Unknown sword! Possibly Sumatran Battak with Pamor?

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

William.m · 17th October 2013, 08:34 AM

I found some sandalwood health products at a pharmacy and I can't say that I enjoyed the smell. So I shall go with your recommended 50% mineral oil and 50% jasmine. Thanks!

A. G. Maisey · 17th October 2013, 09:47 AM

Good quality sandalwood has a sort of a warm, sawdusty type of smell. Some of the poor quality sandalwood smells truly disgusting. I can fully understand if you didn't really like what you found in the pharmacy.

14th October 2013, 04:29 AM	#1
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	#2
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	#3
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	#4
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	#5
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

17th October 2013, 08:34 AM	#6
William.m Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: England Posts: 104	I found some sandalwood health products at a pharmacy and I can't say that I enjoyed the smell. So I shall go with your recommended 50% mineral oil and 50% jasmine. Thanks!

17th October 2013, 09:47 AM	#7
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6,989	Good quality sandalwood has a sort of a warm, sawdusty type of smell. Some of the poor quality sandalwood smells truly disgusting. I can fully understand if you didn't really like what you found in the pharmacy.