Sandalwood in Perfume
Creamy rather than dry, sandalwood is the gentlest of the great woody materials.
Sandalwood is a soft, creamy, slightly sweet wood note, traditionally sourced from Santalum trees, historically an important material in both perfumery and traditional attar-making, where it’s frequently used as the carrier oil base for distilled fragrances. It’s prized for rounding out sharper woods and grounding floral or spicy compositions.
Sustainability considerations
Indian sandalwood in particular has faced significant sourcing pressure historically, leading to stricter regulation and a shift toward sustainably managed plantations and alternative sandalwood species. As with oud, ask a seller about sourcing if this matters to you.
Frequently asked questions
Why does sandalwood feature so heavily in attar?
Its creamy, stable character makes it an excellent carrier and base for traditional distilled attars, historically including rose attar from centres like Kannauj.
Explore sandalwood-forward scents in our Perfume Oils.
