Sandalwood essential oil (Santalum album) is steam-distilled from the bark of sandalwood trees. This oil is known for it soft, woody, sweet, earthy, balsamic, and tenacious odor. The aroma of sandalwood can calm, harmonize, and balance your emotions. It helps one accept others by opening the heart while diminishing one’s own egocentricity. Sandalwood is stimulating to the mind, as well as grounding, and helps to enhance meditation.

Sandalwood has antidepressant, antiseptic, antitumor, aphrodisiac, astringent, calming, sedative, and tonic health properties. This oil primarily affects emotional balance, muscles, nervous and skeletal systems, and skin.

Historically, sandalwood was used as incense during rituals to enhance meditation. It is also still considered sacred in many cultures and has been used to free souls of the deceased at funerals. The Egyptians also used sandalwood for embalming. The French have used sandalwood for many years to help with bronchitis (chronic), diarrhea (obstinate), hemorrhoids, and impotence.

Today, sandalwood is commonly used to help with Alzheimer’s disease, back pain, coma, confusion, hemorrhoids, hiccups, laryngitis, Lou Gehrig’s disease, multiple sclerosis, radiation (UV), and wrinkles. Other possible uses of sandalwood include acne, catarrh, circulation, coughs, cystitis, depression, menstrual problems, nerves, skin infection, and tuberculosis.

Safety Data: Sandalwood is recognized as safe for internal use by the FDA and can also be used as a food flavoring agent. This oil can be applied directly without dilution. Sandalwood oil is not for children under 6 years of age and should be used with caution and in greater dilution for children 6 years and older.

Tips for Using Sandalwood Essential Oil:

1. You can make a soothing roll-on for dry skin by adding 4 drops geranium and 1 drop sandalwood to a 5 ml roll-on bottle and filling the remainder of the bottle with jojoba oil. Apply to areas of your body with dry skin as needed.
2. Sandalwood is great for laryngitis! Apply 1 drop sandalwood to your throat. Add 1 drop lemon essential oil to 1 tsp. (5 ml) honey, dissolve in a small cup of warm water, and sip.
3. Sometimes kids can get a little crazy, and we just need them to calm down. You can make a kids’ calming essential oil room spray to help them relax a bit by combining 4 drops sandalwood, 14 drops orange, 7 drops spearmint, and 1 Tbsp. (15 ml) rubbing alcohol, vodka, or witch hazel in a 2 oz. spray bottle. Fill the remainder of the bottle with distilled water, and shake to combine. Spray around the room to help the kids calm down.
4. Anytime you get those nasty hiccups, just rub a drop of sandalwood over your diaphragm (the bottom edge of the rib cage).
5. The aroma of sandalwood is uplifting and helps to balance emotions. Try this energizing and uplifting diffuser blend to give you the illusion of sunshine in the winter.
   

Source: Reference Guide for Essential Oils.