Sandalwood
Sandalwood incense: a warm, milky scent from the heartwood of a slow-growing tree.
Three sandalwoods, by where they grew
Laoshan: India
Santalum album, long the benchmark, with Mysore wood the most famous. Sweet, creamy and deep. Now scarce and tightly controlled.
Dimen: Timor and nearby islands
The same species, grown in the islands. Incense lovers often call it lighter and a little sharper than old Indian wood.
Xinshan: Australia
A trade name for newer sources, mainly Australia. Usually Santalum spicatum. Drier and more herbal, with a green edge. Common in everyday incense.
The scent lives in the heart of the tree.
What to look for
Sandalwood smoke is still smoke. Burn it with a window open, never leave it alone, and skip it around asthma, babies or pet birds.
Sandalwood
Hand-picked pieces are on the way.
Good to know
What does sandalwood incense smell like?
Warm, creamy and softly woody, with a faint sweetness. It is gentle rather than sharp, which is why many beginners start here.
Why is real sandalwood so expensive?
The fragrant oil sits in heartwood that takes decades to build, and wild Indian stocks were overharvested. Australian and plantation wood now fills much of the market.
Is red sandalwood the same as sandalwood?
No. Red sandalwood is Pterocarpus santalinus, a dense hardwood prized in China for carving and beads. It is CITES-listed, has almost no scent and does not belong in incense.
