Historical Records of the Cultural Use of Aromatic Wood in a 17th-Century Church in Brazil

Abstract

The mapping of historical records can reveal connections between past and present in the cultural relationship between humans and nature, especially in the use of aromatic woods in religious rituals, where fragrances from wood conveyed sacred symbols and meanings. This study examined the historical use of wood in the Igreja Matriz Nossa Senhora da Graça, São Francisco do Sul, Brazil, to evaluate its symbolic meanings and cultural significance. Built in the seventeenth century, this church contains ecclesiastical furniture carved with Christian symbols, reflecting religious tradition and craftsmanship. Test samples were collected and analyzed for structural characterization and botanical identification, providing insights into the cultural value of the materials. Two native species of the Lauraceae family, both from the Atlantic Forest, were identified: Ocotea porosa (imbuia) and Ocotea odorifera (sassafras). These wood samples are aromatic, with fragrances derived from natural oils and resins. Imbuia was found in 57% of the furniture, sassafras in 42%. These noble woods were selected for organoleptic qualities and durability, highlighting a tradition of crafting “furniture of honor” in Christian practices, where material choices reflected symbolic and spiritual meaning.