Sensuous, sensational smelling Sandalwood Oil is a clear aromatherapy favourite. But what is it about this all-natural oil that keeps beckoning people back for more?
In this article, we’re putting Sandalwood Essential Oil under the spotlight, exploring its extensive health benefits and the best ways to use this pure and natural oil in your daily routine.
What is Sandalwood Oil?
Derived from the heartwood and roots of the Sandalwood tree using the steam distillation method, Santalum spicatum oil has a rich aroma that hypnotises the senses and a plethora of health and well-being benefits.
Highly versatile, it’s thought that Sandalwood Oil works on many levels and people use it for different reasons. On the one hand, it is considered a calming influence with the ability to lower stress and feelings of anxiety. On the other, Sandalwood Oil is said to penetrate the mind’s inner sanctum to encourage an intense level of focus.
Used medicinally by ancient cultures to calm fevers and soothe the skin, and spiritually by Buddhists and Hindus to encourage clarity, many of today’s Sandalwood fans swear by its abilities with supporting the skin and hair. As such, you can see there are plenty of reasons to incorporate Sandalwood Oil into your routine.
The chemical composition of Sandalwood Oil
Sandalwood Oil is composed of a complex mix of chemical constituents, dominated by sesquiterpenes and includes:
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Alpha-Santalol (40-50%) – Responsible for sandalwood's distinctive aroma and most of its therapeutic properties, such as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and calming effects.
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Beta-Santalol (20-25%) – Also contributes to the fragrance and Sandalwood’s calming properties.
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Santalene (Alpha and Beta Santalene) – Provides the woody aroma plus some of the oil’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
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Nuciferol and Nuciferol Butyrate – Contributes to Sandalwood's soothing effects and its rich, warm scent.
Benefits of Sandalwood Oil
When you scratch beneath the surface and see what this natural oil is all about, it’s little wonder Sandalwood Oil has been loved for centuries. The key component in Sandalwood, alpha-santalol, is primarily responsible for its extensive therapeutic properties. Along with santolene, these constituents give Sandalwood Oil its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties. Emotionally, it is calming, soothing and invigorating; there is a common belief Sandalwood Oil spiritual benefits are vast. Combined, this abundance of properties creates an oil that blends beauty with spirituality, beneficial for skin support, hair care and mental clarity.
The most notable health benefits of Sandalwood Essential Oil are:
- Naturally relaxing and sedative properties
- Known to help ease insomnia
- Can help to reduce anxious feelings
- Promotes mental clarity & mood enhancement
- Aids in calming the central nervous system
- Commonly used in meditation
- Boosts the immune system
- Helps relieve inflammation and itching
- Promotes skin cell regeneration
- May help ease acne, psoriasis & dermatitis
- Supports scar and wound healing
- Moisturises hair to improve texture and shine
- Can add strength and volume to hair
- Helpful in reducing colds, coughs & sore throats
Sandalwood Oil Uses
As a highly sought-after essential oil due to its wide-ranging benefits, there are multiple ways you can use Sandalwood Oil in your daily routine – from reducing the signs of ageing to relaxing the mind for deeper meditation.
Let’s look at how to use Sandalwood Oil best, depending on your needs.
SANDALWOOD OIL USES FOR SKIN
Whether you want to tighten your skin, rid your face of acne or create a more youthful appearance, Sandalwood Oil is a powerhouse for supporting your body’s protective armour naturally.
- The powerful anti-inflammatory properties in Sandalwood Oil can help reduce inflammation and soothe skin irritations, making it popular when caring for skin conditions like eczema, dermatitis, and psoriasis.
- Sandalwood also contains natural antimicrobial properties, which makes it a useful agent for fighting bacteria and soothing skin imperfections like acne.
- Extensive antioxidant properties in Sandalwood Oil help to neutralise free radicals, as such, preventing cellular damage caused by environmental factors like UV and minimising the signs of ageing.
- Sandalwood contains antiseptic properties that can accelerate wound healing, prevent infections, promote quicker recovery and minimise scars.
- With intense moisturising properties, Sandalwood Oil deeply hydrates the skin and leaves it feeling soft and supple.
- The natural astringent properties in Sandalwood Oil can help tighten the skin’s pores, firm up sagging skin and improve skin elasticity, collectively reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
SANDALWOOD OIL SPIRITUAL USES
- Sandalwood Oil contains astringent properties which help to regulate the production of sebum, in turn, reducing excess oiliness without stripping the scalp of its natural moisture.
- The extensive hydrating properties of Sandalwood Oil can moisturise and nourish the hair, helping to improve its texture and shine. This can be particularly effective for people managing dry hair.
- These natural properties also mean Sandalwood Oil can be effective when it comes to combatting brittle hair and reducing split ends or hair breakage. It can even benefit normal hair by adding strength, volume and shine.
SANDALWOOD OIL USES FOR HAIR
Due to its calming and clarifying properties, Sandalwood creates an atmosphere of peace and focus and has been used spiritually by religious groups for centuries.
- The key constituent of Sandalwood Oil, alpha-santalol, is known for its grounding qualities, making it an ideal support for meditation and prayer.
- When inhaled or used in rituals, Sandalwood Oil promotes relaxation, reduces anxiety, and helps quiet the mind.
- Sandalwood Oil’s warm aroma is said to foster emotional balance and encourages a deeper connection to one's inner self and the divine.
How to Use Sandalwood Essential Oil
There are many ways to enjoy the benefits of Sandalwood Oil, depending on your personal goals. Whatever your reasons for using it, you must always dilute Sandalwood Oil with a suitable carrier oil before applying it topically to the skin or hair. It's a good idea to choose a carrier oil known for having similar benefits – for example, with Jojoba Oil or Rosehip Oil for skin care and with Argan Oil or Avocado Oil for hair care (Coconut Oil and Almond Oil are said to be good for both).
See our dilution table below for guidance about safe amounts.
Shampoo: Add a few drops of Sandalwood Essential Oil to your shampoo bottle (and mix well) to help stimulate hair growth and reduce dandruff.
Hair Mask: Add two drops of Sandalwood Oil to your favourite hair mask treatment. Mix well and apply the mask to damp hair, focusing on the lengths and ends. Leave it on for at least 20 minutes before rinsing thoroughly with water.
Skin Serum: Add a few drops of Sandalwood Oil to a carrier oil of choice. Once diluted, apply nightly to desired areas, avoiding sensitive areas and eyes. Alternatively, you can add two drops to your existing skincare products (cream / lotion) to boost their healing and rejuvenating properties.
Face Mask: Combine a few drops of Sandalwood Oil with honey or yoghurt to create a hydrating face mask. Apply it to your face and leave it on for 15-20 minutes before rinsing off.
Skincare Addition: Add a few drops of Sandalwood Oil to your daily moisturiser or serum to boost their benefits. Rub into your skin as normal.
Diffuse: Use Sandalwood Oil in a diffuser to create a holy, peaceful atmosphere in your home or spiritual sanctuary. You can do this in your meditation space to deepen your practice, calm the mind, and enhance spiritual awareness.
Here are some of our recommended Sandalwood Oil diffuser blends:
Basil, Black Pepper, Frankincense, Lavender, Lemon, Nerolina, Rose Geranium and Vetiver essential oils.
Topical Dilution Guidelines
Please note that the following guidelines are recommended for healthy adults:
- General Use: 2 – 4% dilution (4 – 8 drops per 10ml)
- Facial Application: 1 – 2% dilution (2 – 4 drops per 10ml)
How Safe is Sandalwood Oil?
Side effects of Sandalwood Oil are rare, although as an essential oil – a highly concentrated and potent liquid – it must be diluted first and even then, you are advised to apply caution when using it.
In most cases, Sandalwood Essential Oil is great for skin and hair care although in some people, it may cause irritation. For this reason, we always recommend performing a patch test before you begin using your oil regularly on its own or combined with other personal care products.
Sandalwood Oil is not designed for oral consumption and can cause serious harm if ingested. We recommend using your Sandalwood Oil for external purposes only.
Finally, always store your Sandalwood Oil in a cool, dry place at room temperature, away from direct sunlight and out of reach from children or pets.
Where to Buy Sandalwood Oil
While carrier oils are generally available to purchase at health, wellness and retail stores, it is important to keep in mind that the quality and purity of these carrier oils will vary. This is why we recommend finding a reputable supplier.
Here at AWO, we have a wide selection of essential oils and carrier oils that are sold at reasonable prices. Because we purchase our stock in bulk quantities, our costs are significantly less – a saving we can pass onto our customers. We are also based right here in Australia!