Sandalwood at a glance
The Sandalwood note appears across 2,142 published fragrances in our catalog. Use this page to compare how different brands work with Sandalwood within the woody family.
- Note family
- Woody
- Published fragrances
- 2,142
- Frequent brands on this page
- Tom Ford, Aaron Terence Hughes, Guerlain
- Common concentrations
- Extrait, Body Mist, Parfum
Notable Sandalwood Fragrances
- 1
Samsara Eau de Parfum gives sandalwood a floral setting of jasmine and ylang-ylang, with iris, tonka and vanilla. Choose it for a rounded floral-wood composition.
- 2
Tam Dao Eau de Parfum places creamy sandalwood beside cedar, cypress
- 3
Santal Majuscule sets sandalwood against bitter cacao for a warm, powdery effect. It explores the darker, cocoa-like side of a creamy wood accord.
- 4
Égoïste Eau de Toilette surrounds sandalwood with spiced citrus, rose, vanilla and ambrette. It shows how the note works inside an ambery composition with a distinct rose heart.
- 5
Santal Blanc pairs sandalwood with fig milk and soft musks. This is the creamier, fruit-tinged interpretation beside Tam Dao’s drier wood-and-spice frame.
- 6
Santal Royal places creamy sandalwood in a darker setting of rose, leather and oud notes. It suits an interest in blended
Pairs With
- Cedar
Cedar gives creamy sandalwood a drier, pencil-wood contrast.
- Vanilla
Vanilla brings sweetness to sandalwood’s milky impression.
- Damask Rose
Rose adds petal softness and a floral center to the wood.
- Oud
Oud-style darkness can introduce smoky or leathery edges around sandalwood.
- Tonka Bean
Tonka adds dry sweetness and an almond-like, powdery facet.
Forms of Sandalwood
About Sandalwood
+−
Natural sandalwood oil is distilled from aromatic wood. Santalum album is associated with a creamy, sweet woody profile; the Australian species Santalum spicatum has its own greener and sometimes smokier facets. These are useful tendencies, not a quality ranking.
Names of species and places need care. Quintis grows Santalum album in Australia, so “Australian-grown” does not necessarily mean Santalum spicatum. Extraction and the other ingredients in a perfume also shape what you smell.
A sandalwood note may combine natural oil with sandalwood-smelling aroma materials. To choose a fragrance, compare whether its wood is exposed and dry, softened with flowers, or surrounded by sweet amber. The selections below show those differences without treating a note list as a formula.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is sandalwood perfume natural?+−
A sandalwood note can come from natural oils, aroma materials or a combination. The note name alone does not establish the source or the proportion of natural oil.
What is the difference between Indian and Australian sandalwood?+−
Those names often refer to Santalum album and Santalum spicatum respectively, two different species. Santalum album is also grown in Australia, so the country of cultivation and the species should be checked separately.
Does sandalwood smell like cedar?+−
Both smell woody, but sandalwood commonly suggests creaminess and gentle sweetness, while cedar often suggests drier wood or pencil shavings. A perfume can combine the two.
Does sandalwood always smell sweet?+−
No. Its woody character can be relatively dry. Vanilla, tonka or amber can increase the sweetness of a sandalwood composition; spice and other woods can emphasize dryness instead.
