Clean & Serene Sandalwoods

The words used to describe the smell of sandalwood – milky…silky…savoury…sensual – conjure the tranquil poetry of this ancient material. The essential oil of sandalwood is a rich and glowing perfume in itself, its use documented over 4,000 years for everything from meditation and seduction to embalming mummies. But don’t waste precious sandalwood on those mummies! Especially since the real deal is so hard to come by. Extracted from the heartwood of an evergreen tree originally found in Eastern India, sandalwood not only takes up to 30 years to mature, but is fussy about where it grows, since it’s a parasite plant that suckers itself to the roots of other trees. Due to the material’s irresistible scent (slightly buttery, slightly musky, slightly spicy), the tree is overharvested and the essential oil commands one of the highest prices of all natural perfume ingredients. This is where aromachemicals come in: organic chemistry has produced a plethora of sandalwood stand-ins that shine alongside their natural kin.

This theme focuses on the sublime attributes of unadorned sandalwood. Here’s an opportunity to experience the velvety, languid loveliness of “liquid gold” in minimal settings that include musks, aromatics and pale woods. In temples of yore, sandalwood burned in sacred fires to soothe the spirit of all humanity. Soothe your own spirit with this mellow selection of creamy dreamy sandalwoods.