Unknown sword! Possibly Sumatran Battak with Pamor?

A. G. Maisey · 13th October 2013, 09:27 PM

In Australia medicinal paraffin is also sold as medicinal paraffin, which it seems is a laxative.

I'm pretty sure I've given this recipe here before, but to save looking:-

50% medicinal parafin, 45% sandalwood oil, 5% kenanga oil. Proportions are not critical.

I use a German synthetic sandalwood oil, and natural kenanga oil. Its probably impossible to buy kenanga oil outside of Indonesia. However, it is quite acceptable to use other oils to give the perfume --- jasmine, white rose, rose etc., etc. Main thing is that it is a pleasing smell. In Jawa sandalwood is pretty wide spread in its use, but sandalwood has a lot of variations, and they all smell different.

Kenanga oil is related to, but is not, ylang-ylang. I think , from memory, that kenanga is from the young flower, ylang-ylang is from the mature flower.

Light machine oil, such as sewing machine oil, also works well as a base.

kronckew · 14th October 2013, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

...

I'm pretty sure I've given this recipe here before, but to save looking:-

...

i linked to the oil thread you posted in, in my post 3 above. which contains additional discussion.

David · 14th October 2013, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Its probably impossible to buy kenanga oil outside of Indonesia.

AFAIK kenanga oil is also spelled "cananga". If you do a google search for this oil you will most certainly find it for sale in the US and Canada at fairly reasonable prices. Real essential sandalwood oil has become ridiculously expensive as it becomes rarer so i fully understand Alan using a synthetic here.

A. G. Maisey · 14th October 2013, 04:29 AM

Not only Alan, David, but everybody I have ever known in Jawa has used and uses synthetic sandalwood oil.

I was given the original recipe by the grandson of a famous m'ranggi back about 1977, at that time the grandson was about 35-40. He told me what to buy and where to buy it, and also told me that his grandfather used the same oils.

Apparently you can buy genuine sandalwood oil in some places in the Eastern Islands at reasonable prices, but in the places I go to I've never seen it, and would not know where to buy it.

David, that "cananga" oil that you see advertised might be ylang-ylang. In a local health food store I saw some small bottles of "canaga", and it definitely was not the kenanga that I use, additionally many years ago a friend who lives in Detroit sent me a tiny amount of "cananga" to check if it was the same as mine, it wasn't, but my daughter-in-law reckoned it was poor quality ylang-ylang.

Genuine natural kenanga --- or kenongo --- oil has very sharp piercing smell, almost takes your breath away and makes you want to sneeze. It is not really a very pleasant smell, the least you could say about it is that it is sharp.

William.m · 16th October 2013, 10:34 AM

Hi all,

I am deeply awed by the amount of discussion and advice on this thread. Thank you all very much for your contributions! I had no idea that the blade could be so old, this is wonderful as I was already very fond of this sword, and now even more so!

I spent the weekend searching my towns shops for oils but was not able to find anything suitable. I think I will just purchase the oils from the internet, following the recipe of 50% mineral oil, 45% synthetic sandalwood oil, 5% Jasmine oil.

Thanks all!

William

A. G. Maisey · 16th October 2013, 12:19 PM

5% kenanga oil.

jasmine might not smell so wonderful mixed with sandalwood, but by itself jasmine is pleasant, and a good alternative.

William.m · 16th October 2013, 02:56 PM

The difficulty is that I don't really know what any of these oils smell like, nor has the seller come back to me with the recipe of what he coats his blades in.

How about something like 95% Minerial oil and 5% jasmine?
The swords oil is currently very floral.

A. G. Maisey · 16th October 2013, 09:10 PM

No, just use jasmine + mineral oil instead of sandalwood + mineral.

The purpose of the kenanga is to give the smell a very slight edge, which enhances the smell of the sandalwood, so if you cannot get kenanga, leave it out and just use either:-

50% mineral oil + 50% sandalwood

OR

50% mineral oil + 50% jasmine

13th October 2013, 09:27 PM	#1
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,989	In Australia medicinal paraffin is also sold as medicinal paraffin, which it seems is a laxative. I'm pretty sure I've given this recipe here before, but to save looking:- 50% medicinal parafin, 45% sandalwood oil, 5% kenanga oil. Proportions are not critical. I use a German synthetic sandalwood oil, and natural kenanga oil. Its probably impossible to buy kenanga oil outside of Indonesia. However, it is quite acceptable to use other oils to give the perfume --- jasmine, white rose, rose etc., etc. Main thing is that it is a pleasing smell. In Jawa sandalwood is pretty wide spread in its use, but sandalwood has a lot of variations, and they all smell different. Kenanga oil is related to, but is not, ylang-ylang. I think , from memory, that kenanga is from the young flower, ylang-ylang is from the mature flower. Light machine oil, such as sewing machine oil, also works well as a base.

14th October 2013, 04:29 AM	#4
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,989	Not only Alan, David, but everybody I have ever known in Jawa has used and uses synthetic sandalwood oil. I was given the original recipe by the grandson of a famous m'ranggi back about 1977, at that time the grandson was about 35-40. He told me what to buy and where to buy it, and also told me that his grandfather used the same oils. Apparently you can buy genuine sandalwood oil in some places in the Eastern Islands at reasonable prices, but in the places I go to I've never seen it, and would not know where to buy it. David, that "cananga" oil that you see advertised might be ylang-ylang. In a local health food store I saw some small bottles of "canaga", and it definitely was not the kenanga that I use, additionally many years ago a friend who lives in Detroit sent me a tiny amount of "cananga" to check if it was the same as mine, it wasn't, but my daughter-in-law reckoned it was poor quality ylang-ylang. Genuine natural kenanga --- or kenongo --- oil has very sharp piercing smell, almost takes your breath away and makes you want to sneeze. It is not really a very pleasant smell, the least you could say about it is that it is sharp.

16th October 2013, 10:34 AM	#5
William.m Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: England Posts: 104	Hi all, I am deeply awed by the amount of discussion and advice on this thread. Thank you all very much for your contributions! I had no idea that the blade could be so old, this is wonderful as I was already very fond of this sword, and now even more so! I spent the weekend searching my towns shops for oils but was not able to find anything suitable. I think I will just purchase the oils from the internet, following the recipe of 50% mineral oil, 45% synthetic sandalwood oil, 5% Jasmine oil. Thanks all! William

16th October 2013, 12:19 PM	#6
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,989	5% kenanga oil. jasmine might not smell so wonderful mixed with sandalwood, but by itself jasmine is pleasant, and a good alternative.

16th October 2013, 02:56 PM	#7
William.m Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: England Posts: 104	The difficulty is that I don't really know what any of these oils smell like, nor has the seller come back to me with the recipe of what he coats his blades in. How about something like 95% Minerial oil and 5% jasmine? The swords oil is currently very floral.

16th October 2013, 09:10 PM	#8
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,989	No, just use jasmine + mineral oil instead of sandalwood + mineral. The purpose of the kenanga is to give the smell a very slight edge, which enhances the smell of the sandalwood, so if you cannot get kenanga, leave it out and just use either:- 50% mineral oil + 50% sandalwood OR 50% mineral oil + 50% jasmine