Sandalwood Therapeutic Essential Oil

Sandalwood oil, distilled from the heart wood and roots of the sandalwood tree, is one of the most valuable essential oils, valued by perfumers for its woody notes, providing a deep rich base note to perfumes and acting as a natural fixative. In addition to acting as a feed stock to produce the essential oil, the wood is also valued for carving, and furniture making. Rising demand and very high prices for both wood and essential oil, a slow growing tree which takes 30 to 60 years to give a crop. 

Sandalwood oils come from a range of species, and while they all have similar uses, quality and characteristics vary between the oils of the different species. The key species used for distillation of essential oils are listed below, with East Indian Sandalwood oil and Australian Sandalwood oil dominating supplies to the market :

• East Indian Sandalwood oil (Santalum album). The most well-known and oldest traded type of sandalwood, in use for thousands of years. Cultivation centered in India (it is native to the highlands of southern India and the Malayan Archipelago) with the center of production in India in Mysore. Its natural distribution extends down to Indonesia (particularly Timor), and it has been introduced into Australia and plantations established in the tropical northwestern areas – an estimated 8,000 ha with annual additions of around 1,000 ha; more recently it has also been introduced into a number of the S Pacific Islands and plantations established (Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu, New Caledonia); 
• Australian Sandalwood oil (Santalum spicatum, syn. Eucarya spicata). (Also referred to as West Australian Sandalwood oil). Native to the desert-like areas of SW Australia, close to Perth. Substantial plantations have also now been established – around 15,000 ha with annual additions of 1-2,000 ha. A second sandalwood species, S. lanceolatum, is also found in Australia, principally in Queensland, NSW, and northwestern part of Western Australia, but is little used commercially. 
• Santalum paniculatum. Only found in Hawaii. Around 7,000 ha reported to be under sustainable management. Commercial oil now coming onto the market. 
• Santalum yasi. Found in Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. Traditionally included in mixed cropping agroforestry cultivation systems. The species hybridizes readily with S. album resulting in variable quality of oil depending on the source trees. 
• Santalum austrocaledonicum. Found in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia.