Character
The Story of Australian white sandalwood
Australian white sandalwood, sourced from Santalum spicatum native to Western Australia, delivers creamy, soft-woodsy warmth with subtle lactonic and powdery facets. As the fragrance industry shifts away from threatened Indian sources, Australian sandalwood has become the primary sustainable choice for perfumers worldwide.
Heritage
Australian sandalwood carries a legacy stretching back 4000 years, though its role in global perfumery is relatively recent. Santalum spicatum grew wild across the Western Australian interior for millennia, used traditionally by Aboriginal communities for medicinal and ceremonial purposes. European fragrance houses initially relied on Indian Santalum album from Mysore, historically commanding imperial prestige. As Indian export restrictions tightened and wild populations faced depletion, the Australian species gained prominence. By the mid-twentieth century, Australian sandalwood oil production became the world's primary source, supplying European fragrance houses through regulated harvesting under the Western Australian Sandalwood Control Act established in 1929. Today, Australian sandalwood represents a bridge between ancient olfactory traditions and modern sustainable perfumery.
At a Glance
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Feature this note
Australia
Primary source region
Ingredient Details
Steam distillation
Heartwood
Did You Know
"Australian sandalwood has been used for over 4000 years, but its essential oil production only shifted here after stricter Indian export regulations in recent decades."