Olivewood

Olea europaea

Olivewood is a pale golden timber prized for turnery and smallware, featuring dramatic swirling grain and a distinct fruity aroma.

Janka

2700

Price Tier

$$$$$

Dent Risk

Low

Overview

Olivewood wins on looks, then tries to sabotage you with movement. Wild or interlocked grain can tear out during surfacing. Reports on durability are mixed, and insect/borer resistance is poor, so it’s not a set-and-forget outdoor wood. Turning is a strong suit, but drying checks and warpage can show up if you hurry the process. It glues and finishes well once the stock is truly dry.

Key takeaways

At a Glance

Hardness & Heft

Janka: 2700 lbf

Dry weight: 64 lbs/ft³ (1025 kg/m³)

Color & Figure

Color: Golden Yellow and Brown

Grain: Straight to wild

Figure: Can be dramatic

Stability & Movement

Movement: Medium

Drying: Warp risk; checking

Workability

Plays nice with

Fights you on

Finishing

Best Uses

Great for

Avoid for

Where it comes from

Mediterranean

Buying notes

Availability is often short stock from trimmings or storm trees; prioritize dry, straight pieces over dramatic but unstable branch wood.

What to Watch Out For

Practical Alternatives

Shop Notes / Deeper Dive

Olivewood smells like a Mediterranean kitchen when you cut it, but it’s prone to “checking” (cracking) if you use it in wide panels. It’s a dream for turners and small box makers because the grain is so wild and tight. It’s oily, so seal it early to lock in those colors. Buy it as dry as possible and keep your parts small to keep the grain from fighting you later.

Like what you see?

While I occasionally work with some of these species, availability varies widely. If you’re researching woods for a custom project, feel free to reach out.

Reference Notes: Wood grain and color can vary significantly within a species depending on growing conditions, age, and cut orientation. Images on this page are provided as general reference examples and may not represent every possible variation of the species. Geographic distribution maps illustrate typical native or commonly cultivated ranges and may not reflect every region where the species occurs today.

Additional technical data and botanical information may be referenced from sources such as the USDA Forest Products Laboratory Wood Handbook.