Sandalwood Essential Oil

Latin name Santalum album – Family species Santalaceae

Sandalwood is also sometimes referred to as White Sandalwood, Yellow Sandalwood, East Indian Sandalwood, Sandalwood Mysore, Sanders-wood. The African Osyris tenuifolia plant, the Australian Antalum spicatum, and the West Indian Amyris balsamifera produce a similar oil in smell to that of Sandalwood, however they are not considered to be equal therapeutically. Sandalwood oil is also sometimes referred to as Santal, White Saunders, and Yellow Saunders. Sandalwood oil is an expensive oil; luckily, a little Sandalwood goes a long way.

Andrew Chevallier [The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants] states, “Sandalwood and its essential oil are used for their antiseptic properties in treating genitourinary conditions such as cystitis and gonorrhea.”

“This heavy, luxurious oil is useful for tension and anxiety. It also has a folk reputation as a sexual stimulant.” –The New Age Herbalist

According to perfumesociety.org: “Sandalwood is used in the base of up to 50% of feminine fragrances.” (though much of it is likely synthetic now) and “It [sandalwood] works as a ‘fixative’, tethering other ingredients and keeping them ‘true’, in a composition.” The article also suggests that a good fragrance substitute for sandalwood is amyris.

Oil Selection Guide

Color – Pale yellow to pale gold to greenish to brownish
Viscosity – Viscous
Scent – Rich, warm, deep, balsamy, spicy, sweet, woody
Perfume Aroma – Base / middle/ top note

Oil Source Information

Plant Type – Tree
Parts Used – Heartwood, Roots
Countries of Origin – India, Indonesia, New Caledonia
Extraction Method – Steam / water distillation

Known Chemical Constituents

sesquiterpinol santalol, santenonol, teresantalal, borneol, santalene

Applications and Uses

Along with being used in aromatherapy, sandalwood is used as fragrance in cosmetics, soaps, detergents, beard and shaving products, aftershaves, perfumes, and incense, and as a flavoring in commercial food and drinks.

Sandalwood blends well with

Recipes and Ideas

Precautions / Contraindications

See Essential Oils Safety and Usage.

References and Resources

See Aromatherapy References and Resources page.

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