From various poetic celebrations to the treatment of a number of physical and spiritual problems, the wood from sandalwood trees has always held the prestige of being a blessing to humanity by nature. Indigenous to the Indian subcontinent, the sandalwood tree is known as one of the most expensive woods in the world.
One can’t simply turn a blind eye to the globally accepted versatility of this precious
wood due to its high treasure-like qualities. The sweet-smelling essence drawn out from this wood is widely used as the base product for various perfumes, incense, and cosmetics.
Selecting high quality sandalwood for homemade beauty recipes
Sandalwood oil is one of the most expensive essential oils available on the market today. The highest quality sandalwood is the Indian variety, known as Santalum album. Hawaii and Australia also produce sandalwood, but it’s not considered to be of the same quality and purity as the Indian variety.
Side effects of using sandalwood too much
Sandalwood oil is generally safe for use, but there are warnings and precautions. Essential oils are meant for topical use only, so I do not advise ingesting sandalwood oil. When applying it onto skin, dilute it using carrier oil, soap, lotion or a buffering agent. Breastfeeding mothers and young children should avoid using sandalwood oil. Additionally, the oil may cause an allergic skin reaction in certain individuals, so it is important to test it on a small area of skin first. Individuals with a known allergy or hypersensitivity to sandalwood or its constituents should avoid using the oil, as there are reports of sandalwood causing dermatitis and sandalwood oil causing photo allergy. But there are very few reports of sandalwood side effects.
Cultivate sandalwood in your home garden
The first two years require the most care as it is very delicate during that period. Once it starts getting sufficient minerals the plant can grow in a healthy way. Sandalwood sapling should be planted along with other plants as it takes minerals from the roots of the existing plant. That’s why it is said that this plant is grown with the help of a host tree.
- Compiled by Ruwini Jayawardana
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