Santalum album is a medium-size tree that reaches maturity at 40-50 years old and is hemiparasitic - its roots must attach themselves to the roots of other trees to obtain nutrients but will not kill the host. In order to extract the essential oil, the tree has to be completely cut down. Long growing patterns, excessive harvesting, greed, and illegal poaching has made several species of sandalwood "endangered" or "vulnerable" in India, Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Unganda, and Tanzania, under the United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, which either prohibits trade or requires an export license. Plantations of sandalwood - planted in 1999 and organically grown - in Australia are exempted from these restrictions as they employ sustainable management practices and reduce pressure on species in the wild. Indeed, I source sandalwood used in Annalisa's Garden's products from Australia! The common name comes from the Sanskrit word "chandana" and its wood has longstanding religious and cultural significance in Asian cultures and Buddhism, Induism, and Islam. India has been the main home of sandalwood for 5000 years. Hinudus apply sandalwood paste to devotess' foreheads to honor god Krishna, for ritual bathing of HIndu gods, and for burning incense. The Egyptians imported the wood to make medicine, embalm the dead, ritual burnings to worship the gods. Sandalwood oil has been traditionally used in Ayrveda, Chinese, and Tibetan mediccal systems to treat colds, bronchitis, fever, digestive issues, inflammation of the mouth and pharinx, liver, and urniary tract. The oil was also traditionally used to treat swollen lymph nodes and varicous veins. However, it was rarely mentioned throughout Europe in the Middle Ages, until the eighteenth century when England settled in India and became familiar with its therapeutic properties. After the 1950s only 10% of the oil produced was used for medicinal purposes. In addition, sandalwood is considered one of the most precious aromaitc scents from antiquity to modern times and its wood is also used for carving high-end furniture.