dōTERRA Sandalwood (Indian) Essential Oil - 5ml
dōTERRA Sandalwood (Indian) Essential Oil - 5ml
This is doTERRA's original Sandalwood, distilled from the heartwood of Santalum album, the species most people picture when they hear the word sandalwood. The trees need decades of growth before the wood develops enough aromatic oil to be worth harvesting, which is part of why genuine sandalwood has always carried a premium.
The aroma is dry, woody and sweet, with none of the sharpness of a fresh-cut timber — more like a well-worn wooden box than a plank of new wood. It sits low in a blend, the kind of note that underpins brighter oils rather than competing with them.
A few drops in a diffuser bring a warm, woody base to a citrus or floral blend, and it's a popular addition to a simple hand routine at the end of the day. Because the scent is so long-lasting, a little tends to go further than people expect.
Why people choose it
- A dry, woody, sweet aroma from mature Santalum album heartwood
- Distilled from trees that need decades of growth before harvesting
- A long-lasting base note that underpins a blend rather than competing with it
- Works well layered under citrus or floral oils in a diffuser
- The species most associated with genuine sandalwood, distinct from Hawaiian Sandalwood
How it smells
Dry, woody and sweet, sitting low in a blend as a long-lasting base note rather than a top note.
How to use it
- In a diffuser
- Two to three drops in a diffuser, layered underneath a citrus or floral oil as a base note.
- On skin
- Dilute with a carrier oil before applying to the wrists or back of the neck as part of a routine.
- Dilution
- One drop of Sandalwood to three or four drops of fractionated coconut oil for topical use.
- Worth knowing
- The aroma is long-lasting, so a small amount tends to carry further than expected.
Details
- Botanical name
- Santalum album
- Plant part
- Heartwood
- Extraction
- Steam distillation
- Key compounds
- Alpha-santalol, Beta-santalol
- Size
- 5 ml
Safety
Possible skin sensitivity. Keep out of reach of children. If you are pregnant, nursing or under a doctor's care, speak to your practitioner before use. Avoid contact with eyes, inner ears and sensitive areas. Dilute with a carrier oil for topical use.
This information is for general use and is not medical advice. If you have a health condition, are pregnant or nursing, speak to your GP, midwife or pharmacist.
Blends well with
Common questions
How is this different from Hawaiian Sandalwood?
A different species entirely — this bottle is Santalum album, traditionally grown in India and Sri Lanka, whereas Hawaiian Sandalwood is distilled from Santalum paniculatum on Hawaii's Big Island.
What does Sandalwood smell like?
Dry, woody and sweet, with a long-lasting quality that sits underneath a blend rather than announcing itself.
Why does genuine Sandalwood cost more than many other oils?
The trees need several decades of growth before the heartwood develops enough oil to be worth harvesting, which limits supply.
What does it blend well with?
Citrus oils such as Bergamot and florals like Rose or Lavender both sit nicely on top of its woody base.
How long does the aroma last?
Longer than most oils — sandalwood is well known for a scent that lingers on skin and in a blend well after lighter top notes have faded.