Scent Almanac

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Sandalwood

Sandalwood

Santalum album (Indian); Santalum spicatum (Australian)

Base note Woody Essential oil

Soft, creamy, milky wood that is quiet up close but extremely long-lasting. Santalum album is richer and creamier; S. spicatum is drier with a sharper, slightly green-resinous opening.

Made from
Steam-distilled from the heartwood and roots of mature sandalwood trees, which take decades to develop their oil.
Strength
●●○○○ soft — use generously
Cost
Luxury
Moods
CalmingSensualGrounding
Seasons
Autumn, Winter
Rooms
Bedroom, Living room
Blend with it
Gentle on skin at normal use. Wild Indian sandalwood was badly overharvested — buy plantation-grown S. album or Australian S. spicatum from suppliers who state the source.

How it behaves

CandlesWorkable

Real sandalwood is too costly and too quiet for most candles; almost every 'sandalwood' candle uses a fragrance oil. Use the essential oil as a fixative in small amounts.

Wax meltsWorkable
Reed diffuserGood
Room & linen sprayGood
Electric (water) diffuserGood

A few drops go a long way in a water diffuser, where its subtlety is an asset.

Cold-process soapGood

Holds up well and anchors a blend, but it's an expensive way to scent soap — Australian S. spicatum is the more affordable option.

Melt-and-pour soapGood
Laundry & cleaningWorkable

Pairs well with

Rose
Rose
Middle · Floral
Absolute / CO2
Jasmine
Jasmine
Middle · Floral
Absolute / CO2
Vanilla
Vanilla
Base · Gourmand
Fragrance oil
Frankincense
Frankincense
Base · Resinous & amber
Essential oil
Ylang Ylang
Ylang Ylang
Middle · Floral
Essential oil
Bergamot
Bergamot
Top · Citrus
Essential oil
Cardamom
Cardamom
Middle · Spicy
Essential oil
Patchouli
Patchouli
Base · Earthy
Essential oil
Tonka Bean
Tonka Bean
Base · Gourmand
Absolute / CO2
Lavender
Lavender
Middle · Floral
Essential oil

Don't have it? Try Atlas Cedarwood, Hinoki.

In these blends

Rose Geranium Garden
A rosy, green-edged garden bench at the height of June.
Geranium · Bergamot · Palmarosa · Sandalwood · Mandarin
Top 30% Middle 50% Base 20%
RomanticUpliftingSpringSummer
Island Evening
Warm night air, a hammock and something floral drifting in from the dark.
Mandarin · Geranium · Sandalwood · Ylang Ylang · Palmarosa
Top 33% Middle 44% Base 22%
RomanticSensualSummer
Fresh Laundry
Sheets pulled warm off a sunny line, soft and faintly floral.
Fresh Linen · Lavender · Sandalwood · Lily of the Valley
Top 33% Middle 44% Base 22%
CleanCalmingSpringSummer
Spa Day
White towels, cucumber water and bamboo — the calm of a day spa.
Bamboo · Sandalwood · White Tea · Lavender · Cucumber · Eucalyptus
Top 32% Middle 47% Base 21%
CalmingCleanRefreshingSpringSummer
Midnight Oud
Dark rose and smoky wood in a candlelit room late at night.
Geranium · Bergamot · Palmarosa · Sandalwood · Pink Pepper · Oud
Top 29% Middle 50% Base 21%
SensualRomanticAutumnWinter
Peony Blush
A jar of pink peonies on the dresser, just opened.
Peony · Sandalwood · Pear · Freesia · Bergamot
Top 28% Middle 50% Base 22%
RomanticUpliftingSpring
Berry Patch Lemonade
Pink lemonade and a bowl of strawberries at a summer picnic.
Freesia · Strawberry · Lemon · Lemongrass · Vanilla · Sandalwood
Top 33% Middle 47% Base 20%
UpliftingEnergizingSummer
Cherry Blossom Tea
Pale pink petals drifting over a cup of white tea in early spring.
Cherry Blossom · White Tea · Sandalwood · Freesia · Pear
Top 27% Middle 53% Base 20%
CalmingUpliftingSpring
Gardenia Moon
A white-flower garden at night, heavy with gardenia and tuberose.
Gardenia · Sandalwood · Bergamot · Magnolia · Mandarin · Ylang Ylang
Top 26% Middle 49% Base 26%
RomanticSensualSummer
Coconut Lime Verbena
A tall glass of lime over ice by a pool — creamy coconut, zesty verbena.
Coconut · Lime · Lemongrass · Sandalwood · Litsea Cubeba (May Chang) · Vanilla
Top 31% Middle 46% Base 23%
RefreshingUpliftingSummer

A little lore

The Mysore region of southern India was long famous for its sandalwood, which has been used in Hindu and Buddhist ritual for centuries.

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