Sandalwood (New Caledonia) perfume ingredient

Production

Rich and lingering, the coveted note of sandalwood has its origins as an evergreen tree with richly fragrant leaves. While there are many varieties of the sandalwood tree, only a select few make it into the world of perfumery: santalum album, santalum spicatu, and santalum australedonicum. Its essential oil is obtained through a process of distillation after the bark and roots are dried and reduced to a powder.

History

Our senses have been captivated by the ethereal qualities of sandalwood for over four millennia. In Antiquity, sandalwood was used to manufacture furniture and decorate luxe temples—resulting in divinely-scented rooms with the added bonus of repelling insects. Venerated and held sacred, sandalwood has long been associated with the divine. Its connection is most notable in Hinduism and Buddhism, where sandalwood aided rituals intended to alleviate the suffering of humanity. In Hindu mythology, the garden of the gods grows a wonderfully scented tree by the name of “Hari Chandan,” from which sandalwood was its terrestrial remainder—a divine tree quite literally.

Did you know...

Sandalwood is a much-loved commodity in India. So much so that the dignitary cremation ceremony for a single person can consume almost 400 kilograms of the scented wood. Temples are constructed with it, as well as carefully-carved art items and coveted furniture. With this in mind, it’s easy to understand the subsequent scarcity of sandalwood and the government’s push to more closely control its cultivation and exportation. In Chinese medicine, sandalwood essence is used to aid a number of ailments, including stomach pains and skin problems. It’s known to increase longevity and boost immunity, and its scent is thought to increase willpower, ambition and price. In Hinduism, sandalwood smoke is thought to lift the soul and thus improve meditation.

Most combined ingredients

Iconic Fragrance

Chanel

BOIS DES ILES EAU DE PARFUM

Bois des Iles de Chanel was one of the first feminine woody fragrances, giving pride of place to sandalwood. Republished in 1983 and again in 2007 for "Les Exclusifs" collection, it inspired its masculine version: Egoïste, in 1990, which was a resounding success.