Sandalwood

Information

Sandalwood is an increasingly rare tree species that has been known for many thousands of years. It comes mainly from Asia, especially from India and Indonesia. Currently, sandalwood from Australia and New Caledonia is commonly used in perfumery. In the past, this 5 to 12 meter tall tree was used for religious practices (rituals, embalming, cremation), in medicine and as an aphrodisiac. Today it is threatened with extinction in some regions of the world. It has green oval leaves and the flowers are slightly yellowish in color. The trunk is quite small in diameter, up to 50 centimeters. It takes 30 to 50 years for it to develop its full aroma! This and its rarity make it a very expensive raw material.

Sandalwood in perfumery

Sandalwood extract is obtained by steam distillation. Some synthetic equivalents of sandalwood are also used in perfumery, such as Sandalore, Ebanol, Sandella or Polisantol. However, they are not as good as natural sandalwood. In perfumes sandalwood is most often used as a base note, because despite its low volatility, it is extremely durable.

What does sandalwood smell like?

The woody scent of sandalwood is extremely soothing, smooth, deep, warm, slightly lactonic and creamy, slightly powdery and exotic.