends.

Blipper sallymair has been promising (for a long time) to show me some real leaves of sandalwood that she bought in India in 1998.
Today was that day, such a treat to touch and smell something so precious and rare, still incredibly fragrant after 25 years in her drawer!

Cultivation and harvesting was banned in India in 2002 and can only be carried out by state agencies. Its one of the most precious woods in the world and being slow growing and having been extensively overharvested in the past, its very hard to come by the genuine article these days. Thank you Sally!