Sandalwood Oil - Santalum album - Steam Distilled from India.

Sandalwood has a persistent, sweet, woody base note with a delicate, spicy, oriental undertone.

Sandalwood oil is one of the oldest perfume materials and has been in use for at least 4000 years. It is profoundly seductive and a true aphrodisiac. It has long been used as an aid to meditation to help focus the mind and is said to allow the mind to reach the deepest states of meditation.

The sandal tree, botanically known as "Santalum album" belongs to the family "Santalacae." The sandal tree grows almost exlusively in the forests of Karnataka, follwed by Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andrha Pradesh, Timor Islands of Indonesia, etc. As the tree grows, the essential oil develops in the roots and heartwood, which requires at least 15 to 20 years. Full maturity is reached after 60 to 80 years. The core of the dark heartwood gradually develops, which is covered by outer sapwood.

The sandalwood tree is never felled, but uprooted in the rainy season, when the roots are richer in the precious essential oil. The best quality oil comes from the Indian province of Mysore and Tamil Nadu, where the harvest of Sandalwood is protected by state government.

The tree is medium sized, 12-15 meters tall. It reaches full maturity in 60 to 80 years, which is when the center of the trunk (the heartwood) has achieved its greatest oil content. Both the heartwood and roots and fragrant and contain the oil; the bark and the sapwood are odorless.