5 min read
Sustainable Sandalwood – Eight Offerings for the Conscious Formulator
Written By: Robin Lander
Sandalwood is one of the world’s most treasured aromatics, beloved for over 4000 years for its warm, sweet woody scent. But due to overharvesting and high demand, truly authentic and ethically harvested Sandalwood oil is not easy to find. The oil comes only from the heartwood of mature trees, requiring the entire tree to be felled. Responsible sourcing is of vital importance to ensure sustainable production practices are upheld. Honoring harvesting limits, regular replanting, and respect for the surrounding habitat are imperative.
Rest assured, we’ve carefully vetted our Sandalwood producers to curate a sustainably produced Sandalwood collection for all your perfumery, skincare, and fragrant creations. Each of our Sandalwood offerings reflects the beauty of its origin with varying levels of the coveted alpha-santalol, the aromatic compound that gives Sandalwood its deep, rich scent and skin-loving benefits. Wondering how to choose the best Sandalwood for your formulations? Read on to learn what’s special about each one.
Indian Sandalwood, Reimagined
Classic Indian sandalwood, Santalum album, is often considered the gold standard with its warm, rich and profoundly meditative scent. But decades of overharvesting in India have made genuine Mysore Sandalwood both rare and frequently adulterated. Thankfully, our visionary producers took Santalum album seeds to Australia where they established thriving plantations. The result is our Sandalwood, Plantation Grown, with an aroma that’s remarkably close to the traditional Mysore oil.
Sandalwood Plantation Grown
Botanical name: Santalum albumAlpha-santalol content: approximately 43-47%Aroma: deep, soft, classic Mysore aroma with a long, full-bodied, extremely sweet and creamy-smooth drydown.Characteristics: the true Indian species cultivated on a managed plantation in Australia.Suggested use: inspires an ambiance of peaceful contemplation and lends elevating and centering properties to meditation and incense blends, room sprays, and perfumes of all types. A beautiful choice for cosmetics.From Under the Australian Sun
Western Australia is home to its own native sandalwood, Santalum spicatum. Managed by the government’s Forests Products Commission, harvesting is controlled through annual quotas and extensive replanting, making an exceptionally eco-conscious sandalwood that has gathered a loyal following.
Sandalwood, Australian
Botanical name: Santalum spicatumAlpha- santalol content: approximately 15-20%Aroma: deep, soft, fresh sweet-woody aroma with excellent tenacity and a sweet, smooth dry down.Characteristics: a slightly lighter character than our Sandalwood, Plantation Grown with warm, subtle green-spicy notes. An excellent fixative.Suggested use: perfect in cosmetics and topical products for skin and body, deodorants, after-shave, colognes, foot and nail care, and facial care for oily and overactive skin.Sandalwood, Australian - Premium
Botanical name: Santalum spicatumAlpha-santalol content: approximately 22-26%Aroma: very rich, sweet, exceptionally smooth, creamy wood aroma with warm fresh undertones and good tenacity in the dry down.Characteristics: sourced from premium growing regions, it has a higher alpha-santalol content and a lovely lingering smoothness.Suggested use: fine perfumery and cosmetic applications for mindful beauty enthusiasts.From New Caledonia, a South Pacific Treasure
On the French island of New Caledonia, the native species Santalum austrocaledonicum is wild-harvested under the careful stewardship of eight tribal communities who plant three trees for every one felled. It’s one of the sweetest, most alpha-santalol rich sandalwoods available, offering a swoon-worthy smoothness.
Sandalwood, New Caledonia
Botanical name: Santalum austrocaledonicumAlpha-santalol content: approximately 44-47%Aroma: extremely sweet and creamy, smooth woody, and santalol-rich with a very long, deep, sweet-wood dry down.Characteristics: an ultra-smooth Sandalwood option that lends long-lasting, complex woody and creamy notes to aromatic compositions.Suggested use: targeted skincare preparations and facial serums to improve the appearance of dry, mature, or congested skin, in meditation blends and incense, fragrant bath oils, soaps and cleansers, and perfume.Sandalwood By-Absolute
Botanical Name: Santalum austrocaledonicumAlpha-santalol content: approximately 40-42%Aroma: unique, warm, deep woody-sweet aroma with distinct maple syrup and brown sugar notes.Characteristics: un upcycled treasure, it’s solvent extracted from New Caledonian heartwood that was previously steam distilled, making the most of this precious wood.Suggested use: with its uniquely sweet sugary qualities and hints of cocoa and oak, this special by-absolute lends gourmand and woody complexity in niche perfumery.Organically Grown in Hawaii
Indigenous Hawaiian species Santalum paniculatum, locally known as `Ili`ahi, is harvested from an organic family-owned plantation committed to reforestation. Lush and irresistible, this customer favorite gives tropical vibes.
Sandalwood Royal Hawaiian - Organic
Botanical name: Santalum paniculatumAlpha-santalol content: approximately 27-35%Aroma: extremely rich, woody sweet and full-bodied with remarkable tenacity.Characteristics: our most opulent and longest-lasting Sandalwood soothes the spirit with tropical elegance.Suggested use: high-end perfumery, premium bodycare, anointing oils, and meditation blends.Sandalwood, Organic - 10%
Botanical name: Santalum paniculatumCharacteristics: our premium Sandalwood Royal Hawaiian – Organic pre-diluted to 10% in 90% Fractionated Coconut Oil – Organic.Suggested use: an affordable, easy to use option that is ready to be applied to the skin as a natural perfume, or further diluted to add to cosmetics, soaps, relaxing baths, massage oils, candles, and more.At the Heart of Every Drop
From the fertile plantations of Australia to the island forests of New Caledonia and Hawaii, our Sandalwood offerings celebrate the diversity of origin and the responsibility of ethical production. Whether you're designing a centering meditation blend, skin-nurturing cosmetic or luxurious perfume, we have a sustainable Sandalwood waiting to become the heart of your next formulation.
