Sandalwood essential oil is truly exotic. This pale yellow oil has soft, woody notes that are extremely tenacious and somewhat balsamic. It has a long history in religious ceremonies and rituals, and is prized worldwide for an intoxicating aroma found in the heartwood of the tree.
Indian Sandalwood, Santalum album, is traditionally the most widely used sandalwood oil. The popularity of this striking scent has sadly caused over-harvesting of the trees which are now a threatened species. Each tree needs to mature for at least 10 years before they start producing oil and then the whole tree is harvested for production, making it a very resource-intensive product.
Australian Sandalwood, Santalum spicatum, is widely used by aromatherapists and perfumers as an ecologically responsible alternative to traditional Indian Sandalwood. It is very similar to Indian Sandalwood in aroma and constituents, and makes a wonderful substitute for any recipe that specifies Indian Sandalwood. The Australian Sandalwood essential oil offered by Mountain Rose Herbs is Certified Organic, and is produced with sustainability in mind. For every tree that is harvested for production, 12 seeds are planted, and for every tonne of deadwood that is collected, 400 seeds are planted. The oil is also created using renewable energy and water recycling!
Click here to learn more about our wonderful Australian Sandalwood oil.
