Find Your Store
Richly patterned and full of character, olivewood is a stunning exotic hardwood prized for its swirling grain, warm tones, and distinctive beauty. We offer select olivewood lumber and turning blanks ideal for fine woodworking, cutting boards, decorative items, knife handles, and artisan projects that demand visual impact and elegance. Native to the Mediterranean region, olivewood features golden to light brown heartwood with striking dark brown or black streaks, creating dramatic and eye-catching contrast. It is dense and smooth with a pleasant natural aroma, machines well with sharp tools, and finishes to a lustrous polish—perfect for detailed and high-end work. As a proudly Canadian company, Windsor Plywood specializes in hard-to-find and specialty wood species, backed by expert advice and personalized service. Whether you're turning a bowl or crafting a statement piece, olivewood adds sophistication and natural artistry to any project.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is olivewood and what makes it distinctive?
Olivewood (Olea europaea) from the Mediterranean region is a dense, close-grained hardwood with extraordinary figure — irregular swirling grain with light cream-to-yellow tones and darker brown-gold streaking. It has a fine texture, a natural lustre that polishes exceptionally well, and a pleasant subtle fragrance. Olivewood is used for turning, knife handles, decorative boxes, small furniture accents, and kitchenware.
Is olivewood food-safe for cutting boards and kitchen items?
Yes. Olivewood is non-toxic and food-safe once finished with a food-safe oil such as food-grade mineral oil or beeswax. The dense, fine grain of olivewood resists moisture absorption and is naturally antibacterial relative to more porous woods. Olivewood cutting boards and kitchen utensils are a traditional Mediterranean product and are both functional and highly decorative.
How is olivewood best finished?
For kitchen and food-contact items, finish olivewood with food-grade mineral oil or a beeswax and oil blend applied repeatedly and allowed to soak in. For decorative pieces, penetrating oil finishes and varnishes enhance the natural lustre and figure. Olivewood's natural oils can inhibit some finishes — a light wipe with mineral spirits before applying film finishes improves adhesion.
Is olivewood difficult to work with?
Olivewood is hard and its interlocked, irregular grain requires sharp tools to avoid tearout. It turns well on the lathe and sands to a high natural lustre. The irregular figure means grain direction changes frequently across a piece — work carefully and use sharp tools in multiple directions to achieve a clean surface. It is worth the effort given the extraordinary finished appearance.
Does Windsor Plywood carry olivewood?
Windsor Plywood carries olivewood in turning blank and small board dimensions as a specialty exotic hardwood subject to current availability. Contact your local Windsor Plywood branch to confirm current stock for your project.