Sandalwood
Sandalwood oil is the volatile oil distilled from the heartwood and roots of Santalum trees, carried by the sesquiterpene alcohols alpha and beta santalol. Its soft, persistent, milky woody odour and its extraordinary fixative power make it a base note in a very large part of fine fragrance, and it is used in incense, in traditional and ayurvedic medicine, in skincare and in the carving trade from which the distillation material is often a byproduct. Species identity governs everything, because Santalum album and Santalum spicatum are different oils at very different prices.
Listed sandalwood markets
Each line is a grade at a delivery point. Open one for its full specification and terms.
Grades
Sandalwood is traded on species, on santalol content and on legal provenance. The chain of custody documentation is as much a part of the deliverable as the oil, because the species are regulated at origin and, in some cases, internationally.
Botanical source and extraction route
14 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Santalum album, Indian or East Indian sandalwoodHeartwood and roots, steam or hydro distilled | The ISO product standard article and the reference for the trade. Now largely plantation grown, including in Australia. |
| Santalum spicatum, Australian sandalwoodHeartwood and roots, distilled | A distinct oil with a lower santalol ceiling and its own market. It is never a substitute delivery against an album contract. |
| Santalum austrocaledonicum, New Caledonian and Vanuatu sandalwoodHeartwood, distilled | A separate article, named on the contract. |
| Santalum paniculatum and Santalum ellipticum, Hawaiian sandalwoodHeartwood, distilled | Separate articles. |
| Santalum yasi, Fijian and Tongan sandalwoodHeartwood, distilled | A separate article. |
| Santalol content declared on the contractPercentage as the sum of alpha and beta santalol, stated as a floor | The commercial term. Ninety percent total santalol is the classical album specification. |
| Plantation or wild originDeclared, with the harvest permit and the chain of custody | A legal term. Wild material moves only with the permits its origin country requires, and CITES listings are checked for the specific species and origin at the time of shipment. |
| Tree age and wood fractionDeclared, with heartwood, sapwood and root separated | Heartwood from a mature tree and root wood distil to different profiles and different yields. |
| Steam distilledDistilled in steam from the named plant part, with the charge and the run time declared | The default route for most essential oils. The cut taken off the still is a contract term, because a first cut and a full run are not the same oil. |
| HydrodistilledDistilled with the material immersed in water | Gives a different profile from steam on the same botanical, so the route is named, never assumed. |
| Supercritical carbon dioxide extractExtracted with carbon dioxide at a stated pressure and temperature | A separate article with its own profile. It is not interchangeable with the distilled oil. |
| Rectified or redistilledFractionated after the first distillation to a stated marker content | Named on the contract, because rectification is what most specification oils are made of. |
| OrganicCertified under the destination market scheme, distilled and stored on dedicated equipment | Named with the certifier and the certificate number. |
| Batch and distillation dateDeclared, with the still and the campaign identified | Essential oils change in the drum. A batch without a date cannot be assessed. |
Physicochemical identity
7 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Relative density at 20 degrees CelsiusRange, by ISO 279 | The first identity check, and the fastest way to catch a carrier oil. |
| Refractive index at 20 degrees CelsiusRange, by ISO 280 | Read on a refractometer at a stated temperature. |
| Optical rotation at 20 degrees CelsiusRange in degrees, by ISO 592 | The term that separates a natural oil from a synthetic reconstruction, because most synthetics are optically inactive. |
| Miscibility in ethanolVolumes of ethanol at a stated strength to give a clear solution, by ISO 875 | Measured, not judged. |
| Acid valueMaximum, by ISO 1242 | Rises with age and with poor storage. It is the ageing indicator the trade reads first. |
| Appearance and colourAgainst a sealed reference sample, or an instrumental scale | Recorded on the certificate for each batch. |
| Flash pointDegrees Celsius, closed cup | A transport classification term as well as a quality one. It travels on the dangerous goods declaration. |
Chromatographic profile
8 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Total santalol, sum of alpha and betaPercentage of total peak area, floor stated | The contract figure. Both isomers are also reported separately. |
| alpha-santalolPercentage of total peak area, range | The dominant constituent of album oil and the principal odour carrier. |
| beta-santalolPercentage of total peak area, range | Odour intensity per unit is higher than alpha, so the ratio matters as much as the sum. |
| epi-beta-santalolPercentage of total peak area, range | Named in the product standard. |
| alpha-bergamotol and epi-alpha-bisabololPercentage of total peak area, range | Reported. |
| FarnesolPercentage of total peak area, range | Reported. |
| SantalenesPercentage of total peak area, range | The hydrocarbon fraction, reported. |
| Full profile against the reference batchEvery peak accounted for | The santalene and santalol pattern is the species fingerprint. It is how a spicatum lot in an album drum is found. |
Authenticity and adulteration
10 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Amyris, cedarwood and gurjun additionNil, declared | Cheap woody oils used to extend sandalwood. Read on the full sesquiterpene profile. |
| Synthetic sandalwood aroma chemicalsNil, declared | Sandalore, javanol and their relatives. They are legitimate materials in their own right and they are never delivered against a natural contract. |
| Species substitutionNil, declared | The single largest fraud in the article. Confirmed on the chromatographic fingerprint, and where contracted, on wood identification before distillation. |
| Legal provenance fileComplete, declared | Harvest permit, transport permit, export permit and, where the species and origin require it, the CITES documentation. An oil without the file is not deliverable regardless of its analysis. |
| Full chromatogram against a reference profileEvery peak accounted for, with the reference batch named | The whole trace is the specification, not the two or three headline markers. Adulteration hides in the peaks nobody contracted. |
| Enantiomeric ratio, chiral gas chromatographyRatio of the optical isomers of the named marker compounds | The definitive test for synthetic addition. A nature identical molecule is still the wrong molecule at the isomer level. |
| Stable isotope ratio analysisCarbon and hydrogen isotope ratios, by mass spectrometry | Detects synthetic and non plant carbon sources. Contracted where the value of the oil justifies it. |
| Added carrier and diluentNil, declared | Vegetable oil, dipropylene glycol, benzyl benzoate, isopropyl myristate and ethanol. Tested for, because the density alone will not catch a small addition. |
| Cross species and cross grade blendingNil, declared | Cheaper related species blended into a premium oil. Detected on the full profile. |
| ReconstitutionNil, declared | Oil rebuilt from isolates to hit a marker specification. It will pass a marker test and fail a full profile. |
Contaminants, safety and regulatory
8 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Peroxide valueMaximum | Oxidation is the main quality loss in transit and in store. It is also what turns a benign oil into a sensitiser. |
| Pesticide residuesMilligrams per kilogram, against the destination market limits | Distillation concentrates lipophilic residues, so the limit is applied to the oil and not to the crop. |
| Heavy metalsMilligrams per kilogram | Lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury. |
| Phthalates and plasticisersMilligrams per kilogram | Picked up from drums, liners and hoses rather than from the plant. |
| Residual solventMilligrams per kilogram, where the article is an extract or an absolute | Nil for distilled oils, and a stated limit for extracts. |
| Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbonsMicrograms per kilogram | Comes from direct fire stills and from smoke contact at origin. |
| Allergen declarationPercentage of each declarable fragrance allergen present | Required for cosmetic use in most destination markets. It is calculated from the chromatogram and it travels with the batch. |
| Safety data sheet and transport classificationIssued for the batch, with the UN number and packing group | A shipping document and a compliance document at once. |
Certification, documentation and packing
9 grades
| Grade | Definition |
|---|---|
| Chain of custody certificationCertificate, with the plantation or concession identified | Named scheme and named plantation, traceable from tree to drum. |
| OrganicCertificate under the destination market scheme | EU, NOP, JAS or an equivalence arrangement, named with the certifier and the certificate number. |
| Fair trade or community benefit schemeCertificate and transaction certificate | Named scheme, with the transaction certificate issued against the specific batch. |
| Kosher and HalalCertificate from the named authority | Travels with the batch. |
| Cosmetic and food grade documentationSpecification, safety data sheet, allergen statement and IFRA conformity certificate | The document set is part of the goods. An oil delivered without it is not deliverable. |
| Non GMO and vegan declarationsDeclaration | Issued where the destination market or the customer requires it. |
| PackingDeclared: aluminium, epoxy phenolic lined steel or high density polyethylene, with the drum size and the net weight | The container is a specification term. Bare steel and unlined plastic will both change the oil. |
| Headspace and inert blanketingDeclared, with the gas and the fill level | Nitrogen blanketing and a full drum are how an oil holds its acid value and its peroxide value across a voyage. |
| Storage and transit temperatureDeclared, with the range and the monitoring method | Cool and dark, evidenced. Where the contract is silent, an arrival dispute over oxidation cannot be settled. |
Grades outside this list trade on request. Send us the contract specification you work to and we will price against it.
Locations
| Country | Region | We trade it as |
|---|---|---|
| India | Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh | Origin and destination |
| Australia | Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland | Origin and destination |
| Indonesia | East Nusa Tenggara, Timor, Sumba | Origin and destination |
| Sri Lanka | Central, Uva | Origin and destination |
| Vanuatu | Espiritu Santo, Malekula | Origin and destination |
| New Caledonia | Loyalty Islands | Origin and destination |
| Fiji | Vanua Levu, Kadavu | Origin and destination |
| Tonga | Vavau | Origin and destination |
| Papua New Guinea | Western, Central | Origin and destination |
| Timor-Leste | Nationwide | Origin and destination |
| Solomon Islands | Makira, Guadalcanal | Origin and destination |
| Hawaii, United States | Hawaii | Origin and destination |
| Nepal | Terai | Origin and destination |
| Pakistan | Punjab | Origin and destination |
| China | Guangdong, Hainan, Yunnan | Origin and destination |
| Malaysia | Peninsular | Origin and destination |
| France | Grasse | Destination |
| Switzerland | Nationwide | Destination |
| Germany | Nationwide | Destination |
| United Kingdom | Nationwide | Destination |
| Netherlands | Nationwide | Destination |
| Spain | Nationwide | Destination |
| Italy | Nationwide | Destination |
| Japan | Nationwide | Destination |
| South Korea | Nationwide | Destination |
| Taiwan | Nationwide | Destination |
| Singapore | Nationwide | Destination |
| United Arab Emirates | Dubai | Destination |
| Saudi Arabia | Nationwide | Destination |
| Qatar | Doha | Destination |
| Oman | Muscat | Destination |
| Turkiye | Nationwide | Destination |
| Brazil | Sao Paulo | Destination |
| Canada | Nationwide | Destination |
| Thailand | Nationwide | Destination |
Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown here.
Timing
Harvest is when the plant material is cut at origin. Arrival is when a shipment from that origin typically lands in a consuming market. The gap between them is distillation, settling, batch testing and the voyage.
HarvestArrival
| Origin | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest Jan to Dec, arrival Jan to DecHarvest is by permit and by tree, not by season. Availability follows auction and permit cycles rather than a calendar, so the contract names the lot. |
| Australia | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Apr to Oct, arrival Jun to DecPlantation and rangeland harvest concentrated in the dry season, when the country is trafficable. The most transparent and most contractable supply in the article. | |||
| Indonesia | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest May to Oct, arrival Aug to JanDry season harvest under provincial permit. | |||
| Vanuatu | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest May to Oct, arrival Aug to JanDry season cutting, quota managed, distilled in country where the licence requires it. | |||
| Fiji | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest May to Oct, arrival Aug to JanDry season, quota managed. | |||
| New Caledonia | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest May to Sep, arrival Aug to DecDry season, tightly quota managed. | ||||
| Sri Lanka | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Jan to Sep, arrival Apr to DecPermit driven, harvested in the drier windows. |
| Papua New Guinea | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest May to Oct, arrival Aug to JanDry season cutting, consolidated for export. | |||
| Timor-Leste | Arrival | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest Jun to Oct, arrival Sep to JanDry season, small volume under national controls. | ||||
| Tonga | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest | Harvest and arrival | Harvest and arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Arrival | Harvest May to Sep, arrival Aug to DecDry season, plantation and replanting programmes. |
Windows outside this pattern trade on request, including carry, forward positions and stock already sitting in a destination warehouse.
Customs, packing and contract terms
Indicative terms for sandalwood. Tariff classification is the importer’s responsibility and limits change, so confirm both against the destination customs authority and the current regulation before you fix a contract.
- HS heading3301.29 Essential oils, other, including sandalwood oil
4403.99 Sandalwood in the rough, where billets and chips move as wood - PackingEpoxy lined steel drums of 180 kg to 190 kg, aluminium drums or bottles for reactive oils, IBCs for volume grades. Full headspace nitrogen blanket, out of direct sun, away from heat.
- Container loading20ft: 80 drums at roughly 14 t to 15 t. Segregation applies where the oil is classified flammable.
- Contract and arbitrationSale on specification and retained sample with a GC-MS profile and an IFRA conformity certificate. EFEO and IFEAT trade customs. Arbitration under ICC rules or at the contract seat.
- Destination limitsSantalum album is CITES listed in India and several other range states, so a CITES export permit is required where the source population is listed. IFRA Standards restrict the oil in fragrance, EU REACH registration applies above one tonne per year, and origin and species must be evidenced by GC-MS profile against the declared botanical source.
Common questions
What grades of sandalwood does SIP Global trade?
We quote 56 published grades of sandalwood, including Santalum album, Indian or East Indian sandalwood - Heartwood and roots, steam or hydro distilled, Santalum spicatum, Australian sandalwood - Heartwood and roots, distilled, Santalum austrocaledonicum, New Caledonian and Vanuatu sandalwood - Heartwood, distilled, Santalum paniculatum and Santalum ellipticum, Hawaiian sandalwood - Heartwood, distilled, Santalum yasi, Fijian and Tongan sandalwood - Heartwood, distilled and Santalol content declared on the contract - Percentage as the sum of alpha and beta santalol, stated as a floor. Every grade is tied to a delivery point and a settlement route. Grades outside the published list are priced on request.
How is sandalwood graded?
Sandalwood is traded on species, on santalol content and on legal provenance. The chain of custody documentation is as much a part of the deliverable as the oil, because the species are regulated at origin and, in some cases, internationally. Grading runs on 6 systems: Botanical source and extraction route, Physicochemical identity, Chromatographic profile, Authenticity and adulteration, Contaminants, safety and regulatory and Certification, documentation and packing.
Where does SIP Global trade sandalwood?
We trade sandalwood in India, Australia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Fiji and Tonga and 27 further markets. Origins and destinations outside this list trade on request. We are not limited to the locations shown.
When is sandalwood harvested and when does it arrive?
Typical windows are India: harvest jan to dec, arrival jan to dec; Australia: harvest apr to oct, arrival jun to dec; Indonesia: harvest may to oct, arrival aug to jan; Vanuatu: harvest may to oct, arrival aug to jan; Fiji: harvest may to oct, arrival aug to jan. Harvest is when the lot is taken at origin, arrival is when a shipment from that origin lands in a consuming market. Windows outside this pattern, including carry, trade on request.
What is the HS code for sandalwood?
Sandalwood is normally classified under HS 3301.29 (essential oils, other, including sandalwood oil) and HS 4403.99 (sandalwood in the rough, where billets and chips move as wood). The heading follows the form the goods are in at the border, and national tariffs extend it beyond six digits, so confirm the full line with the destination customs authority before you fix a contract.
How do I get a price for sandalwood?
Send the grade, the origin and the delivery window to the SIP Global desk. That is enough for a trader to come back with a level and a settlement route. 1 listed sandalwood market is published on this page, each with its full specification and terms. We take both sides, physical and financial, prompt to long dated.
Standards and data sources
The grading language on this sheet follows published standards. Trade volumes and tariff lines are public record. Verify anything here against the source.
- ISOInternational Organization for Standardization
- CITESConvention on International Trade in Endangered Species
- UN ComtradeOfficial international trade statistics by HS code
- ITC Trade MapBilateral trade flows and tariff data
- FAOSTATFAO production and trade series for agricultural commodities
Price this with our desk
Grade, origin and window if you have them. If what you are carrying does not fit the sheet above, describe it in your own words and a trader will take it from there.