Sandalwood oil comes from trees in the Santalum genus. The two main species used for essential oil are Santalum album and Santalum spicatum, and the trees are native to India, Australia and Hawaii. The oil is steam distilled from the heartwood and roots and has a rich, sweet, woodsy aroma. We carry both Sandalwood (Indian) Essential Oil and Australian Sandalwood Essential Oil.
The tree
Sandalwood trees grow up to forty feet tall, with slender branches and smooth grayish-brown bark. The heartwood is heavy, yellowish to red in color, and very fine grained. The leaves are shiny and leathery, and the flowers are small, very aromatic, and pink to purple.
The trees are hardy. They grow in a variety of climates, thrive in poor and sandy soils, and tolerate drought, wind and extreme heat. Even so, young Sandalwood trees are parasitic and need a host species for successful early growth. They extend specialized roots to nearby trees and siphon nutrients from them for roughly the first seven years of life.
There are around thirty species of Sandalwood, but only a few are used for essential oil. East Indian Sandalwood (Santalum album) produces the finest quality oil. The oil develops in the roots and heartwood, and is not present in high enough quantity or quality until a tree is about fifteen to thirty years old. It can take up to sixty years for a tree to be ready, although modern plantations start production with trees as young as fifteen. This slow growth, together with high demand for the oil of an endangered species, has raised the price of Sandalwood essential oil dramatically.
History
Records of Sandalwood use date back four thousand years, starting in India and spreading through ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt. Ancient Arab cultures used powdered Sandalwood to make incense and perfumes. The wood was carved into monastery and temple sculptures in China, Tibet and Nepal, and was used to build temples and other sacred structures.
Sandalwood has long been considered sacred. In Egypt it was used in embalming and in religious rituals. In India, Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims burn Sandalwood incense in rites for recently deceased loved ones. It is often burned on altars, and in some Buddhist practices it is considered one of three essential incenses, along with Agarwood and Clove.
In recent years the commercial uses of Sandalwood trees have been drastically limited by over-harvesting. Today the wood is most commonly used to produce essential oil, which is highly valued in the fragrance industry.
Harvest and extraction
Cultivated Sandalwood is harvested for essential oil from fifteen years of age. Sustainability is very important for this endangered species. Because the oil is spread through the roots, trunk and branches, the trees are carefully uprooted rather than cut. Harvest typically takes place in the rainy season, when essential oil content is at its highest.
The sapwood and bark are often removed to expose the heartwood, which contains the oil. The heartwood and roots are sometimes ground into a coarse powder before distillation. Sandalwood essential oil is extracted from the heartwood and roots by steam distillation. The resulting oil has a thin consistency and is pale yellow to gold.
Aroma and use in perfumery
The aroma of Sandalwood essential oil is rich, sweet and woodsy, and it is prized in perfumery. It is a base note that makes an excellent fixative and can support less intense middle notes in a blend. Australian Sandalwood has a lower santalol content than Indian and Pacific Sandalwoods, which makes it a popular choice when a more “woodsy” aroma is wanted.
Sandalwood blends well with many other oils, especially Patchouli, Rose, Jasmine, Vetiver and Ylang Ylang.
Recipes with Sandalwood Essential Oil
Sandalwood and Cedarwood Diffuser Blend
Ingredients
- 3 parts Sandalwood Essential Oil
- 3 parts Cedarwood Essential Oil
- 2 parts Lime Essential Oil
- 2 parts Juniper Berry Essential Oil
Instructions
Add water to your diffuser up to the fill line, then add the blend. The original recipe totals 0.5 mL of essential oil for a 200 mL ultrasonic diffuser. Adjust the amount to the size and directions of your diffuser.
Sandalwood Woods Perfume Spray
Ingredients
- 8 oz Amber Glass Bottle with Spray Top
- 3 oz of Distilled Water
- 4 oz of High Percentage Alcohol
- 5 mL of Vegetable Glycerin
- 5 mL of Fractionated Coconut Oil
- 0.5 mL of Australian Sandalwood Essential Oil
- 0.5 mL of Bergamot Essential Oil
- 0.5 mL of Rosewood Essential Oil
- 0.25 mL of Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
Instructions
Add all ingredients to the bottle and shake well to combine. The result is an earthy, woody body spray. Shake before each use.
Silky Soft Hair Oil
Ingredients
- 2 oz Amber Bottle with Dropper
- 1 oz of Sweet Almond Oil
- 1 oz of Jojoba Oil
- 0.5 mL of Rosemary Essential Oil
- 0.4 mL of Sandalwood Essential Oil
- 0.3 mL of Sage Essential Oil
Instructions
Add all ingredients to the bottle and give it a good shake to combine. Add a small amount to your hands and rub through the ends of the hair to smooth.
Sandalwood and Eucalyptus Room Spray
Ingredients
- 4 oz Amber Glass Bottle with Spray Top
- 2 oz of High Percentage Alcohol
- 2 oz of Witch Hazel Extract
- 0.5 mL of Sandalwood Essential Oil
- 0.5 mL of Eucalyptus Essential Oil
- 0.25 mL of Patchouli Essential Oil
Instructions
Add the alcohol to the bottle. Add the essential oils and fill the remainder of the bottle with witch hazel, leaving a little space at the top. Shake well before each use.
Compare the two oils on their product pages: Sandalwood (Indian) Essential Oil and Australian Sandalwood Essential Oil.
