What is the significance of Vanillin in understanding the age of the Shroud?
Vanillin is an aromatic compound that occurs naturally in vanilla beans (Vanilla Planifolia) and other plant material. It is used as a flavoring additive for food and beverages and as an aromatic ingredient in candles, air fresheners, perfumes, incense and potpourri. Vanillin is also used in the preparation of pharmaceutical drugs for Parkinson’s disease and hypertension. The chemical name for vanillin is 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde and the formula is C8H8O8. The vanillin compound has a molecular weight of 152.15. Vanillin (for artificial vanilla) is also be produced as a byproduct of the paper and pulp product industry through the oxidative breakdown of lignin, a complex polymer, a non-carbohydrate constituent of plant material. The Aztec Indians in Mexico used vanillin as a flavoring ingredient, particularly as an accent in chocolate beverages. The Spanish Explorer Hernando Cortez introduced Europe to Vanillin in the early 1500s. Vanilla became popular as a flavoring ingredient a
