Essential Oil Database

Photo: Santalum Album

Sandalwood AGM

Essential Oil

Botanical Name:

Santalum Album

Family Name:

Santalaceae

Source Country:

India

Plant Parts Used:

Wood

Extraction Method:

Steam distillation

Major Constituents:

Santalols, sesquiterpene, santene, teresantol, borneol, santalone, tri-cycloekasantalal

Botanical Description

Photo: Santalum Album

Santalum Album is native to Asia, and cultivated in tropical climes. It is a parasitic evergreen tree commonly known as Sandalwood growing up to 9 meters tall. Sandalwood often intertwines and parasites the roots of other trees.

Sandalwood is slow growing, endangered, protected, government controlled and not harvested until maturity at 40 years old, making Sandalwood and essential oil of Sandalwood very expensive.

Sandalwood oil has traditionally been used in religious rituals and ceremonies, as an incense and for its medicinal properties.

Photo: Santalum Album

Fragrance

Sandalwood essential oil has a soft, sweet woody, balsamic and spicy scent.

Sandalwood essential oil is a pale yellow to green liquid.

Sandalwood blends well with bergamot, black pepper, cedarwood, clove leaf, cypress, frankincense, geranium, jasmine, juniper, lavender, myrrh, patchouli, pine, rose, rosewood, vetiver and ylang ylang.

Traditional Therapeutic Uses

Photo: Santalum Album

Properties: antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, astringent, bactericidal, carminative, cicatrizant, diuretic, expectorant, fungicidal, sedative, tonic.

Aids: sleep, relaxation.

Alleviates: acne, bronchitis, catarrh, coughs, cystitis, depression, diarrhoea, eczema, laryngitis, nausea, pre menstrual tension, stress.

Sandalwood has traditionally been used to aid meditation and relaxation.

Safety Data

May cause dermatitis.

Disclaimer:

All healing uses, magical uses and metaphysical definitions are provided as a means of education, do not imply a guarantee of effect, and may not be complete or accurate. Those suffering from illness should consult with their General Practitioner in the first instance. Aromatherapy is a holistic complementary healthcare practice and should be carried out by a suitably qualified aromatherapy practitioner.

Pure, medical grade, essential oils & absolutes are for use in aromatherapy and other disciplines of natural healing; and for their fragrance. Essential oils should not be ingested, and avoid contact with eyes and mucous membranes. Pregnant women should not self administer essential oils. Do not administer essential oils to babies. Do not apply undiluted essential oil to the skin and wash hands after use and before visiting lavatory. Do not use essential oils while in a sauna, steam room, or other humid environment; or while engaged in strenuous exercise.

Massage oil should consist of no more than 3% essential oil(s) to 97% carrier or fixed oil. Absolutes should be blended with no less than 98.5% carrier oil. When adding essential oil to bath water do not use more than 4 drops.

Store essential oils at low room temperature, in a dark place, out of the reach of children, pets and away from foodstuffs.