The Ultimate Guide to Sandalwood Essential Oil Benefits

Sandalwood essential oil benefits are vast and can do wonders for the body. It’s known for its powerful grounding effects, but it can do so much more!

Sandalwood History & Composition

One of the most recognizable fragrances in aromatherapy, sandalwood is used most widely in the perfumery industry to the tune of hundreds of tons of oil each year. In Eastern cultures, sandalwood oil appears in holy ceremonies and religious rituals. It marks significant events like weddings and births, as decorations and ceremonial rites. It is a popular choice in Ayurvedic medicine to bring cooling, soothing balance to the body.

Derived from the Santalum genus, the sandalwood family of trees is grown all over the world. Usually, Santalum album out of the Indonesian region is the most commonly utilized species for essential oil production. Other sandalwood trees used for essential oils most commonly are Pacific Sandalwood (Santalum austrocaledonicum), Australian Sandalwood (Santalum spicatum), and Hawaiian Sandalwood (Santalum paniculatum) but they aren’t as well-known or well-studied as Indian Sandalwood. Outside of that region, the US carries the highest demand for sandalwood essential oil use, and it has been increasing, driving the price up, as well.

It’s an evergreen tree grown for the heartwood, which is harvested after heavy rains once the tree is a certain size. The inner wood is powdered, and then steam distilled for essential oil extraction. With increasing demand meeting a difficult cultivation process and potentially unsustainable harvesting practices, we could ultimately lose sandalwood altogether. (1)

The maturity of the tree at harvest and the depth of color affect the specific composition of the essential oil that is extracted. Of the molecules that comprise sandalwood, the most notable is santalol, which gives the aroma of sandalwood its distinctive woodsy aroma. (1)

If harvested too young, the santalol amounts will be on the lower end, affecting the expected medicinal properties, and impacting the benefits of aromatherapy with sandalwood oil. When considering the many sandalwood essential oil benefits, it’s important to trust your source. You want authentic sandalwood oil because you need to know the chemical composition is accurate, and you need to trust that your source is using ethical, sustainable growing methods.

7 Benefits of Sandalwood Essential Oil

While many essential oils come from the leaves and flowers of plants and, therefore, share similar components, sandalwood oil is different. It comes from the heartwood of the tree, usually Santalum album, and primarily boasts varieties of santalol molecules. Still, they are powerful substances, and their beneficial effects are being proven more each day by health professionals and studies.

1. Sedative Effects

Traditional Asian remedies often include sandalwood for anti-anxiety effects, and science is confirming these abilities. In 2011, researchers from Japan isolated santalol to observe its effects on the CNS system of rats. After administration, they monitored sleep, motor activity, and other components of relaxation, ultimately confirming santalol and sandalwood’s traditional sedative use. (2)

Application: Try adding 1-2 drops to our DIY bath bomb recipe, letting this take the place of other bath bombs fragrances. Add to a warm bath before bed for a soothing soak.

2. Antioxidant Ability

As with many essential oils, sandalwood carries strong antioxidant abilities. One major benefit of antioxidant substances is their effect on metabolic conditions, as noted by a 2013 study published in the journal Phytomedicine that evaluated the antioxidant in sandalwood essential oil used to benefit diabetic mice. They concluded that “it was observed that the beneficial effects of α-santalol were well complimented, differentially by other constituents present in sandalwood oil, thus indicating synergism in biological activity of this traditionally used bioresource.” (3) Whatever other constituents sandalwood oil contain, santalol brings out the best in them!

3. Anti-Inflammatory

Inflammatory conditions are pervasive in our country and can result in metabolic or chronic illness. This brings me to one of the most exciting of sandalwood essential oil uses – as an anti-inflammatory! Last summer, Canadian scientists took pure a-santalol and b-santalol extracts and weighed them against ibuprofen’s abilities in vitro. The results were so promising that they called for topical applications as a comparable anti-inflammatory agent. (4) No wonder it’s so popular in massage and body oils – even diluted sandalwood will help ease inflammatory responses in the body.

4. Skin Tonic

Sandalwood essential oil uses also include many skin care products and applications. That’s because sandalwood has several properties that are beneficial for skin sensitivity and maintaining good skin health. From antimicrobial properties protecting against infectious intruders to antiseptic abilities to help keep skin clean and clear, sandalwood oil has a lot to offer. (5), (6) The benefits of sandalwood oil include anti-inflammatory activity that will help improve the appearance of skin, as well. Try using a skin-friendly carrier oil like jojoba for added benefits.

5. Cancer-Fighting Power

In lab tests, sandalwood essential oil health benefits seem to include protective abilities against various kinds of cancer cells. (7) The journal Carcinogenesis detailed the potential that sandalwood and santalol show when, in 2004, an in vitro study demonstrated skin cancer cell growth inhibition and death (apoptosis) thanks to a-santalol. (8) Prostate cancer cells met a similar fate in 2012’s Phytomedicine edition, again showing apoptosis by a-santalol in vitro. (9) Whatever researchers uncover about essential oils and potential cancer prevention and treatment, I’m certain that I want these substances in my body if cancer cells were ever to try to crop up!

6. Reduce Anxiety

We’ve already seen its sedative effects, and small sample tests have shown promising anti-anxiety results from massage. (10) Just a small amount of sandalwood essential oil can help to calm anxious, restless nerves in any situation. Not only do I recommend it for relaxation when it’s time to sleep, but anxious situations may benefit from its calming effects, as well. For quick stress relief, add a drop in diffuser blends, especially mixed with other essential oils for anxiety relief. Sandalwood oil may be too thick for room diffusers on its own so blending with other, lighter oils will usually work best, or you can put a single drop on an AC vent to allow the earthy aroma to circulate naturally.

7. Treat and Protect Skin

Make the most of the antiseptic, astringent, and protectant effects of sandalwood by including a drop or two in your lotion, cleanser preparations, and other natural skin care products. As a potential skin cancer protective agent, it can boost the appearance of skin and should be considered for facial remedies, since our faces are exposed to so much sun on a daily basis.

There are many sandalwood essential oil uses that include our external health as well as internal wellness.

While sandalwood has been reported in rare cases of reaction or sensitization, its generally a gentler oil if you suffer from skin sensitivity. Overall it is proving itself as a safe oil with antimicrobial and anticancer benefits setting it apart. Use common sense and caution as with any other oil, but take additional precautions when it comes to unethical sourcing and avoid frivolous use that may threaten us with the loss of the health benefits sandalwood provides.

Sandalwood Essential Oil Uses & DIY Tips

Because of the overuse and underproduction of sandalwood, we must use extra caution to source it well and use it well. Such clear health benefits cannot be ignored, so integrate sandalwood into your wellness routine with care and respect for our natural resources. Here are some go-to ways to use sandalwood and maximize its effect.

Sandalwood makes our list of top essential oils for depression because of its grounding, calming action. You can also include it in your personal bedroom blends for enhanced libido such as this personal lubricant DIY developed by our friend Dr Anna Cabeca. Sandalwood has been used for ages to enhance skin and as a body moisturizer, making it a great addition to body care products like our homemade facial cleanser or soothing DIY body butter.

These are just a few of the many benefits of Sandalwood essential oil which is why it makes our must-have list of healing essential oils.

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