Woody

Sandalwood

Note Profile

Botanical 13,958 perfumes

Also Known As

Australian Sandalwood, bagdanol, creamy sandalwood, New Caledonian Sandalwood, pale sandalwood, Sandalwood (Sri Lanka), Sandlewood, Sri Lankan Sandalwood, White Sandalwood

About

Creamy, warm sandalwood

Scent Profile

Sandalwood has a creamy, warm, and milky-woody aroma with soft, slightly sweet undertones and a subtle balsamic richness. Its scent is smooth and persistent, developing a velvety, almost skin-like quality as it dries down. The note is prized for its gentle diffusion and long-lasting character.

ScentWheel

Breadthfocused

EnvelopeBase · ~36h lasting

Family Woody & Earthy

Read off the wheel, not a label applied to the note.

WorldSee it in Note Island

ScentArt

What is ScentArt?

What this is made of

α-santalol

Principally this

CAS 115-71-9

Alpha-santalol is the principal odorant of sandalwood oil and the target every sandalwood synthetic is built against.

Declarable allergen: Named in EU Annex III as Santalol products must list this name above a set concentration

These are facts about the substance, not about any perfume with this note.

Why that matters

A perfume that names Sandalwood can use a different extract, a reformulated version, or a synthetic reconstruction. It can also hold less than the amount that requires a declaration. We cannot tell which applies. These rows cover only the substances we hold a link for.

How the layers join

Origin

The most valued sandalwood oil is extracted from the heartwood of Santalum album trees, primarily grown in India and Australia. The wood is steam distilled to obtain the essential oil, with sustainable plantations increasingly used due to overharvesting of wild trees. Alternative species such as Santalum spicatum are also used in perfumery.

Usage in Perfumery

Sandalwood is typically used as a base note, providing depth, longevity, and a creamy smoothness to compositions. It blends well with florals, spices, and other woods, and is a key component in both oriental and woody fragrance families. Perfumers often use it to anchor volatile notes and add a soft, enveloping finish.