Sandalwood oil has long been used, particularly from the East to the Middle East, to scent and purify the air in the home and in places of worship or for ceremonial applications. In fact, it can be argued that sandalwood’s warm rich sweet and luxurious woody fragrance is valued like no other for its distinct olfactive properties, especially as a base note in perfumes.
Fast forward to current modern times, sandalwood aroma is now commonly used throughout the world in the form of aromatherapy- which is the use of aromatic plant extracts for physiological and mental wellbeing. So it makes sense to incorporate sandalwood essential oil (EO) when making up your own blends to suit your ever changing mood and requirements.
The beauty of aromatherapy is that users can purposefully select the type of essential oils they wish to diffuse, not just based on its scent, but on the desired functional benefits! To discover more, checkout the Quintis range of aromatherapy EO, this suite of oils includes six pure EO Blends (containing 95% feature oil with 5% Indian sandalwood oil) and the 100% pure Indian sandalwood (Santalum album) oil.
You can look forward to discovering some of the intrinsic functional benefits from each of these blends.
Sandalwood & Lemongrass:
Made from the West Indian Lemongrass variety, you can expect a spicy, warming, unmistakably unique lemony scent that is refreshing, relaxing and balancing. A keynote benefit of lemongrass is its ability to energize and uplift the mood, it is also well known that its aroma works well for helping to combat stress, migraines, muscle spasms, and assisting our overall immune system with its anti-inflammatory properties. Its antibacterial and antiseptic properties also means that this is a good blend to cleanse the space in our home, especially as a deodouriser when there is a need to mask unsightly smells. (Lakhan S.E et.al, 2016)
Sandalwood & Peppermint:
Peppermint is a naturally cooling and stimulating EO that can improve concentration during times of stress and fatigue. It would be beneficial to diffuse this blend to boost energy levels or to reduce instances of jet lag. With its refreshing aroma, studies have also found that it has the ability to elevate moods, relieve anxiety, as well as to relieve feelings of emotional extremes such as grief and depression.
Sandalwood & Wild Orange:
Wild Orange has a distinctly powerful citrus scent that’s most useful for purifying the air, whilst promoting and serving to uplift our home environment. This is due to some of its main active constituents such as limonene, alpha-pinene and myrcene, which is another reason why wild orange EO is so effective and popular in cleaning products. Along with its antimicrobial properties, this blend is a good one to diffuse for ‘cleansing’ purposes or during the winter months to support the immune system when its needed most. (Lala et.al, 2020)
Sandalwood & Geranium:
Geranium EO has a sharp unique floral scent, known to have antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. It’s a powerhouse oil with many wellness benefits. A recent study discovered that geranium EO as an aromatherapy promotes the secretion of salivary estrogen, and from this, researchers were able to theorise its benefit for women going through menopause and perimenopause. (Shinohara et.al, 2017)
Sandalwood & Lavender:
Lavender EO is one of the safest and arguably most well-loved aromas in the world. Back in the day, the Greeks, Romans, and Middle Eastern herbalists commonly used it as a disinfectant and antiseptic ‘for washing’. Now it is probably most popular as a sedative and relaxant, hence this is an ideal blend to diffuse- for people plagued with insomnia or anyone keen on improving their quality of sleep.
Sandalwood & Frankincense:
Frankincense is one of the oldest uses of EOs in the world, where in the Middle East it is known as the “holy anointing oil”. The scent of Frankincense is useful for calming and soothing our whole being (i.e body, mind, and emotions). So much so that it’s been said to be one of the best oils to assist in resolving deep-seated wounds of the soul that may manifest in physical illness. So as such it is indeed a helpful blend for visualization and meditation practices, as it’s understood to aid spiritual connectivity, by centring the mind and assisting the individual to overcome feelings of despair and stress. (Keville.K & Green.M, 2009)
All these feature oils blend particularly well with our Indian sandalwood oil. Further, you can be rest assured that our Indian sandalwood oil is made entirely from ethically sourced and sustainably grown plantations up north in Kununurra, WA. If you prefer to make a sandalwood EO blend with an aroma of your own choosing, look no further than our 100 per cent pure Indian sandalwood essential oil. Alternatively, if you prefer a more affordable and earthy sandalwood variety, opt for our Australian sandalwood oil (Santalum spicatum) instead.
Making EO Blends for use in our Quintis Aromatherapy Diffuser:
400ml of rainwater (or pure water)
Add 3 drops of sandalwood EO followed by 2-3 drops of your choice of EO.
We’ve barely scratched the surface in this discussion, as there is certainly much anecdotal evidence showing the benefits of aromatherapy. Further, are you aware that nowadays its fast becoming an accepted ‘complementary modality’ within the medical fraternity? More hospitals are recognising its benefits and using it in tandem via the pathway of “integrative medicine”- where treatments consisting of conventional Western medicine are used alongside evidence-based complementary medicine and therapies.
These wonderful plant essences, so rich in anti-inflammatories, antioxidants, immune boosters, and adaptogens all serve to enhance our capacity to restore bodies from dis-ease to a state of ease. Well worth incorporating as part of a wellness lifestyle for mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing. The more pressing question now is to decide exactly which blends to try first, or better yet, follow your nose and pick your own!
Lakhan SE, Sheafer H, Tepper D, “Scientific basis for the therapeutic use of Cymbopogon citratus, stapf (Lemon grass).” Journal of advanced pharmaceutical technology & research vol. 2,1 (2011): 3-8. doi:10.4103/2231-4040.79796
Shinohara K, Doi H, Kumagai C, Sawano E, Tarumi W, “Effects of essential oil exposure on salivary estrogen concentration in perimenopausal women”, Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2017 Jan;37(8):567-572. PMID: 28326753.
Keville. K & Green. M, “Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art [An Essential Oils Book]”, Crossing Press (An imprint og the Crown Publishing Group), 2009
Lakhan, Shaheen E et al. “The Effectiveness of Aromatherapy in Reducing Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” Pain research and treatment vol. 2016 (2016): 8158693. doi:10.1155/2016/8158693
Lala, M., Modak, D., Paul, S. et al, “Potent bioactive methanolic extract of wild orange (Citrus macroptera Mont.) shows antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties in in vitro, in vivo, and in silico studies”, Bull Natl Res Cent 44, 81 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s42269-020-00329-5