Just what is “true rosewood” - a descriptor or genetic group?

[Cushing H.]

ok ... i get it that rosewoods all come from the genus Dalbergia, and this is a wide ranging genus (both geographically and phenotypically), and that not all members of that group are “rosewoods.” However, we talk about “rosewoods” and “true rosewoods.” And also all members of the genus are restricted by CITIES because of their appeal to woodworkers. So... many woods that are not “rosewoods” have similar appeal because of their looks. But what, truly, is the difference between a rosewood and a non-rosewood (and also a “true” rosewood)?

Wikpedia says that a wood is a rosewood because of the floral smell it gives off when sawed (regardless of color or appearance). Is the distinction truly as simple as that? And if so, why are some woods described as “rosewood”, and then some others described as “true” rosewood? If those described simply as “rosewood”, why even bother with that label if they dont have that floral smell???

 

[allenkey]

I'm fairly certain true rosewood just refers to the genus. A 'untrue' rosewood would be an example like Pau Ferro/ Bolivian rosewood. It's not in the same genus but is sometimes used as a 'replacement' for rosewoods

 

[Greenberg Woods]

A true rosewood is a member of the dalbergia genius. Full stop.

The word rosewood is one thrown around a lot in marketing, generally a red/ deep brown wood that's hard and oily will be marketed as rosewood at some point

Pau ferro is called Bolivian rosewood
Bubinga is called African Rosewood
Renglas is called Borneo rosewood
Chechen is called Caribbean rosewood

and so on. This happens a lot. Any redish/brown, easy to work wood will be rebranded as a mahogany, any darker brown oily wood gets called a teak, any heavy dark wood gets called an ebony.

Most of the time if you see a product that just says "rosewood" its not a member of the dalbergia genus. Its one of the imitation rosewoods.

When someone says the wood used is a true rosewood, they mean it is a member of the dalbergia genus. Its also used to describe dalbergias that do not have the word rosewood in their name.

Woods like Indian rosewood, Honduras rosewood and brazilian rosewood are all clearly rosewoods, but so are woods like Tulipwood, Kingwood, cocobolo and african blackwood. I may refer to these woods at "true rosewoods" both to inform people that they are dalbergias and thus have all the mechanical, prestige and odor benefits of dalbergias, and also to specificity that i am not selling another species and marketing it as a rosewood.

 

[Cushing H.]

Thanks ben.. i was hoping you would chime in here. I raised this question because apparently there are quite a number of members of dalbergia that are not necessarily dark, and do not have the floral smell we associate with rosewoods. Would you still consider them to be “true rosewoods”.

 

[Greenberg Woods]

Yes. The term "true rosewood" is a synonym for a member of the Dalbergia Family.

Tulipwood is white and pink, it's a true rosewood.

Cocobolo smells like cinnamon, not flowers. It's a true rosewood.

If it is a member of the genus Dalbergia it's a true rosewood.

 

[Cushing H.]

Yes. The term "true rosewood" is a synonym for a member of the Dalbergia Family.

Tulipwood is white and pink, it's a true rosewood.

Cocobolo smells like cinnamon, not flowers. It's a true rosewood.

If it is a member of the genus Dalbergia it's a true rosewood.

Got it - thanks.
(I was intentionally using the term “floral smell”, as that is the description (more or less) in the wikipedia article ... and at this point i have no personal knowledge of the smell of one Dalbergia from another).
Thanks again!