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Sandalwood is a much-loved fragrance beyond the world, ofttimes evoking soft breezes, restful spaces, and a sense of peace and calm. Information technology's usually used in aromatherapy and meditation do effectually the world.

The woods and oil is prized in many religious faiths, including Hinduism, Islam, Zoroastrianism, and many East Asian traditions. It'south used in sacred ceremonies, as rosary beads, equally incense, and as a decorative, cleansing paste.

Sandalwood'due south soft, woody aroma works well in soaps and trunk scrubs, and it's been used in Indian peel care for centuries.

Ancient Ayurvedic texts and Traditional Chinese Medicine praise sandalwood for its many medicinal uses, and there'south plenty of scientific evidence to support this.

Sandalwood album oil (SAO) has multiple beneficial qualities for the skin. It'due south said to be:

  • anti-inflammatory
  • antimicrobial
  • antiproliferative, or inhibits undesirable prison cell growth
  • antiviral
  • clarified
  • fever-reducing
  • scabies inhibiting

"Its key active ingredient is alpha-santalol, and it's been used for a number of ailments," says Monisha Bhanote, MD. She notes that sandalwood oil may inhibit leaner and yeast.

Sandalwood oil may help with:

  • scarring
  • wrinkles
  • inflammation
  • eczema
  • psoriasis
  • wound healing
  • acne
  • even skin tone or skin whitening

Scarring

Sandalwood oil helps nourish the skin, meliorate the elasticity of skin cells, even out skin tone. Because of these qualities, information technology can be benign in reducing the appearance of scars.

According to a 2018 study, sandalwood and love were shown to prevent or minimize hypertrophic or thick, raised scarring.

Wrinkles

Sandalwood oil contains antioxidants that help maintain the buoyancy and structure of the pare cells. It also reduces dryness and replenishes the moisture in skin, increasing elasticity.

"Due to the rich antioxidant component, sandalwood can help prevent wrinkles by fighting costless radical formation," Bhanote says.

Inflammation, eczema, psoriasis, and wounds

Due to its anti-inflammatory backdrop, sandalwood oil has shown hope in clinical trials for the treatment of acne, psoriasis, eczema, common warts, and molluscum contagiosum, a type of skin infection.

In a 2017 study, sandalwood oil paired with turmeric cream reduced rash and discoloration following chemotherapy radiation.

Sandalwood'due south antiseptic backdrop can help in wound care and healing. In India, sandalwood powder is often combined with rose h2o to create a calming, curative paste.

Acne

A 2011 written report that documented the home remedies of Indian grandmothers noted that sandalwood was recommended for acne and fungal infections.

A 2012 study showed that sandalwood was tolerated well and reduced lesion counts in ninety percentage of acne patients.

"Sandalwood is time-tested in Ayurveda for its pitta-reducing quality, cooling the pare in cases of tanning and sunburn and soothing the skin with its anti-inflammatory properties — especially in cases of acne, rashes, and insect bites," says Ainsley Mayben of Kama Ayurveda.

Mayben notes that sandalwood also balances excess sebum with its astringent backdrop and nourishes and moisturizes the skin.

Even pare tone or pare whitening

According to Ayurveda, or traditional Indian medicine, excessive skin discoloration may indicate an excess of rut in the body.

"From an Ayurvedic perspective, sandalwood appears to have a calming and cooling issue on the skin, which can do good the pitta [burn down] dosha," Bhanote says.

At that place's further scientific explanation for sandalwood's skin-lightening result.

"The alpha-santalol component of sandalwood is an inhibitor of tyrosinase, a key enzyme in the synthesis of the skin pigment melanin," Bhanote says. It "may potentially act every bit an inhibitor of abnormal pigmentation associated with crumbling and exposure to ultraviolet (UV) lite."

There are several kinds of sandalwood copse used for different purposes. The main genus is Santalum and belongs to the same family as mistletoe.

There are two main kinds of "true" sandalwood, likewise as other important varieties, including:

  • white sandalwood
  • Indian sandalwood
  • Australian sandalwood
  • Hawaiian sandalwood
  • Fiji sandalwood
  • red sandalwood

Truthful, white, or Indian sandalwood

Santalum album, called "chandan" in many Indian languages, is the nigh popular and commonly used sandalwood tree. This tree is native to India and yields some of the most prized sandalwood products. White sandalwood is also grown in Commonwealth of australia.

Due to the excessive demand and overharvesting, sandalwood is listed equally "vulnerable" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Australian sandalwood

Australian sandalwood, or Santalam spicatum, is a preferred ingredient in many aromatherapy products. It's an of import part of the local Australian economy and the civilisation of Commonwealth of australia'southward aboriginal people.

Hawaiian sandalwood

South. ellipticum, S. freycinetianum, and South. paniculatum are known equally "iliahi" by Hawaiians. These native Hawaiian species have been overharvested and are listed as endangered by the Hawaii State Legislature.

Fiji sandalwood

Santalum yasi is a lesser-known species of sandalwood from the islands of Fiji, Niue, and Tonga. Locals telephone call information technology "yasi" or "yasi din." Information technology'southward used for cosmetics, perfumes, incense, and religious ceremonies.

Carmine sandalwood

Red sandalwood, or Pterocarpus santalinus, is endemic to smaller forests across Republic of india. Though it's unrelated to the genus Santalum, or truthful sandalwood, this tree is also threatened considering of its wide applications in the cosmetic manufacture.

It's called "rakta chandan" in many Indian languages. The word "rakta" refers to its awarding in the treatment of claret disorders besides as the color of the woods itself.

In that location are many sandalwood-based products used in cosmetics to target specific skin care needs. It can be used equally:

  • powder
  • oil
  • lather
  • hydrosol or floral water

Powder

White sandalwood pulverisation is readily available in a ready-to-utilise powdered course. Information technology's believed to combat excess trunk heat.

Reddish sandalwood pulverization is less mutual. It'southward used every bit an anti-inflammatory and a blood purifier for many skin conditions, including acne.

Try Pam Herbals Special Sandal Pulverisation Face up Pack or Herbs Botanica Sandalwood Powder.

Oil

Sandalwood oil is too readily available and very popular. It's ofttimes promoted as a way to help calm the mind and induce sleep.

"Using aromatherapy with sandalwood oil can promote calmness, lower stress, and improve sleep quality," Bhanote says. "You may even consider rubbing it into your wrists equally a natural culling to perfumes. Research has also shown sandalwood tin can meliorate mood and attentiveness."

Sandalwood oil is often used in mineral bathroom soaks and scroll-ons for easy application to force per unit area points.

Sandalwood oil tin can be added to base of operations oils, like jojoba, almond, or argan oil, for a calming scalp and torso massage. This also serves every bit a hair oil to condition and moisturize dry hair.

Try Soothing Touch Balancing Soak Bathroom Salts or pureSCRUBS Torso Oil Organic Oil Blend – Sandalwood.

The U.S. Nutrient and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn't regulate essential oils. This ways that essential oil products can vary in purity, strength, and quality across manufacturers. Be sure to only purchase essential oils from reputable brands.

Soap

Sandalwood essential oil is often added to soaps and lotions to enhance its aroma. Sandalwood lather is very popular in India for its potential to reduce sunburn.

Try Plantlife Sandalwood Aromatherapy Herbal Lather or Kerala Ayurveda Sandalwood & Turmeric Soap.

For a luxurious soap made of crimson sandalwood, endeavor Kama Ayurveda Ruby-red Sandalwood Ayurvedic Lather.

Hydrosol or floral h2o

Extracted from the wood via steam distillation, sandalwood hydrosol spray is a wonderful way to refresh linens and pocket-size rooms. It can also make a soothing face up and hair mist.

Try Trapp Home Fragrance Mist – No. vii Patchouli Sandalwood or Indigo Wild Zum Mist Aromatherapy Room & Body Spray – Sandalwood Citrus.

Endeavor these simple DIY recipes to take advantage of the relaxing benefits of sandalwood at dwelling house.

For oily skin

Ingredients

  • two tbsp. sandalwood powder
  • 1 tbsp. rose h2o
  • jar with chapeau

Directions

  1. Mix the sandalwood pulverization with rose water in a jar.
  2. Employ the paste onto your clean, dry face.
  3. Go out on for 10 to 15 minutes.
  4. Rinse with lukewarm h2o.
  5. Store remaining paste in jar.

For dry out pare

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp. sandalwood powder
  • ane tbsp. yogurt or cow's milk
  • small bowl

Directions

  1. Make a paste with the sandalwood powder and yogurt or milk.
  2. Use the paste onto your make clean, dry face.
  3. Leave on for 10 to fifteen minutes.
  4. Rinse with lukewarm water.

For acne

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp. sandalwood pulverization
  • one drop tea tree oil
  • 2 tsp. rose or lavender water

Directions

  1. Mix all ingredients together in a small jar.
  2. Clean and dry out your face.
  3. Apply paste to pimples as a spot treatment.
  4. Wash off afterwards 10 minutes with lukewarm h2o, or leave on overnight.

For the bath

Ingredients

  • 1 cup epsom salts
  • ten drops sandalwood essential oil
  • 10 drops lavander essential oil
  • 2 tbsp. carrier oil of your choice, like argan, jojoba, or almond oil
  • jar

Directions

  1. Add essential oils to carrier oil in the jar.
  2. Add epsom salts.
  3. Shake until mixed.
  4. Cascade mixture directly nether running bath water.
  5. Soak for up to 45 minutes.

Sandalwood is more often than not considered condom for most users.

Still, always check for an allergic reaction earlier using a new production on the pare.

If you lot have sensitive peel, a 2017 study notes that Indian sandalwood oil may be more than mild than Australian sandalwood because it doesn't comprise farnesol, a pare irritant found in Australian sandalwood.

Always practise a patch test earlier applying sandalwood to your skin. Never swallow essential oils or utilize undiluted essential oils directly to the pare.

Several species of sandalwood are overharvested and listed as vulnerable by the IUCN.

A sandalwood tree must be 15 years or older to yield the most potent aromatic oils and fragrant woods. This makes farming sandalwood difficult. Illegal harvesting is a growing problem in many countries, like India.

Do your research to make certain yous're purchasing sandalwood from reputable, socially and environmentally responsible companies.

Sandalwood has been found in the medicine kits of Indian grandmothers and on family altars in Republic of india for centuries. It'southward now widely available in many easy-to-utilise forms, like oils, creams, soaps, and ointments.

The multiple benefits for the skin are thanks to sandalwood's anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and cooling properties.

It'southward important to research sources and buy responsibly, because sandalwood is oft overharvested.

With some pedagogy and experimentation, sandalwood can exist a wonderful addition to your skin care routine for an even, glowing complexion.

Nandita Godbole is an Atlanta-based, Indian-origin nutrient writer and author of several cookbooks, including her latest, "Seven Pots of Tea: An Ayurvedic Arroyo to Sips & Nosh." Observe her books at venues where fine cookbooks are showcased, and follow her at @currycravings on any social media platform of your pick.