Sandalwood has been currently one of the most prized woods. But unlike other commercial woods, sandalwood is not mainly grown and harvested for lumber, but rather for its essential oil which gives off a distinct, pleasant aroma.
Sandalwood is a type of wood from trees in Santalum genus which are commonly found in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Australia, Hawaii and others. Sandalwood trees are usually medium in size and hemiparasitic – which means that they derive part of their nutrients from their host but they are also photosynthetic to some extent.
Sandalwood is considered one of the most expensive woods. Its high price tag can be attributed to the fact that its aroma can last for years, and even decades. Other factors include its low rate of germination and over-harvesting, which have put sandalwood’s numbers under threat. Interested in shopping for Sandalwood products? Check out SandalwoodHeaven.com
What does a sandalwood smell like? Many people have different opinions regarding this matter. Some say that it gives off a potent smell, while others take note of its sweet-smelling aroma, or its spicy and creamy hints.
Sandalwood has already been used by man since many, many centuries ago. People way back then would use sandalwood to build their temples, and ancient Egyptians would derive oil from it for embalming purposes.
Sandalwood oil
Sandalwood is grown and harvested extensively for its essential oil. It is extracted through a process called steam distillation which also produces a by-product called hydrosol (or “floral water”) which itself has practical and commercial uses.
Because of its unique, delightful and long-lasting scent, sandalwood oil has many purposes, including:
- Fragrance
- Cosmetics
- Toiletries
- Medicine and therapy
- Religious and spiritual items (such as unguents and incense)
- Mild food additive and flavoring
The benefits of sandalwood oil
Sandalwood oil should also deserve a special place in your home because of the many benefits it provides. If you are strictly sticking to “healthy living” that promotes overall well-being, sandalwood oil should be your must-have item.
It does good to your skin – Whether you’re maintaining an already healthy skin or otherwise having serious skin problems such as acne, sandalwood oil makes for an ideal skin care fix. It even helps in fighting skin cancer!
It helps you to sleep well – For many centuries, sandalwood oil has been praised as a potent cure for sleeplessness and insomnia. Sleeping pills do lull you to sleep but they can be potentially harmful and even deadly. You won’t find such issues with sandalwood oil.
It helps prevent inflammation – Sandalwood is also useful as an anti-inflammatory remedy. It works in a similar way like conventional over-the-counter analgesics and painkillers, only without the pesky side-effects.
It helps in beating stress and depression – Sandalwood is burned in many Indian ceremonies because they believe that its aromatic smoke will help in driving away depression and anxiety. Sandalwood oil’s relaxing and calming properties will help in getting rid of the blues and will even elevate your mood. You can buy sandalwood diffusers that are available on the market. Or you can make one at home by adding a drop of sandalwood oil (or two) on the air conditioner vents of your home or your car. Turn the unit on, and let the sandalwood’s stress-relieving aroma circulate. Now you can enjoy the sandalwood oil’s therapeutic benefits by just having a whiff of it.
It is an excellent anti-bacterial and antiviral agent – Sandalwood oil is also effective as an antiseptic and this has been proven by several independent studies. It can even prevent the spread of certain viruses such as herpes simplex. That’s why sandalwood oil has been widely used in treating infections.
It is an excellent anti-spasmodic – Sandalwood oil also works great in fighting off spams, and acts as a relaxing agent for the muscles, nerves and blood vessels. Thus, it is great in easing spams, contractions, coughs, cramps and other various types of body aches.
As you can see, sandalwood is good for almost every situation! It is always better to purchase genuine, 100% pure sandalwood oil straight from the manufacturers in order to enjoy its benefits to the hilt.