Sandalwood

What Does It Smell Like?

Sandalwood smells like warm, creamy silk wrapped around your skin on a cool evening. Imagine the subtle sweetness of vanilla mixed with a gentle spice—almost peppery—alongside a soft, almost powdery dryness. There's a faint milky quality, like almond paste or coconut cream, but not fruity. It's deeply comforting, never sharp or aggressive; rather, it unfolds slowly, like the smell of an old wooden jewellery box lined with fabric, releasing its aroma only when you lean in close. Grounding and intimate.

Origin & History

True sandalwood comes from the Santalum album tree, native to India's Mysore region, particularly around the Western Ghats. Harvesting is labour-intensive: the fragrant heartwood must be extracted and distilled into oil, a process requiring skilled craftsmanship. Indian sandalwood has been treasured for millennia in Ayurveda and Hindu temple rituals. Sadly, overharvesting has made genuine sandalwood scarce and expensive. Perfumers now rely heavily on Australian sandalwood (Santalum spicatum) or synthetic sandalwood molecules—chiefly Iso E Super and Sandalore—which replicate the creamy, woody character without depleting vulnerable forests.

In Perfumery

Sandalwood anchors fragrances as a base note, providing warmth and longevity. Its creamy sweetness softens sharper ingredients, whilst its subtle wood structure prevents fragrances from becoming too sugary. It functions as the skin-scent canvas—it smells different on everyone, developing intimately throughout the day. Perfumers layer it beneath florals to add sensuality or pair it with spices for depth.

Pairs Beautifully With

Featured In 1,555 Fragrances