Sandalwood (Australia)

Woody, milky, creamy, unctuous, oriental, persistent, warm, pervasive, balsamic, suave, velvety.

Origin · AustraliaExtraction · Steam distillationUsed parts · Roots and tree core reduced in powder

About

A must-have in any perfumer’s arsenal, sandalwood forms the base note of countless fragrance compositions. Its milky, suave facets make for a deliciously blendable fixative that has inspired perfumers for millennia. Australian sandalwood offers a woody and ambery note with a pervasive warmth with a rich spiciness and fresh milkiness. Rich and lingering, the coveted note of sandalwood has its origins as an evergreen tree with richly fragrant heartwood. While there are many varieties of the sandalwood tree, only a select few make it into the world of perfumery: Santalum album, Santalum spicatum, and Santalum australedonicum. Its essential oil is obtained through a process of distillation after the wood and roots are dried and reduced to chips or powder.

History

For more than 13 million years sandalwood (Santalum spicatum) has grown in the vast, ancient land of Australia, preserved for more than 60,000 years by traditional custodians -- making it the oldest species of fragrant sandalwood today. To Aboriginal people, sandalwood is more than a sacred tree – it is a link to the soul and spirituality. When burnt, its fragrant smoke was was said to align the mind, body and spirit, and was used by traditional custodians prior to arduous, deeply cognitive or stressful activity.

Production

Rich and lingering, the coveted note of sandalwood has its origins as an evergreen tree with richly fragrant leaves. While there are many varieties of the sandalwood tree, only a select few make it into the world of perfumery: santalum album, santalum spicatu, and santalum australedonicum. Its essential oil is obtained through a process of distillation after the bark and roots are dried and reduced to a powder.

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