Trees are necessary for humans in a variety of ways. They are not only a provider of refuge for us but also a supply of nutrition and oxygen, without which we would perish.
However, in more recent times, additional use of trees has been developed, namely the use of their wood. Many sectors demand wood for full bedroom home furnishings and other operations, therefore it has become somewhat vital.
Rosewood and Sheesham wood are two of the most well-known types of wood.
Key Takeaways
- Rosewood is a dense, dark-colored hardwood with a fragrant aroma, while Sheesham wood, also known as Indian Rosewood, is lighter in color and less aromatic.
- Rosewood is more expensive and rarer than Sheesham wood due to its scarcity and slow growth rate.
- Both kinds of wood are durable and resistant to termites, making them ideal for furniture and musical instruments.
Rosewood vs Sheesham Wood
Rosewood is a high-quality hardwood with a deep reddish-brown color and a fine, straight-grain pattern. Sheesham wood, also known as Indian Rosewood, has a lighter color, darker streaks, and a more prominent grain pattern. Rosewood is more expensive and durable than Sheesham wood.
Rosewood is the wood of many trees, including those belonging to the Tipuana, Pterocarpus, and Dalbergia genera. It is a hardwood that comes in a variety of colors.
The wood of an angiosperm tree is known as hardwood. Various species of subtropical or tropical leguminous trees can be discovered in these families, which are mostly found in South and Central America, Africa, Madagascar, and the south of Asia.
Sheesham Wood is fundamentally a variant of rosewood. It is made mostly from Dalbergia sissoo species of trees, which is recognized as Indian Rosewood.
The wood is hardwood, and the trees are seasonal in existence. The tree is endemic to the Indian Subcontinent and Iran’s south. Sheesham, sisu, tahli, Tali, Irugudujava, and jag are some of the regional names for the wood.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Rosewood | Sheesham Wood |
|---|---|---|
| Botanical nomenclature | Dalbergia latifolia | Dalbergia sissoo |
| Color | Dark brown with a reddish undertone | Golden brown to reddish-brown |
| Scent | The aroma of roses, sweet and rich | Pleasant, but not overpowering |
| Texture | Close and thick grain with a silky soft texture. | Straight grain, medium to coarse texture, with a nice natural sheen |
| Frequently found in | Brazil, Honduras, Jamaica, Africa, and India | India |
| Application | Furnishings, musical equipment, and so on. | Wood sculptures, boatbuilding, etc., |
What is Rosewood?
Rosewood is a wood that is highly streaked and engraved with dark resinous coatings. It accepts a fine polish but is tough to work with due to its sticky character.
The heartwood grows to huge proportions, yet squared logs or planks are never observed since the heartwood tends to rot even before the tree reaches maturity, rendering it defective and hollow in the core.
It tends to thrive in tropical places across the world, and the term refers to various dark-red hardwood tree species.
The wood obtained from these trees is regarded for its properties of being sturdy, heavy, and visually beautiful, which has resulted in a large demand for it in the creation of furnishings and instruments.
Rosewood is, in essence, a hardwood. Hardwood is wood derived from an angiosperm tree. This is a tree with seeds that are contained, whether in pods, a shell, a covering, or a fruit.
Apples, for instance, or nuts and seeds such as acorns and nuts.
Rosewood is so named because the elder trees have a very fragrant and rich perfume that is evocative of roses. This is particularly true for Brazilian rosewood, known as Rio rosewood.
Additionally, Rosewood furniture can be left undone owing to its natural color, gently waxed, or thoroughly lacquered and finished, since rosewood takes shine quite well. This offers rosewood a more complete appearance.
It is most renowned for its dark brown and/or reddish coloration, as well as darker subtle shading. Rosewood has a compact, deep grain that makes it sturdy and long-lasting.
As a result, wood is utilized to make furniture, particularly cabinets. It has been used to build furniture for centuries, and many pieces of ancient rosewood furniture may still be found in galleries today.
What is Sheesham Wood?
Sheesham wood is a sort of wood derived from the Sheesham tree, which is encountered in India’s subcontinental areas.
It is located in humid places with high temperatures, and the wood contains a lot of water, making it less water-resistant.
It is also known as Indian rosewood and is extremely easy to work with and is malleable to a wide range of treatments, making it the preferred wood for furniture production. It gives anything made of it a flawless gloss and sparkle.
Sheesham wood is compatible with a wide range of finishes, glues, and machines. As a result, it is always immensely popular and is highly appreciated for furniture-making, particularly for Sheesham wood bedding.
Owing to its pliability, Sheesham is also commonly used for wood sculptures.
A Sheesham wood bed is a popular choice when building real wood furnishing.
Dry-wood termites are very resilient to Sheesham hardwood from Indian rosewood trees. Because of its hardness and rough texture, it does not squeak or warp.
Sheesham wood furniture is naturally resistant to deterioration. It is, however, sensitive to wood-boring insects and should be examined regularly.
‘Kartaals,’ a Rajasthani percussion instrument, are frequently fashioned of Sheesham. Sheesham may also be used to make flooring, agricultural equipment, boats, carving, skis, and turning things.
Sheesham wood furniture is extremely cost-effective because there are no additional fees for upkeep. It is also less expensive to maintain when opposed to other wood varieties’ annual maintenance fees.
Main Differences Between Rosewood and Sheesham Wood
- Rosewood has the botanical name Dalbergia latifolia, whereas Sheesham wood has the botanical name Dalbergia sissoo.
- Rosewood is most renowned for its dark brown and/or reddish coloration, as well as darker veining. Sheesham, on the other hand, ranges from golden brown to a deeper reddish-brown.
- Rosewood has a rather sweet rich rose-like perfume, while Sheesham has a lot more pleasant fragrance than its relatives since it is not as intense.
- Rosewood has a compact and thick grain with a silky-smooth finish, and Sheesham has a moderate to coarse texture with a great organic shine.
- Rosewood is found in Brazil, Honduras, Jamaica, Africa, and India, whereas Sheesham wood is indigenous to the Indian subcontinent and southern Iran.
- Rosewood is used to make furniture, particularly cabinets for musical instruments such as guitars, pianos, and marimbas. Sheesham, on the other hand, is widely used for wood carvings due to its pliability. It is also utilized in the manufacture of flooring, agricultural implements, skis, and turning items.
- https://www.scielo.br/pdf/qn/v30n8/a21v30n8.pdf
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11709-019-0568-9
Last Updated : 15 July, 2023
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
