Chandan (Sandalwood)

Santalum album
Chandan (Sandalwood), or Santalum album, is a revered aromatic tree in Ayurveda. Its heartwood and oil are widely used for their supposed cooling and calming properties, traditionally believed to balance Vata, Pitta, and Kapha doshas. This highly valued herb is prevalent in traditional medicine, perfumery, and religious ceremonies across South India.
PLANT FAMILY
Santalaceae (Sandalwood)
PARTS USED
Heartwood, Oil, Bark
AYURVEDIC ACTION
Pitta ↓, Kapha ↓, Vata ↓
ACTIVE COMPOUNDS
Santalols (80-90%)

What is Chandan (Sandalwood)?

Chandan, widely recognized as Sandalwood (Santalum album), is a highly valued aromatic tree native to South India and Southeast Asia, belonging to the Santalaceae family. This medium-sized evergreen is renowned for its distinctive, fragrant heartwood, which develops a rich aroma over many years. The tree is a hemi-parasite, meaning it relies on host plants for some of its water and nutrient needs in its early stages of growth.

Its timber is one of the most expensive woods globally, primarily due to the precious essential oil extracted from its heartwood, widely used in perfumery, traditional medicine, and religious ceremonies. The cultivation and harvesting of sandalwood are often strictly regulated due to its endangered status in many regions.

Other Names of Chandan (Sandalwood)

  • Indian Sandalwood
  • White Sandalwood
  • East Indian Sandalwood
  • Chandana

Benefits of Chandan (Sandalwood)

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<h3> Absolute Contraindications of Chandan (Sandalwood)</h3> <h4> Known allergy / previous contact dermatitis to sandalwood or fragrance products [You react with a rash or itching]</h4> <ul> <li>🧴</li> <li>Recommendation: Stop using sandalwood products immediately and avoid perfumes or creams containing sandalwood; see a dermatologist for patch testing if reactions recur.</li> <li>Reasoning: Sandalwood oil and some sandalwood preparations are established contact allergens in certain people; repeated topical exposure can provoke eczematous or urticarial skin reactions.</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Title: Contact allergy to essential oils: current patch test results (2000-2008) from the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology (IVDK).</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Authors: Uter W, Warshaw E, et al.</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20946456/</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Excerpt: <p>Multiple-centre patch-test data over years identified sandalwood oil as one of the essential oils producing measurable positive reactions (≈1.5% in the series studied). The analysis highlighted that positive patch tests to sandalwood were not rare among patients evaluated for fragrance allergy, and that clinical relevance should be assessed by testing patient products when possible. The report recommends testing individual fragrance components and cautions that pure or high-concentration oils are more likely to cause sensitization.</p> </li> </ul> <h4> Application of undiluted sandalwood essential oil to broken/ulcerated skin [You applied neat oil on open wounds]</h4> <ul> <li>⚠️</li> <li>Recommendation: Do not apply undiluted sandalwood essential oil to broken, ulcerated, or raw skin; use only physician-recommended topical formulations or dilute appropriately.</li> <li>Reasoning: Concentrated essential oils more commonly cause irritation or sensitization; clinical reports and reviews link pure oils to occupational or product-related dermatitis when applied at high concentrations or to compromised skin.</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Title: Essential Oils, Part IV: Contact Allergy.</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Authors: Warshaw EM, et al.</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27427818/</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Excerpt: <p>Review data indicate that several essential oils, including sandalwood, are associated with patch-test positive reactions in clinical series. The authors note that reactions are most often caused by application of pure or high-concentration products and emphasize that occupational or intensive exposure (massage therapists, aromatherapists) increases risk. The review recommends patch testing with patients’ own products to determine relevance.</p> </li> </ul> <h4> Use of concentrated/internal sandalwood preparations in infants and very young children [Small children given internal oil/doses]</h4> <ul> <li>🧒</li> <li>Recommendation: Avoid giving sandalwood essential oil or high-concentration internal preparations to infants and young children; consult a pediatrician before any internal or high-dose use.</li> <li>Reasoning: Safety data in children are limited; regulatory reviews and toxicology summaries caution against high-dose internal use in vulnerable populations due to sparse controlled safety data.</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Title: Safety assessment of sandalwood oil (Santalum album L.).</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Authors: Burdock GA, Carabin IG.</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ (search 'Safety assessment of sandalwood oil Burdock Carabin 2008') </li> <li>Scientific_Study_Excerpt: <p>A safety assessment summarizing available toxicity data concluded that sandalwood oil and its major constituents have low acute oral and dermal toxicity in laboratory animals, and a long history of oral use at low levels. However, the authors also note limited overall toxicology datasets for certain uses and recommend cautious use in populations where controlled safety data are lacking (such as infants or when high doses are considered), and to avoid intensive internal use without medical supervision.</p> </li> </ul> <h3> Relative Contraindications of Chandan (Sandalwood)</h3> <h4> Pregnancy / Breastfeeding [Pregnant or nursing]</h4> <ul> <li>🤰</li> <li>Recommendation: Prefer caution - avoid internal or high-concentration topical use during pregnancy and breastfeeding unless advised by a healthcare provider; low-concentration topical use in aromatherapy is often considered with caution by some providers but always consult your caregiver first.</li> <li>Reasoning: Controlled human data in pregnancy are limited. Animal and toxicology summaries show mixed signals at very high doses; clinical trials frequently exclude pregnant or breastfeeding subjects as a precaution.</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Title: Sandalwood album oil as a botanical therapeutic in dermatology.</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Authors: Friedman D, et al.</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29344319/</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Excerpt: <p>The dermatology-oriented review highlights sandalwood album oil’s topical benefits and favorable safety profile in available clinical studies, while noting that many clinical trials exclude pregnant or lactating subjects. Given limited reproductive human safety data, the authors and trial protocols typically recommend avoiding internal use and considering pregnancy as an exclusion in experimental studies, supporting a precautionary approach.</p> </li> </ul> <h4> History of severe asthma or fragrance-triggered respiratory sensitivity [You get wheezy or short of breath around fragrances]</h4> <ul> <li>😮‍💨</li> <li>Recommendation: Use extreme caution or avoid inhalational use (diffusers, concentrated inhalation) - if you have exercise- or fragrance-triggered asthma, discuss with your pulmonologist before use.</li> <li>Reasoning: Essential oils, including sandalwood, are documented triggers for respiratory irritation in sensitive individuals; inhalation can provoke symptoms in some asthma/allergic patients.</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Title: Essential Oil-based applications: allergenic and respiratory considerations (review, PMC).</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Authors: (See review on allergenic effects of essential oils).</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8431140/</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Excerpt: <p>Reviewing allergenic effects of essential oils, the authors list sandalwood among oils reported to cause allergic contact responses and discuss inhalation/dermal exposure-related adverse effects. The paper summarizes occupational and consumer-level reports where essential oils provoked respiratory or dermal reactions in sensitized people; it emphasizes caution for susceptible groups such as those with asthma.</p> </li> </ul>

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<h4> Skin allergy / contact dermatitis</h4> <ul> <li>🧷</li> <li>Side effect summary: Some users develop red, itchy, blistering or scaling rashes where sandalwood oil or high-concentration products were applied.</li> <li>Recommendation: Stop exposure; wash the area; seek dermatology care if widespread or persistent; avoid future use if patch test positive.</li> <li>Reasoning: Clinical patch-test series and reviews show measurable rates of positive reactions to sandalwood oil, especially when pure or high concentration products are used.</li> <li>Severity Level: Moderate</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Available: Yes</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Title: Contact allergy to essential oils: current patch test results (2000-2008) from the IVDK.</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Authors: Uter W, Schnuch A, Geier J, Frosch PJ, et al.</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20946456/</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Excerpt: <p>Large patch-test data identified sandalwood oil among essential oils producing positive reactions (weighted mean ≈1.5% in the series). The authors discuss that pure oils and occupational exposure increase risk and recommend testing with patient products to determine clinical relevance. They highlight frequent co-reactivity and the need for careful diagnosis of fragrance allergy.</p> </li> </ul> <h4> Cellular genotoxicity / cytotoxic effects in laboratory cell models</h4> <ul> <li>🔬</li> <li>Side effect summary: In vitro studies show sandalwood essential oil can cause DNA single- and double-strand breaks and cytotoxicity in certain cancer cell lines at micromolar concentrations.</li> <li>Recommendation: Do not assume systemic/oral use is harmless based on traditional use; patients undergoing cancer therapy should consult their oncologist before using concentrated sandalwood products systemically or adjunctively.</li> <li>Reasoning: Laboratory evidence demonstrates DNA damage and cytotoxicity in cultured tumor cells, indicating bioactivity that could be beneficial (anticancer) or potentially disruptive when combined with other treatments - clinical significance is uncertain but warrants caution.</li> <li>Severity Level: Moderate</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Available: Yes</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Title: Cytotoxicity and Genotoxicity Assessment of Sandalwood Essential Oil in Human Breast Cell Lines MCF-7 and MCF-10A.</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Authors: Paes TS, et al.</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27293457/</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Excerpt: <p>Using GC/MS-characterized sandalwood oil, researchers exposed MCF-7 and MCF-10A cells to low µg/mL concentrations and observed reduced viability and induction of single- and double-strand DNA breaks selectively in MCF-7 cells. Proteomics highlighted changes in DNA-repair and xenobiotic metabolism proteins. Authors concluded that sandalwood oil can be genotoxic in vitro for certain cancer cell lines and that these findings call for careful assessment when considering therapeutic systemic use.</p> </li> </ul> <h4> Mild physiological/sedative effects (relaxation, reduced autonomic arousal)</h4> <ul> <li>😴</li> <li>Side effect summary: Some people experience mild drowsiness, reduced alertness, or a relaxed/floating sensation after topical or inhaled use of sandalwood oil.</li> <li>Recommendation: Avoid driving or operating heavy machinery immediately after large-dose inhalation/topical application if you notice drowsiness; consult clinician if combining with sedative medications.</li> <li>Reasoning: Human physiological assessments show changes in autonomic and behavioral markers consistent with relaxation and reduced physiological arousal after transdermal exposure to α-santalol and sandalwood oil.</li> <li>Severity Level: Mild</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Available: Yes</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Title: Evaluation of the effects of East Indian sandalwood oil and alpha-santalol on humans after transdermal absorption.</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Authors: Okugawa H, Ueda R, Matsumoto K, Kawanishi K, Kato A.</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14765284/</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Excerpt: <p>In controlled human testing preventing olfactory cues, transdermally absorbed α-santalol produced measurable physiological changes interpreted as relaxation/sedation; sandalwood oil produced physiological deactivation while showing behavioral activation. The authors interpreted these findings as modulation of arousal pathways by sandalwood constituents.</p> </li> </ul> <h4> Risk from adulterated or synthetic "sandalwood" materials</h4> <ul> <li>🧪</li> <li>Side effect summary: Some commercial "sandalwood" oils are adulterated or synthetic; unknown synthetic constituents may carry unknown toxicity or allergenicity.</li> <li>Recommendation: Prefer authenticated, GC-MS-characterized Santalum album oils from reputable sources and avoid suspiciously cheap products labeled as "sandalwood." Patch-test new products.</li> <li>Reasoning: Chemical analyses of commercial "sandalwood" preparations revealed many did not meet ISO standards and contained other botanical oils or synthetic fragrance chemicals with poorly characterized safety profiles.</li> <li>Severity Level: Mild-Moderate</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Available: Yes</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Title: A Comparison of the Composition of Selected Commercial Sandalwood Oils with the International Standard.</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Authors: Łoś R, et al.</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33924603/</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Excerpt: <p>GC-MS analysis of six commercial "sandalwood" oils showed none met ISO 3518:2002 α- and β-santalol content criteria; some samples were dominated by non-sandalwood constituents or synthetic aroma chemicals such as javanol and polysantol. The authors warn consumers about misleading labeling and note that toxicological properties of some synthetic replacements are unknown, posing potential safety concerns.</p> </li> </ul>

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<h4> CNS depressant medications (benzodiazepines, sedative antihistamines, some opioids)</h4> <ul> <li>Interaction_Details: Sandalwood (particularly α-santalol) can produce physiological relaxation and mild sedative effects after topical or transdermal exposure; adding this to other CNS depressant drugs could theoretically increase drowsiness or sedation.</li> <li>Severity: Mild</li> <li>Recommendation: If you are on sedative medications, discuss sandalwood use with your prescriber; avoid heavy inhalation or high-dose topical use if you experience added drowsiness.</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Available: Yes</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14765284/</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Title: Evaluation of the effects of East Indian sandalwood oil and alpha-santalol on humans after transdermal absorption.</li> <li>Scientfic_Study_Authors: Okugawa H, Ueda R, Matsumoto K, Kawanishi K, Kato A.</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Excerpt: <p>Human physiological monitoring after transdermal exposure demonstrated that α-santalol produced changes interpreted as physiologic relaxation/sedation (changes in parameters such as pulse, skin conductance, etc.). Because these changes reflect modulation of arousal systems, caution is reasonable when combining sandalwood exposure with other agents that reduce alertness.</p> </li> </ul> <h4> Concurrent chemotherapy / anti-cancer drugs</h4> <ul> <li>Interaction_Details: Preclinical studies show sandalwood constituents (α-santalol) have antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic effects in cancer cell models; this raises the possibility of additive, synergistic or interfering effects with cytotoxic chemotherapy - clinical effects are unknown.</li> <li>Severity: Moderate</li> <li>Recommendation: If you are receiving chemotherapy or cancer-directed therapy, consult your oncologist before using concentrated sandalwood preparations systemically or as an adjunctive treatment.</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Available: Yes</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30061212/</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Title: Alpha-Santalol, a Component of Sandalwood Oil Inhibits Migration of Breast Cancer Cells by Targeting the β-catenin Pathway.</li> <li>Scientfic_Study_Authors: Ghosh R, et al.</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Excerpt: <p>In vitro exposure of breast cancer cell lines to α-santalol reduced migration and affected β-catenin localization and signaling associated with cancer cell motility. While this suggests anti-cancer bioactivity in cell models, clinical implications and interactions with chemotherapeutic agents are untested; therefore clinicians should be consulted prior to combining treatments.</p> </li> </ul> <h4> Drugs where topical absorption or skin barrier integrity matters (topical corticosteroids, immunosuppressants)</h4> <ul> <li>Interaction_Details: Applying potent essential oils to skin that is also treated with topical medicated drugs may alter absorption or local irritation; combined use on the same area can change local tolerability.</li> <li>Severity: Mild</li> <li>Recommendation: Avoid applying neat sandalwood essential oil where potent medicated topical creams are used; separate application sites and check with the prescribing clinician if unsure.</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Available: NA (no direct human drug-interaction study found)</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Link: NA</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Title: NA</li> <li>Scientfic_Study_Authors: NA</li> <li>Scientific_Study_Excerpt: <p>NA</p> </li> </ul>