Richard Jernigan -> RE: What kind of rosewood (Mar. 21 2011 20:50:02)
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ORIGINAL: ralexander A little side fact - BRW oil is one of the main ingredients in Chanel No.5 perfume: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/30/international/americas/30rosewood.html?_r=1&8hpib This from C. F. Vega at http://tinyurl.com/4o2563x "I've read a number of articles, both on the internet and in print, stating that the use of "Brazilian rosewood oil" by the perfume/fragrance industry has contributed in large part to the near extinction, international trade bans and resulting exhorbitant prices of Dalbergia nigra, the true Brazilian rosewood of lore and legend. Nonsense...." He goes on at some length to point out that the tree that produces "rosewood oil" is not only a different species, but a different genus from dalbergia nigra, used for guitars. I recently dealt with a seller of Danish furniture from the mid-20th century. More than two years ago he had a shipment confiscated by the US Customs Service. It said "Brazilian Rosewood" on the invoice. The furniture dealer hired a taxonomist from the local university, who proved the furniture was not dalbergia nigra, but a closely related species. The dealer got his furniture back. Years ago I read that the only sure way to distinguish wood species is through microscopic analysis of cells from a sample of the wood, and chemical tests. A recent story was that the US Customs Service is developing a swab test to distinguish Brazilian rosewood from other species. A good story if you're trying to scare people into not importing it without CITES documentation. RNJ
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