Ceylonese sandalwood smells like warm, creamy butter melting into soft wood shavings—imagine walking into a carpentry workshop on a humid afternoon. There's a subtle sweetness, almost milky, paired with a smooth, velvety texture that feels almost tactile on your nose. Unlike harsher woods, it's gentle and powdery, with whispers of vanilla and coconut lingering beneath. It's comforting without being cloying—the scent equivalent of cashmere against skin.
Native to Sri Lanka (Ceylon), this precious wood comes from the Santalum album tree, harvested sustainably from mature trees over 40 years old. The oil is extracted through steam distillation of the heartwood, releasing its complex aromatic compounds. Historically prized in Ayurvedic medicine and religious rituals, authentic Ceylonese sandalwood has become increasingly rare and expensive, driving modern perfumers towards sustainable cultivation and synthetic alternatives like iso E super and Polysantol.
Perfumers employ this as a luxurious base note, providing warmth and longevity to compositions. It acts as a creamy anchor, softening sharper top notes and enriching florals. Its gentle nature allows it to support rather than dominate, making it ideal for sophisticated, timeless fragrances that whisper rather than shout.
Surprising harmonies
Dior
Abel
XerJoff
Tom Ford
Kayali
Penhaligon's
Penhaligon's
XerJoff
XerJoff