Guest Author - Justine Crane

*This article was initially going to be written about the ethics and harvesting practices involved in the sandalwood oil business, but after careful consideration the decision was made to keep it simple and within the realm of body care. The ethics and harvesting issues that sandalwood production present are best suited to discussion by the experts. Links to the right are provided for those interested in researching those issues.

Sandalwood, the alluring and intoxicating scent of India. It is the base essence of a thousand perfumes, the scent of exotic places filled with brilliant color and soft, hazy light that languidly find their way into our imaginations. Sandalwood oil, really good sandalwood oil, is characterized by its sweet, woody, spicy and musky scent. No other scent compares to the richness of sandalwood.

Sandalwood is considered an aphrodisiac ~ drop a bit on your wrist, neck and arms, and watch as your significant other comes sniffing ‘round like a hungry pooch. Aromatherapeutically, sandalwood is considered calming and sedating, and it is reported to help heal dry, chapped skin when used in topical applications.

Sandalwood oil has been used in more perfumes than any other oil, oftentimes as a fixative for floral oils such as rose, orange blossom, neroli, frangipani and jasmine, to name but a few. It also blends well with other woody oils, such as cedars, pines and juniper, as well as earthy and resinous oils such as patchouli, vetivyr, galbanum, cistus, benzoin, frankincense and myrrh.

There are several sources for sandalwood oil, one being the famed Mysore. However, other regions and countries produce very nice oils which deserve consideration when purchasing. Tamil Nadu (India) produces lovely sandalwood oil, as does Australia. Choosing the best sandalwood for purchase is definitely up to the nose. Not everyone appreciates the finer points of Mysore, instead opting for the less expensive and slightly different Australian oil.


Sandalwood Massage Cream

4 oz virgin coconut oil
1 oz unrefined shea butter
20-30 drops sandalwood oil
10 drops neroli or orange blossom oil
5 drops patchouli oil (optional)

Melt the coconut oil and shea butter in a double boiler, pop the oils in the freezer to solidify. Remove the oils from the freezer and allow the blend to come to room temperature, then mix with a cake mixer until fluffy and creamy; add the scenting oils by drops. Scoop the massage cream into a glass container and cap.


Sandalwood ‘n Rose Spritzer

¼ oz perfumer’s alcohol
3 ¾ oz purified water
25 drops sandalwood oil
10 - 15 drops rose oil

Pour the perfumer’s alcohol into a 4 oz spray bottle, drop in the scenting oils and shake until blended; add purified water and shake again. Can be used as a skin or linen spray.


Sandalwood Solid Perfume

½ oz rice bran wax
¼ oz pink lotus wax
¼ oz virgin coconut oil
30 drops sandalwood oil

Melt the rice bran wax in a double boiler, then add the coconut oil, re-melt and add the pink lotus wax (or any other floral wax of your choice -- jasmine and rose are lovely). When all base ingredients are melted, remove from heat and allow to cool slightly; add sandalwood oil and pour or scoop into a 1 oz glass container, cap and allow to cool and harden.


Be Beautiful!