Inside the Fragrance: Sandalwood

It's found everywhere from the mala bead necklace your yoga-obsessed friend wears to the candle you impulsively purchased a couple of years ago. But seriously—what is sandalwood?

Sandalwood, the star scent of Blue Ridge, is an essential oil derived from the dense, yellow wood of the sandalwood tree.

Humanity's love affair with sandalwood goes back to ancient history. Sandalwood essential oil is documented to have been used in religious ceremonies more than 4,000 years ago in India. To this day, sandalwood is used for rituals in a number of religious traditions. However, it has also become deeply prized by the fragrance community. 

Sandalwood is currently the second-most expensive wood in the world, which is one reason many lesser fragrance houses use synthetic versions of the essential oil. Both the Indian variety (Santalum album) and the Australian variety (Santalum spicatum) are prized for their sweet, delicate, and woody fragrances. We use sustainably sourced Sandalwood from India. The warm, slightly spicy wood fragrance of Sandalwood pairs beautifully with Sage and Amber to create a fragrance that is both complex and inviting. 

If you're a fan of Sandalwood, or if you think you will be, consider giving our Blue Ridge solid cologne a try. You can find it here.