Camphor has been used in worship and religious rituals for centuries. As soon as the matchstick is struck, camphor burns and its aroma spreads all around, but have you ever wondered how this camphor is made and why it burns so quickly? The story behind this is related to both natural science and history. Let’s find out.

How is camphor made?

Camphor is mainly available in two types – natural camphor and artificial camphor. Natural camphor is obtained from the camphor tree Cinnamomum Camphora. This tree can grow 50 to 60 feet tall and its leaves are round and about 4 inches wide. Tree bark is used to make camphor. In fact, when the bark starts drying, its color becomes brownish-grey. It is separated from the tree and then refined by heating. After this, the bark is ground into powder and given the traditional shape of camphor.

Where is it mainly found?

Camphor tree is mainly found in East Asia i.e. China and it is originally considered to be a tree from Japan. It has been used in folk medicine in China for centuries. Around the ninth century it was used to make camphor and gradually it became famous throughout the world.

How did Kapoor reach India?

The history of camphor cultivation in India dates back to the end of the 19th century. According to a research paper published in 1932, there was success in the cultivation of camphor in the Horticulture Garden of Lucknow during 1882-1883. Although the initial success was short-lived, later cultivation of this tree started on a large scale.

How does camphor burn so fast?

The reason why camphor burns so fast lies in its chemical structure. The amount of carbon and hydrogen in it is sufficient, due to which its burning temperature is very low. This means that even mild heat or a small spark from a match is enough to ignite it. The vapor of camphor spreads in the air and mixes with oxygen and due to this it starts burning very fast. This is the reason why while using camphor in worship, both its aroma and inflammability can be experienced.

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