_SANDALWOOD_01.png "SANDALWOOD")
| | | INCI: | Perfume | | Note type: | WARM, WOODY, SWEET |
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SANDALWOODPerfume
Originally from tropical Asia (especially southern India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia), Sandalwood is an evergreen parasitic plant that grows to a height of nine metres. It has a greyish-brown trunk, smooth, slender branches, leathery leaves and purple-pink flowers. Only trees aged thirty years or more can yield the essential oil.
Sandalwood is currently a protected species.
EXTRACTION
OLFACTIVE AFFINITIES
The essential oil is obtained by steam distillation of the dried, pulverized wood. It is a viscous, light yellow liquid with a sweetish, woody fragrance that's very tenacious. It combines well with benzoin absolute and the essential oils of Agarwood, Ambrette, Clary sage, Cypress, Copaiba, Ginger, Juniper, Lavender, Palmarosa, Patchouli, Rose, Sweet myrrh, Ylang-ylang and Vetiver.
PROPERTIES
(according to
popular herbalist tradition)
Documentary sources show that sandalwood has been used uninterruptedly for over four thousand years, making it one of the oldest perfume ingredients known to mankind.
In Asia it's been used for centuries for purposes similar to frankincense, and as an embalming material.
A classic remedy in the Chinese and Ayurvedic medicinal traditions, Sandalwood oil is combined with Rose oil to make the famous perfume "Aytar".
Essential oil of Sandalwood has aphrodisiac, anti-depressant, anti-inflammatory, anti-septic and bactericide properties. Excellent as a rehydrating agent, it's an effective treatment for skin affected by acne.
It's used as a fragrance component and a fixative in cosmetics and perfumes (especially compositions with an oriental/woody note).
Sandalwood oil is frequently found as an ingredient in incense sticks.
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