Santalum album of Santalaceae botanical family thrives in Australia, Hawaii, India and New Caledonia. The essential oil of sandalwood is steam distilled from the heartwood of tree trunk.

Sandalwood essential oil is pale-dark yellow color, yields about 4.6-6.5% from plant material and rich in sesquiterpene alcohols (up to 65%).

According to recent research Sandalwood may help with:

Insomnia, nervous tention, stress, depression, stress-related conditions. 

Hawaiian Sandalwood essential oil may help with dry nasal conditions or dry/irritated throat, aids the secretion of mucus which will moisten the nasal cavities. 

Useful for inflammatory conditions such as bronchitis, laryngitis, dry cough.Acne, dry/cracked skin, dry eczema

Razor/shaving rash

Balancing to sebum

Mature/aging skin

Varicose veins

Cold sores

Calming, soothing, balancing

Aphrodisiac

Sandalwood oil demonstrated anticarcinogenic, antiviral, bactericidal activity and could be used as a preventative to skin cancer. This in vitro study observed that a 5% sandalwood oil decreased the incidence and multiplicity of artificially-induced skin papillomas in mice.

Written by Lena Isayev, B.A.,C.A.