Sandalwood Oil
Sandalwood oil (mainly Santalum album): what small studies found, why fake and mixed oils are common, skin allergy findings, and conservation concerns. Skin and scent use only.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Natural products can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read essential oil safety before you use anything on this page.
Safety note: sandalwood oil is one of the essential oils that has caused skin allergy in patch-test studies, and the sources we read do not support swallowing it. If a skin reaction appears, stop using the product and ask a pharmacist or clinician (what to do after a reaction). If anyone swallows an essential oil, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US).
What sandalwood oil is
Sandalwood album oil, also called East Indian sandalwood oil, is an essential oil distilled from the Santalum album tree. [1] The oil comes from a fragrant wood and is used in food and cosmetics. [2] The perfume material is extracted from mature heartwood. [3] GBIF lists Santalum album L. as an accepted name, in the sandalwood family (Santalaceae). [4] GBIF also lists Santalum spicatum (R.Br.) A.DC. and Santalum paniculatum Hook. & Arn. as accepted species. [4] Most studies below used S. album; other sandalwood species are not interchangeable with it, so look for the botanical name on a label (label guide).The main compound is alpha-santalol, and over 100 constituents have been identified. [2] Some oils sold as sandalwood are not. A 2021 analysis found oils whose profile indicated Amyris balsamifera L., a different tree in the family Rutaceae. [5][4]
Traditional use
The sources we read do not describe region-specific traditions of sandalwood, so this page does not describe any, and it does not treat tradition as proof. A dermatology review says only that traditional botanical medicines, which are complex mixtures, are being studied as possible new skin treatments. [1]What research shows
All findings below are small. Smell-based trials are hard to blind, and many measure self-reported feelings. Skin and inhaled trials are different things.| Use | What the source found | Strength of evidence | Population and form studied |
|---|---|---|---|
| Relaxation and mood | In healthy volunteers wearing breathing masks, so smell was excluded, sandalwood oil produced physiological deactivation but behavioral activation. [6] | Insufficient evidence | Healthy adults; oil absorbed through skin, 2004 |
| Anxiety in palliative care | A pilot of 34 patients compared massage with 1% Santalum album, carrier oil alone, and the oil in an aroma stone. [7] The authors said no assumptions could be drawn because of the small sample. [7] | Insufficient evidence | Palliative-care patients; massage or aroma stone |
| Common warts | Ten people were enrolled; 8 of 10 had complete resolution of treated warts. [8] The abstract describes no comparison group. | Insufficient evidence | People with skin warts; oil applied to the skin |
| Acne, psoriasis, eczema | A review says the oil has shown promise in clinical trials for these and other conditions. [1] We did not read those trials. | Insufficient evidence (review only) | Mostly topical forms, including a pharmaceutical-grade oil |
| Sleep, "detox", immunity and other popular claims | Proper evidence not found. We searched PubMed for sandalwood oil and found no controlled human trial of these uses. | Marketing claim | Not applicable |
Cell and animal studies of alpha-santalol exist, but results in a dish or a mouse do not show an effect in people (human vs lab research). NCCIH says it is not known whether aromatherapy helps insomnia, because little rigorous research has been done. [9]
Forms, and why the form matters
The studies used different things: an oil absorbed through the skin, a 1% massage oil, an aroma stone, and a topical oil for warts. [6][7][8] A result for one form does not carry over to another. We give no amounts or dilutions; for how sources discuss dilution, see diluting essential oils.Quality and adulteration
Warning: fake sandalwood is common in published tests. A study of six commercial "sandalwood" oils found none met the international ISO standard. [5] Only one contained both alpha- and beta-santalol, characteristic of S. album; three had a profile indicating Amyris balsamifera oil, and two were synthetic mixtures. [5] The authors note sandalwood oils are expensive, and many counterfeits are sold in shops. [5] Poison Control also notes it can be hard to know exactly what is in an essential oil bottle. [12] See adulteration.Conservation
A 2016 plant science paper says that in places such as southern India, natural populations of this slow-growing tree are threatened by over-exploitation. [3] Sourcing information on a label is not proof of sustainability; see sustainability and conservation. The sources we read do not describe cultural or religious uses of sandalwood, so this page does not.Official statements
No regulator monograph for sandalwood oil is described in the sources we read. In the US, the FDA notes that claims such as easing pain or helping you sleep make a product a drug. [13]Uses studied and safety checks for Sandalwood Oil
Read the safety checks first. Each card says whether a finding comes from people or only from the lab, which way the oil was used (scent, on skin or swallowed) and how strong the evidence is. A finding for one way of using an oil does not carry over to another.
Check before you use (4)
- Skin allergy and irritation. Sandalwood oil was one of nine oils with more than 2% positive patch tests in one review, and 1.8% of tested patients in a German clinic network reacted to it. Most reactions came from pure oils or high-concentration products.
- Fake and mixed oils sold as sandalwood. In a study of six commercial 'sandalwood' oils, none met the international ISO standard; only one contained both santalols typical of Santalum album, three indicated Amyris balsamifera, and two were synthetic mixtures.
- Undiluted use on skin. Sources say essential oils should be diluted in a carrier oil and not put on skin undiluted. A review noted most patch-test reactions to essential oils came from pure oils.
- Swallowing: limited toxicity data. A 2008 safety assessment found low acute toxicity in lab animals and a tiny average daily intake as a food flavor, but said toxicity information is limited. That is not a reason to swallow essential oil.
Sandalwood massage or scent and anxiety in palliative care
Not enough evidenceA pilot trial of 34 palliative-care patients compared massage with 1% sandalwood oil, carrier oil alone, and sandalwood on an aroma stone. The authors said the data were too limited to draw conclusions.
Supplements: Massage or aroma stone only; not shown to treat anxiety.
Relaxation after skin absorption (healthy volunteers)
Not enough evidenceIn healthy volunteers wearing breathing masks, so smell was excluded, sandalwood oil gave physiological deactivation but behavioral activation; its main compound alpha-santalol gave changes read as relaxing.
Supplements: Oil absorbed through skin in a lab setting; not a treatment study.
Common warts (oil applied to skin)
Not enough evidenceIn a 10-person study, 8 had complete clearing of treated warts after 12 weeks of twice-daily sandalwood oil; the abstract describes no comparison group.
Supplements: Skin application only; see a clinician for warts.
Acne, psoriasis and eczema (review only)
Not enough evidenceA dermatology review says sandalwood album oil has shown promise in clinical trials for acne, psoriasis, eczema, warts and molluscum. We read the abstract only, not the trials.
Supplements: Review abstract only; not established for any skin condition.
Sleep, 'detox' and immunity claims
Not enough evidenceNCCIH says it is unclear whether aromatherapy helps insomnia because little rigorous research exists. We found no controlled human trial of sandalwood oil for sleep, detox or immunity.
Supplements: No good evidence of benefit found.
Connected topics
Open a group to see how each topic connects and how strong the evidence is.
Body systems (2)
- Integumentary SystemDocumented risk
Skin allergy and irritation are documented; most reactions came from pure oils or high-concentration products.
- Skin, Hair & BeautyDocumented risk
Patch-test studies document skin allergy to sandalwood oil in a small share of tested patients; evidence of skin benefit is limited to small studies.
Body parts (1)
- SkinDocumented risk
Skin is where documented reactions occur: sandalwood oil had over 2% positive patch tests in one review and 1.8% in a German clinic network.
Conditions & symptoms (1)
- Contact DermatitisDocumented risk
Sandalwood oil is a documented cause of contact allergy in patch-test studies.
Frequently asked questions
Is sandalwood oil proven to reduce anxiety?
No. A palliative-care pilot of 34 patients was too small for its authors to draw conclusions. [7]
Can sandalwood oil cause an allergic skin reaction?
Yes. Sandalwood oil was among nine oils with over 2% positive patch tests in one review, and a German network recorded 1.8% positive patch tests. [10][11]
Is sandalwood oil always real sandalwood?
Not necessarily. Of six commercial oils sold as sandalwood, none met the ISO standard in one study. [5]
Does sandalwood oil treat warts?
One small study of ten people reported complete clearing in 8, but it was tiny and the abstract describes no comparison group. [8] See a clinician for warts.
Is the sandalwood tree endangered?
A 2016 paper says natural populations of Santalum album are threatened by over-exploitation in places such as southern India. [3]
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Safety
- Skin allergy and irritation. A safety assessment says occasional irritation or sensitization reactions to sandalwood oil are reported in the literature. [2] In a review of patch-test studies, sandalwood was one of nine oils with over 2% positive reactions, and most reactions came from pure oils or high-concentration products. [10] A German clinic network (2010 to 2019) recorded 1.8% positive patch tests to sandalwood oil, and said masseurs and cosmeticians have an increased risk of sensitization to essential oils. [11]
- Toxicity data are limited. The same safety assessment says sandalwood oil and alpha-santalol have low acute oral and dermal toxicity in laboratory animals, but that information on toxicity is limited. [2]
- Medicines, pregnancy and breastfeeding, children, older adults, liver and kidney, asthma: not described for sandalwood oil in the sources we read. Ask a pharmacist (how interactions work; pregnancy; children).
- Surgery: tell the surgical team about any oil or supplement product.
- Pets: keep oils locked up, out of the sight and reach of children and pets. [12] See essential oils and pets.
- Swallowing: a flavor use in food is documented, with a very small average daily intake in that assessment. [2] That is not advice to swallow a bottle of essential oil, and we do not advise it.
References
- Sandalwood Album Oil as a Botanical Therapeutic in Dermatology, 2017. Read 2026-10-23.
- Safety assessment of sandalwood oil (Santalum album L.), Food and Chemical Toxicology 2008. Read 2026-10-23.
- Heartwood-specific transcriptome and metabolite signatures of tropical sandalwood (Santalum album), Plant Journal 2016. Read 2026-10-23.
- GBIF species-matching service (plant names checked 2026-10-23). Read 2026-10-23.
- A Comparison of the Composition of Selected Commercial Sandalwood Oils with the International Standard, Molecules 2021. Read 2026-10-23.
- Evaluation of the effects of East Indian sandalwood oil and alpha-santalol on humans after transdermal absorption, Planta Medica 2004. Read 2026-10-23.
- Evaluating the effectiveness of aromatherapy in reducing levels of anxiety in palliative care patients: results of a pilot study, 2006. Read 2026-10-23.
- Topical Sandalwood Oil for Common Warts, Clinical Pediatrics 2018. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), Aromatherapy. Read 2026-10-23.
- Essential Oils, Part IV: Contact Allergy, Dermatitis 2016. Read 2026-10-23.
- Contact sensitization to essential oils: IVDK data of the years 2010-2019, Contact Dermatitis 2022. Read 2026-10-23.
- Poison Control (National Capital Poison Center), essential oils article. Read 2026-10-23.
- US Food and Drug Administration, Aromatherapy (cosmetics information page). Read 2026-10-23.