Sandalwood: It's common enough in our industry, but how much do you really know about it? Let's take a little time to explore sandalwood in greater depth.
Sandalwood was first used in ancient times--probably more than 4,000 years ago. It is the name of a class of fragrant wood from trees in the genus Santalum. Sandalwood is heavy, yellow, fine-grained, unlike many other aromatic wood they retain their fragrance for decades. Both the wood and the oil produce a distinctive fragrance that has been highly valued for centuries.
The government of India has declared sandalwood as an endangered species because of its diminishing numbers. It takes 30 years to harvest a sandalwood tree, although 60 years is more normal. The oil is highly valued for its deep, woody and balsamic aroma. Consequently, the slow-growing trees have been over-harvested in many areas.
According to mythology, sandalwood originally grew only in heaven’s gardens. Temple gates and religious statues are carved from the wood because of this spiritual association, the exquisite scent, and because it is impermeable to termites and other insects.
There are 16 species of sandalwood (Santalum) that grow naturally throughout the Pacific and Eastern Indian Ocean regions. Sandalwood is a root parasite. It feeds on the nutrients of other plants, which grow around it. It’s not fully understood what conditions allow the tree to thrive but it only grows in the wild and cannot be cultivated.
Trees harvested for oil are selected by age and size because of the higher proportion of heartwood (and thus essential oil) in larger trees. Dead-standing or fallen trees are also harvested because the wood holds onto the essential oil for many years.
The whole tree is harvested and used--including the sawdust and the stump (which has the highest oil content) and the sapwood (which contains a small amount of oil). The lower grades of sandalwood, such as the sapwood, are used for incense and for chips and powder, while the better logs are used in carving (from small objects to furniture).
One of sandalwood’s most important uses is subduing the nervous system very similar to a sedative. The sandalwood oil made for aromatherapy helps to relax the body and mind. It aids in relief of anxiety by helping with emotional distress and relaxes the brain waves to assist with insomnia. Sandalwood is suitable for all complexion types. It is especially useful on rashes, inflammation and acne for dry, dehydrated skin.
Today, sandalwood oil is the most expensive raw material available for the perfume industry. Due to its high price and scarcity, sandalwood oil is often adulterated. The most common adulterants are the essential oils of other species of sandalwood, copaiba oil, atlas cedar fractions and amyris oil.
We Feature Sandalwood in our 6.5oz Signature Soap Bars - Bamboo Birch fragrance. We built our fragrance around Mysore sandalwood and white birch - reminiscent of the great outdoors. We reinforced a clean crisp impression with fresh rose, palm and grasses. A subtle sprinkling of Madagascar basil and clove was added for intrigue.
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