Sandalwood Essential Oil: Benefits, Studies, Uses, & FAQ

Sandalwood essential oil has become increasingly popular in recent years for its many health and beauty benefits. It is one of the most popular and ancient oils used in aromatherapy.

Its sweet, woody aroma has been used for centuries to improve physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It is known for its calming effect on the mind, body, and soul.

This article will introduce you to sandalwood essential oil, its properties, uses, advantages, scientific studies, and more. You'll learn why so many people are turning to this wonderful oil to help improve their wellness and beauty routine.

Table Of Contents

Sandalwood Essential Oil ORAC Value:
Sandalwood Essential Oil Health Benefits
- Sandalwood Essential Oil Scientific And Medical Studies
Sandalwood Essential Oil Uses
Sandalwood Essential Oil Substitute Ideas
Is Sandalwood Mentioned In The Bible?
Frequently Asked Questions about Sandalwood Essential Oil
- Don't See an Answer to the Question You Have About Sandalwood Essential Oil?
More Articles Including Sandalwood Essential Oil

The information provided on this website is for educational purposes only. Nothing on this page has been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and is not intended to provide medical advice for any health condition, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Sandalwood Essential Oil ORAC Value:

The ORAC value of sandalwood essential oil has been reported to measure up to 160 μTE/100g, demonstrating a potent antioxidant activity.

ORAC stands for “Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity,” developed by USDA researchers to tell you the item's antioxidant capacity. It is a measurement method to note the ability of antioxidants to absorb free radicals, which are molecules responsible for aging and various diseases.

Sandalwood Essential Oil Health Benefits

Sandalwood essential oil is one of the most popular and versatile essential oils on the market today. This oil has been used for centuries in traditional medicine to treat a variety of ailments, from skin conditions to respiratory issues. If you're looking for a natural remedy with numerous health benefits, sandalwood essential oil may be just what you need.

One of the main benefits of sandalwood essential oil is its ability to help calm your nerves and promote relaxation. The warm, woody scent of this oil can help calm your mind and reduce stress levels, making it an ideal choice to diffuse during prayer or other spiritual practices. In addition, sandalwood essential oil has anti-inflammatory properties that can help ease muscle tension and soreness.

Sandalwood essential oil is also great for promoting healthy skin.

** PLEASE NOTE ** Don't be fooled by clever marketing. Not all essential oils are created equally. Make sure you're not wasting your money on fake or altered essential oils (even if they're labeled as “pure essential oil”). Don't miss our explosive report outlining the dirty little secrets of the essential oil industry to ensure you're not wasting your money on brands of oils that legally mislead you through deceitful marketing practices.

Sandalwood Essential Oil Scientific And Medical Studies

There are numerous studies found on sandalwood essential oil, whether you're searching on NIH (National Institute of Health) or Google Scholar.

** Please note, none of these studies discloses which brand is used in the study, nor do any endorse any particular brand.

Below listed are the studies I've seen and become the most excited about:

Sandalwood may help decrease inflammation found in skin disorders. (Source)

Sandalwood has been shown to help decrease anxiousness in stressful situations. (Source 1, Source 2)

A study suggests a compound, a-santalol, found in sandalwood oil may help fight skin cancer. (Source)

Sandalwood serves as a mild astringent, making it an excellent addition to aftershaves and facial toners. (Source)

Sandalwood Essential Oil Uses

Add a few drops to your bathwater for a relaxing soak.
Mix with a carrier oil and use it for a soothing massage.
Improve your focus with a DIY diffuser blend
Diffuse in a diffuser to create a calming atmosphere.
Use to make your homemade Proverbs-Inspired Linen Spray
Add to a facial steam for a spa-like experience.
Reduce dark spots on your skin by making a blend of 2 drops each: rose, roman chamomile, patchouli, cypress, and sandalwood essential oils in a 10ml roller bottle filled the rest of the way with your favorite carrier oil, and apply as needed.
Mix with a carrier oil and apply to the face for a radiant glow.
Add a few drops to your favorite homemade facial toner
Pamper your skin with a homemade face serum using 3 drops each lavender, frankincense, and sandalwood in a 1oz dropper bottle and filling it the rest of the way with jojoba oil, or your favorite carrier oil
Make your own DIY Glow Face Serum (my favorite!!)
Chill your excessive nervousness with this DIY Liquid Calm roller bottle recipe: 30 drops Sandalwood, 30 drops Cedarwood, 30 drops Valarian, 30 drops Frankincense, 10 drops Humility essential oil blend, 10 drops Rose, and topped off with carrier oil
Blend with other essential oils for a personalized perfume.
Support your thyroid with a homemade roller blend using 10 drops each of clary sage and frankincense, 5 drops each of thyme, fennel, peppermint, and lemongrass, 11 drops of myrrh, and 3 drops each of sandalwood, lavender, rosemary, and bergamot
Mix a fun-smelling foaming hand soap to pamper your hands and senses

Before any topical use of sandalwood oil, be sure to dilute it with your favorite carrier oil. I encourage my clients to dilute one drop of sandalwood essential oil to a pea-size amount or more of carrier oil.

You should dilute one drop of sandalwood oil per one ml of carrier oil, at a minimum. Before applying on a large area, do a small patch test first. If it irritates your skin, you didn't dilute enough and should add more carrier oil.

A carrier oil can be any cold-pressed, seed-based oil (ideally organic and unrefined). This includes most cooking oil, like coconut oil, avocado oil, and olive oil. Personally, we LOVE using sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil, and the V6 Carrier oil (made by Young Living). This is the best way to dilute your essential oils for topical use.

Essential Oils That Blend Well With Sandalwood Essential Oil

Sandalwood essential oil blends well with:

Bergamot
Cedarwood
Clary sage
Frankincense
Geranium
Jasmine
Lavender
Patchouli
Rose
Vetiver
Ylang ylang

Member-Favorite DIY Sandalwood Essential Oil Blends

Vanilla Sandalwood Diffuser Blend: 3 drops each of grapefruit, vanilla, and sandalwood essential oils with 2 drops of bergamot oil
Spiced Sandalwood Diffuser Blend: 6 drops sandalwood, 4 drops vanilla, and 2 drops each cinnamon and ginger essential oils
Riveting Roses Diffuser Blend: 3 drops each of sandalwood and bergamot with 2 drops of rose
Contemplation Diffuser Blend: 3 drops each eucalyptus and grapefruit with 1 drop sandalwood

Sandalwood Essential Oil Substitute Ideas

A good substitute for sandalwood depends on whether you're looking for something that can replace its aroma or something with similar benefits or uses.

Good replacements for sandalwood essential oil that has similar enough aromas include ginger, jasmine, myrrh, vetiver, ylang ylang.

You can also swap out sandalwood with oils like bergamot, black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, coriander, elemi, frankincense, or petitgrain.

Is Sandalwood Mentioned In The Bible?

No. Many websites mention aloes to be the same as sandalwood in the Bible, but I've found them to be different.

Sandalwood is scientifically known as santalum album, while aloeswood is scientifically known as aquilaria agallocha.

Aloeswood is also known as agarwood, and is extremely rare to find naturally and in the wild. It's an endangered tree, legally protected, and worth over $100,000. It has a honey-like sweet, vanillic aroma with a touch of spice and sometimes also a hint of bitter.

Agarwood does not have a consistent aroma because the resin rarely produces the same constituent percentage. It also is time-consuming to grow and difficult to harvest, causing fake agarwood to rapidly grow in popularity.

Sandalwood is much more common, and while it is a more expensive oil when compared to popular options, it isn't nearly as pricey as agarwood. It has a deep, woody fragrance that is reminiscent of a combination of floral, rich, balsamic, soft, and sweet accents.

Frequently Asked Questions about Sandalwood Essential Oil

Is sandalwood essential oil safe to ingest?

No, sandalwood essential oil is not on the list of essential oils considered safe for ingesting.

Is sandalwood essential oil safe to use while pregnant?

Sandalwood should be used very cautiously (if at all) while pregnant.

I don't recommend using sandalwood (of any variety) without being under the care of an aromatherapist, herbalist, naturopath, or other natural-minded medical professional unless you're very well-versed in what you're doing. There are other oils you could use instead.

If you're using oils while pregnant, I highly recommend this reference guide. It contains some great advice for using essential oils while pregnant and some DIY Recipes you'll love.

Is sandalwood essential oil safe for kids or babies?

Please only use sandalwood essential oil on or around children over 6. For children under 12, be sure to dilute more than normal before using topically.

While essential oils may be safe for kids to use, please do not have your child use an essential oil internally as a supplement without being under the direct guidance of a naturopathic doctor.

Also, keep in mind that sandalwood essential oil is very concentrated. It is best to keep it out of the reach of children, and stored in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight.

Can you be allergic to sandalwood essential oil?

There are a few reasons why you would experience an allergy-like reaction to essential oils. Usually, this is caused by not diluting the oil you're applying (or not diluting it enough). Please refer to our essential oils and allergies article for more in-depth information.

Is sandalwood essential oil safe for dogs and cats?

Sandalwood essential oil is safe to use with your dogs. It can also be used with cats, but please do not use Sandalwood oil on your cat without being supervised by a natural or holistic vet, or an animal aromatherapist or herbalist.

If you're using essential oils around your family pets, be sure to allow them to access out of the room and into a room where you're not diffusing. This way they're able to escape when they feel they've had enough.

Please also consider picking up a reference guide specific to using essential oils with animals. There are also reference guides specific to Young Living's oils too.

How often should you use sandalwood essential oil?

Whether or not to use sandalwood essential oil is also a personal question. This depends on what you're using it for and how experienced you are using it.

I recommend only diffusing for 30 minutes at a time for beginners, then giving your body an hour's break. If you diffuse too much, you could end up lightheaded.

Personally, I have a diffuser running most of the day intermittently (using the intermittent setting on our diffuser). Or I'll wear a piece of diffusing jewelry with 3 drops of oil on it throughout the day (those 3 drops usually last a few days). Check out our article about diffusing essential oils safely for more info.

Should you use sandalwood essential oil if you're taking medication?

There are no currently known sandalwood oil and medication contraindications that I'm aware of.

This is a very personal question and really depends on which medications you're taking. I have an entire article dedicated to known medication contraindications that I highly recommend you check out… in addition to having a lengthy conversation with your local aromatherapist or pharmacist.

Where do you purchase sandalwood essential oil?

We purchase our sandalwood oil from Young Living because they set a higher standard for essential oil production than what I've found throughout the rest of the industry.

Their farm-to-table type of approach and testing at every phase of their farming, distillation, and bottling processes has proven to me time and time again to be the closest thing out there to buying from your local farmer or DIYing the oil yourself, only better with their 25+ years of continual research and improvement. I also love their transparency and how they open their farms so you can see for yourself (or involve yourself in the process).