Australian Sandalwood Essential Oil

Australian Sandalwood (Santalum spicatum) is a sandalwood species native to Australia, naturally occurring across the dry and semi-arid landscapes of Western and South Australia. Unlike Indian Sandalwood (Santalum album), it is not an introduced species, but a tree that has long belonged to the Australian landscape.

Slow-growing and taking many years to develop its aromatic heartwood, Australian sandalwood is a resource that requires particular care. After nearly two centuries of commercial harvesting, pressure on wild populations has made responsible management and traceability increasingly important.

Together with our distilling partner in Western Australia, areme works with wild-growing sandalwood sourced from Crown land under the state’s regulated harvesting system. Legally harvested, responsibly managed wood is carefully selected and steam-distilled locally, with internationally recognised environmental management and chain-of-custody certification supporting its traceability. 

Australian sandalwood essential oil scent is centered around dry, soft woody notes, complemented by a gentle balsamic sweetness and subtle floral warmth. Compared with the rich, creamy character often associated with Indian sandalwood, Australian sandalwood essential oil feels lighter, drier and more refined, while still retaining the soft warmth and depth characteristic of sandalwood.