Sandalwood oil
Sandalwood oil suppliers and sourcing guide
Sandalwood oil is the essential oil steam-distilled from the heartwood and roots of sandalwood trees. East Indian sandalwood (Santalum album) is now grown mainly in plantations in Australia and India; Australian sandalwood (Santalum spicatum) and Pacific species such as Santalum austrocaledonicum are other sources. Supply is limited and prices are high, with santalol content as the key quality marker. It is used in fine fragrance, cosmetics, soaps and at low levels in flavors.
- Also known as
- Santalum album oil · East Indian sandalwood oil · Santalum spicatum oil · Australian sandalwood oil
- Facts checked
- November 2026
Forms and grades of sandalwood oil
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
East Indian sandalwood
Santalum album oil, the reference grade, high in alpha- and beta-santalol.
Australian sandalwood
Santalum spicatum oil, drier and lower in santalols, usually lower in cost.
Pacific sandalwood
Oil from Santalum austrocaledonicum and related species from New Caledonia and Vanuatu.
Dilutions
Sandalwood oil diluted in a carrier at a stated percentage for cost-sensitive uses.
Plantation and traceable
Oil from plantation-grown or documented legal sources, increasingly required by buyers.
What to check on the COA
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
- GC-MS profile
- Gas chromatography with mass spectrometry, reporting key constituents such as alpha-santalol, beta-santalol, epi-beta-santalol and alpha-bergamotol against the supplier's or ISO ranges; the main identity and adulteration check.
- Santalol content
- Total free santalols by GC, the main grade and price factor (ISO 3518 sets ranges for Santalum album).
- Physical constants
- Specific gravity, refractive index and optical rotation at 20 °C against the specification.
- Adulteration screen
- Checks for amyris oil, synthetic sandalwood aroma chemicals or vegetable oil.
- Species and origin documents
- Species confirmation and legal-origin paperwork, since sandalwood trade is regulated in producing countries.
Storage, lots and expiry
Storage and shelf life
Store in full, tightly closed amber glass, aluminum or lined steel containers in a cool, dark place, ideally with a nitrogen headspace once opened; heat, light and air oxidize the oil and change its odor. Shelf life is set by the supplier's specification, and a GC-MS and odor retest is the usual way to confirm older stock.
Lots and expiry dates
Santalol content and odor vary with species, tree age and origin, so record these and the GC-MS profile for each lot. Keep origin and legal-harvest documents with each lot's certificate of analysis.
Regulatory status
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
21 CFR 172.510 lists white (yellow, or East Indian) sandalwood, Santalum album, among natural flavoring substances that may be safely used in food.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)FDA's Substances Added to Food inventory lists yellow sandalwood oil (Santalum album, CAS 8006-87-9) with the technical effect flavoring agent or adjuvant, citing 21 CFR 172.510.
Source: hfpappexternal.fda.gov (opens in a new tab)Health Canada's aromatherapy essential oils monograph lists East Indian sandalwood essential oil from the wood of Santalum album.
Source: webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca (opens in a new tab)
This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Sandalwood oil suppliers
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
We are checking sandalwood oil suppliers now
Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.
Sell sandalwood oil? Request a listingFrequently asked questions
What forms of sandalwood oil can brands buy?
Common forms include east Indian sandalwood, australian sandalwood, pacific sandalwood, dilutions and plantation and traceable. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
What should the COA for sandalwood oil include?
Expect gC-MS profile, santalol content, physical constants, adulteration screen and species and origin documents, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
How should sandalwood oil be stored?
Store in full, tightly closed amber glass, aluminum or lined steel containers in a cool, dark place, ideally with a nitrogen headspace once opened; heat, light and air oxidize the oil and change its odor. Shelf life is set by the supplier's specification, and a GC-MS and odor retest is the usual way to confirm older stock.
What is the regulatory status of sandalwood oil?
21 CFR 172.510 lists white (yellow, or East Indian) sandalwood, Santalum album, among natural flavoring substances that may be safely used in food. FDA's Substances Added to Food inventory lists yellow sandalwood oil (Santalum album, CAS 8006-87-9) with the technical effect flavoring agent or adjuvant, citing 21 CFR 172.510. Health Canada's aromatherapy essential oils monograph lists East Indian sandalwood essential oil from the wood of Santalum album.
More flavors, spices and essential oils
- Vanilla extractExtract of vanilla · Pure vanilla extract
- Vanilla beansVanilla planifolia · Vanilla tahitensis
- Vanillin4-Hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde · Vanillic aldehyde
- Ethyl vanillin3-Ethoxy-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde · Bourbonal
- Natural flavorsNatural flavoring · Natural flavour
- Artificial flavorsArtificial flavoring · Synthetic flavors
- CinnamonCinnamomum verum (Ceylon cinnamon) · Cinnamomum cassia (Chinese cassia)
- NutmegMyristica fragrans · Nutmeg seed
- CloveSyzygium aromaticum · Eugenia caryophyllata
- CardamomElettaria cardamomum · Green cardamom
- Black pepperPiper nigrum · Peppercorns
- Cayenne pepperCapsicum annuum · Capsicum frutescens
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