Is Santos rosewood the same as Brazilian rosewood?

No. Santos rosewood is Machaerium scleroxylon, not a true Dalbergia rosewood. It is not CITES-restricted and is commercially available.

Is it difficult to finish due to oils?

Moderately. It's less oily than cocobolo or true rosewoods, but degreasing before finishing improves results.

Does it have the rosewood scent?

Santos rosewood has a subtle pleasant fragrance when worked, but not as strong as true Dalbergia rosewoods.

Furniture

musical instruments

turned objects

flooring

knife handles

decorative items

How to Finish Santos Rosewood: Complete Staining & Sealing Guide (2026)

Prepared by Lumberama's Wood Finishing Team

|Last updated May 26, 2026|Sources & methodology

Santos rosewood (Machaerium scleroxylon) is a beautiful South American wood that serves as an alternative to true rosewoods, many of which are now CITES-restricted. Its rich chocolate-brown color with darker streaks and subtle fragrance make it a prized material for furniture and musical instruments.

Key Takeaways

Santos rosewood (Machaerium scleroxylon) is a beautiful South American wood that serves as an alternative to true rosewoods, many of which are now CITES-restricted.
Its rich chocolate-brown color with darker streaks and subtle fragrance make it a prized material for furniture and musical instruments.
Shellac (bonds well to oily woods); wipe-on polyurethane after degreasing; lacquer after proper preparation; tung oil for natural hand-rubbed finish.
Straight to irregular grain with medium texture.
Diffuse-porous with medium pores.

Wood Characteristics

Straight to irregular grain with medium texture. Diffuse-porous with medium pores. 2200 Janka, very hard. Dark chocolate brown with black and orange streaks. Moderate to high natural oil content. Not true Dalbergia rosewood.

Recommended Finishes

Shellac (bonds well to oily woods); wipe-on polyurethane after degreasing; lacquer after proper preparation; tung oil for natural hand-rubbed finish.

Preparation Steps

Sand through 150, 180, 220, 320 grit. Wipe with acetone or naphtha before finishing to remove surface oils. Santos rosewood is less oily than true rosewoods or cocobolo, but degreasing still improves adhesion.

Application Steps

1. Sand to desired grit (320+ for fine furniture). 2. Degrease with acetone, let dry 5-10 min. 3. Apply thin coat of shellac or poly immediately. 4. Dry 24 hours. 5. Sand 400 between coats. 6. Apply 2-3 coats. 7. Buff final coat.

Maintenance Schedule

Shellac: refresh every 5-8 years. Poly: recoat every 5-8 years. Oil: refresh every 6-12 months. Santos rosewood's oils provide natural protection and many pieces are left unfinished.

Common Mistakes

Not degreasing before finishing causing poor adhesion; confusing Santos rosewood with CITES-restricted true rosewoods; applying thick coats on this dense wood; expecting identical appearance to Brazilian rosewood.

Interior vs Exterior

Interior: Excellent for furniture, musical instruments, turned objects, and decorative items. Its rich color and figure are stunning under clear finish. Exterior: Not recommended for outdoor use.