It’s one of the most popular names in the oil world. And for good reason. Sandalwood essential oil benefits have been known and valued for centuries.
It’s known for its distinctive scent and strong medicinal properties, which is why you can find it in both fragrance products and alternative medicine practices.
Today, we are going to explore the benefits of sandalwood oil and find out what makes it so invaluable around the world.
What Is Sandalwood Essential Oil
Sandalwood is a class of aromatic woods from the Santalum album species, with the main notable supply destinations being India and Australia.
The oil itself is extracted from the heartwood by distillation, which follows a process of boiling, steaming, condensation, and separation.
Sandalwood oil has been a popular ingredient in ayurvedic medicine, as well as traditional Chinese medicine. The main active ingredient is alpha-santalol, which has been shown to relieve a wide range of illnesses due to its pharmacological effects.
FUN FACT: Sandalwood trees grow slowly, and it takes around 15 years for the heartwood to become commercially valuable. The older the tree, the higher the quality of the oil.
What Does Sandalwood Smell Like
Sandalwood oil has a distinctive fragrance, which is often described as deep, woody, and floral. This powerful sandalwood scent has been prized in the perfume industry, aromatherapy, and soaps.
Sandalwood Essential Oil Benefits
Traditionally, sandalwood has been used for a wide range of purposes due to its usefulness as a disinfectant, diuretic, expectorant, and stimulant. The aromatic scent has also made its way into the perfume industry as a useful base component.
In Ayurvedic systems, sandalwood is said to be used in the treatment of diarrhea, vomiting, poisoning, eye infections, and much more.
While there are so many to mention, here’s our list of sandalwood oil benefits and uses.
Helps Fight Bacteria
Research shows that sandalwood oil has demonstrated anti-microbial activity against many different strains of bacteria. Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and many fungal yeasts, including Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Candida included.
It has also been reported to inhibit the Herpes simplex and influenza virus replications.
Calms The Nervous System
Sandalwood’s main active compound alpha-santalol provides relaxing physiological effects.
Studies indicate that massage with sandalwood oil reduced the level of arousal of the autonomic nervous system. And transdermal administration of the oil significantly decreased the eye-blink rate and pulse rate.
Anti-Inflammatory
East Indian Sandalwood oil has been proven to possess significant anti-inflammatory properties.
Research has shown that pediatric eczema and atopic dermatitis patients showed a 50% reduction in inflammation and severity due to topical application of sandalwood oil formulations.
Stabilizes Blood Pressure
With stress and anxiety being major triggers for hypertension, it’s crucial to avoid them altogether or find remedies to reduce their impact.
Studies show that sandalwood essential oil contains sedative hypotensive agents that help lower and stabilize blood pressure levels. The findings also corresponded with a distinct reduction of cortisol levels.
How To Use Sandalwood Oil
There are various ways of incorporating sandalwood oil into your aromatherapy routine at home.
Here’s a few to get you started:
- Use it in an oil diffuser
- Apply directly to your skin
- Add a few drops to your body lotion
- Add a few drops to the water while steaming your face
- Take a relaxing bath by adding a few drops to the bathwater
- Apply a few drops to the back of your neck before going to sleep to ensure a night of restful sleep
Note: Sandalwood oil is generally considered to be non-irritating, however, it is recommended to do a small patch test to determine if you have any existing sensitivity to the oil.
You can do it by applying it on the underside of your forearm. If any redness, itchiness, or swelling occurs, wash it off immediately and avoid using it directly on the skin.
In general, it is often suggested to dilute sandalwood oil with another carrier oil such as coconut, sweet almond, or jojoba oil.
Conclusion
Centuries of therapeutic and medicinal use have demonstrated the exceptional ways in which sandalwood essential oil benefits the body. Besides, with its unique and pleasant scent, who wouldn’t want to try using it around their home?
Try out our tips on how to use the sandalwood essential oil, and let us know in the comments which benefits you noticed! And if you’re looking for another nifty oil, check out our article about amber essential oil.