SANTALUM ALBUM
Commonly known as Sandalwood, a small tropical evergreen tree with leathery leaves and clusters of tiny purple flowers; it is semi-parasitic, the roots penertrate to neighbouring plants especially bamboo and palms. Sandalwood oil is found in the roots and heartwood of mature trees of between 20-50 years old. The bark of the roots and trunk and the outer sapwood and branches are removed. The heartwood is sawn into logs then dried and stored afterwhich the oil is extracted by steam distillation. The oil is a yellowish, slightly sticky liquid which has a sweet aroma of woody and balsamic with a musky undertone, Sandalwood is very relaxing, soothing and sensual, unlike many oils the scent of sandalwood improves with age.
Sandalwood is beneficial to suffrers of depression, anxiety, respiratory ailments and skin care, it is also used as a prized ingredient in perfumes and aromatherapy blends.