Hainan Huanghuali and Vietnam Huanghuali - Common Knowledge of Solid Wood Rosewood Furniture

Key points for distinguishing between Hainan rosewood and Vietnamese rosewood

1. Names and origins of Hainan rosewood and Vietnamese rosewood
Hainan rosewood is called Dalbergia odorifera in the national standard for rosewood, but it has many common names, including...HuanghualiDalbergia odorifera, Dalbergia odorifera, Dalbergia cochinchinensis, Dalbergia odorifera ... etc., belong to the Dalbergia genus of the Fabaceae family and are produced in Hainan, China.
Vietnamese rosewood is not currently mentioned in the national standard for rosewood. Its Chinese scientific name is yet to be determined. It is commonly known as Vietnamese rosewood. It belongs to the Dalbergia genus of the Fabaceae family. The specific tree species is unknown. It is produced on both sides of the Truong Son mountain range on the border between Vietnam and Laos.

2. The grain patterns of Hainan rosewood and Vietnamese rosewood are different.
Hainan rosewood and Vietnamese rosewood have similar wood characteristics, making identification difficult only after planing a portion of the wood. It is best to consult a professional for identification. First, look at the grain. Hainan rosewood has clear and distinct grain that is consistent in thickness, lively, and varied. Vietnamese rosewood, on the other hand, has a slightly coarser grain than Hainan rosewood. The grain is mostly cloudy and unclear, varying in width and often discontinuous. Sometimes it may show signs of water damage, and some grain patterns may change drastically, with no connection between them.

3. Comparison of the scents of Hainan rosewood and Vietnamese rosewood
Freshly cut Hainan rosewood has a pungent, spicy smell, which develops a light fragrance after being left for a while; freshly cut Vietnamese rosewood has a stronger sour aroma, and the fragrance of Hainan rosewood is stronger than that of Vietnamese rosewood.

4. The "ghost face" patterns of Hainan rosewood and Vietnamese rosewood.
The knots on Hainan rosewood display irregular and charming patterns, known as "ghost faces." Vietnamese rosewood also has ghost faces, but they are not as beautiful or vivid as those on Hainan rosewood, nor are they as numerous.

5. Color comparison between Hainan rosewood and Vietnamese rosewood
Hainan rosewood is relatively darker in color, with the heartwood exhibiting reddish-brown, dark brown, and other colors, along with blackish-brown stripes. Vietnamese rosewood is mostly light yellow, with less reddish-brown and dark brown.

6. The heartwood sizes of Hainan rosewood and Vietnamese rosewood differ.
Hainan rosewood trees are generally smaller, while Vietnamese rosewood trees are larger. Currently, the largest Hainan rosewood on the market has a heartwood diameter of over 30 centimeters, while Vietnamese rosewood generally has a heartwood diameter of 20-40 centimeters.

Detailed Explanation of the Differences Between Hainan Rosewood and Vietnamese Rosewood (with Pictures)

Rosewood, often referred to as the "aristocrat of woods," is a superior material for making rosewood furniture and Buddhist prayer beads, and very little of it remains on the market. Most of the rosewood we see daily comes from Vietnam. Because Vietnam and Hainan are geographically close and located at roughly the same latitude, Vietnamese rosewood is very similar to Hainan rosewood, especially the wood from eastern Vietnam, which faces Hainan across the sea.

Currently, Hainan rosewood is under government protection, making it impossible to produce new timber. Old timber is also facing depletion. So what about Vietnamese rosewood? In fact, the situation in Vietnam is far from optimistic. The price of raw Vietnamese rosewood has already reached nearly 100,000 yuan per ton, while the price of planks is even higher, with better quality pieces selling for 200,000 yuan per ton. The current upward trend is incredibly strong, which clearly demonstrates the scarcity of Vietnamese rosewood resources. Furthermore, some timber labeled as Vietnamese rosewood is actually imported from Laos as "fragrant rosewood," not originating in Vietnam. Its quality, color, and grain are significantly inferior to that of Vietnamese rosewood.

Unfortunately, there is no official international registration for the name "Vietnamese Rosewood," leading to ongoing issues with the accuracy of its naming. The Chinese rosewood standard calls it "Vietnamese Fragrant Rosewood," while people generally prefer to call it "Vietnamese Rosewood." So, what is the relationship between Vietnamese Rosewood and Hainan Rosewood? Let's first understand it from a biological perspective:

Hainan rosewood

Hainan Huanghuali, also known as Hainan Dalbergia odorifera or Hainan rosewood, is a species of fragrant rosewood belonging to the Dalbergia genus of the Papilionoideae subfamily. It originates from the low-altitude plains and hilly areas of Diaoluo Mountain and Jianfengling on Hainan Island, China, primarily growing in sunny locations around 100 meters above sea level on Diaoluo Mountain. The most prized Hainan Huanghuali mainly grows in the Li ethnic minority areas, with the Hainan Huanghuali from Wangxia area of Changjiang being the most valuable. Due to its slow growth, solid wood, and beautiful grain, it has always been ranked among the five most famous woods and is a national first-class protected plant.

Vietnamese rosewood

Vietnamese rosewood, originating from Vietnam and Laos, is known as "wood gold." It has two flower types: yellow and red. Trees with yellow flowers have light yellow wood, while those with red flowers have brownish-red wood. Its scientific name is still undetermined. The Chinese Academy of Forestry's Wood Research Institute has tentatively classified it as *Rosa banksiae*, but this name does not exist in botanical taxonomy. Microscopic analysis of the wood's structure is unlikely to accurately distinguish between the two types. Even the authoritative Chinese Academy of Forestry can only confirm that they are both *Rosa banksiae*. Therefore, some people say that these two trees are the same species, differing only in texture, grain, pattern, and fragrance due to different growing environments. While this claim lacks sufficient evidence, the environmental factors mentioned are indeed real. Even Hainan rosewood varies in appearance and texture depending on its growing location, leading to distinctions between oily and dry varieties. Experienced Li people even conduct more detailed classifications based on their experience.

There are many different opinions on how to distinguish between Hainan rosewood and Vietnamese rosewood. The popular methods are to distinguish them by their grain, color, texture, fragrance, and the color of wood shavings soaked in water. However, these methods ignore an important fact: no single method is sufficient to accurately distinguish between them.

The heartwood and sapwood of Hainan rosewood bracelets differ significantly from those of Vietnamese rosewood. Hainan rosewood heartwood ranges from reddish-brown to dark reddish-brown, with uneven shades and often featuring dark brown veins. The sapwood, on the other hand, is yellowish-brown or light yellowish-brown. Overall, the color leans towards a dark red, while Vietnamese rosewood is more of a bright orange with a higher luster.

After polishing, Hainan rosewood has a surface as smooth as skin, clear stripes, and small, beautiful pores, often resembling crab claws, beautiful patterns, or cow hair textures.

Judging from the felled wood, the "ghost eye" grain pattern on Hainan rosewood bracelets has a solid center, appearing as small black dots, commonly known as "ghost eyes." In contrast, when Vietnamese rosewood is cut open, the central grain pattern is hollow, and the stripes form regular, circular patterns that do not reach the center point.

Under natural light, Hainan rosewood, after being polished and processed, appears translucent, an effect that most woods do not have, except for sandalwood.

Hainan Huanghuali bracelets have a relatively mild, reddish-brown fragrance, while Vietnamese Huanghuali, although also having a reddish-brown fragrance, has a more pungent smell.

The best way to compare them is to see, smell, and handle them extensively. Without sufficient experience, accurately distinguishing them based on limited differences seems difficult. Furthermore, and most importantly, online sellers often use Vietnamese wood to impersonate Hainan rosewood, making the above methods inaccurate. This is due not only to limited experience but also to the sellers using root material from Vietnamese rosewood to pass off as Hainan rosewood. Many collectors now consider "ghost faces" a crucial indicator for identifying Hainan rosewood, but this is inaccurate. The accurate indicator should be "ghost eyes," also known as "solid black spots." Both Vietnamese and Hainan rosewood can have "ghost faces," but only Hainan rosewood has distinct "ghost eyes."

“The "ghost face" and "ghost eye" are actually the centers of branch forking. Hainan Huanghuali (Hainan Rosewood) is a gnarled and twisted tree species with numerous branches. As the locals say, Hainan Huanghuali grows outwards rather than upwards. Furthermore, Hainan Huanghuali takes a very long time to mature. During this process, due to harsh environments or competition for nutrients, a single tree continuously branches, causing the grain to twist and gradually forming the "ghost face" and "ghost eye" we see today. Vietnamese Huanghuali, on the other hand, grows more upright and matures faster than Hainan Huanghuali, making it difficult for it to develop "ghost eyes." However, it's important to note that these so-called characteristics of Hainan Huanghuali, often mentioned as "ghost face" and "ghost eye," are not commonly found in Hainan Huanghuali, especially in plantations. If we rely solely on these characteristics for identification, in today's market where finding even a small supply is a matter of "grabbing," you'll find it extremely difficult to buy Hainan Huanghuali.