soft, creamy and warm, sandalwood is the quiet base under many of our scents.
what it smells like
- creamy: smooth and almost milky, without the sharpness of fresh-cut timber
- warm: a gentle woody warmth, closer to skin than to a forest
- soft: it sits low in a room rather than filling it fast
- long lasting: a base note, so it stays after the brighter notes fade
where sandalwood comes from
- the tree: slow-growing santalum trees, valued for their fragrant heartwood
- indian sandalwood: santalum album, the classic rich, creamy style
- australian sandalwood: santalum spicatum from western australia, a little drier and greener
- in perfumery today: the wood is scarce, so perfumers blend natural and nature-equivalent materials to build the note
why we use australian sandalwood
- from home: we're an australian brand, so our sandalwood comes from a regulated harvest in western australia
- worth paying for: australian sandalwood costs us more, and we're happy to pay it
- old trees left standing: wild indian sandalwood has been over-harvested for decades, often from old-growth trees
- a choice we stand behind: a sandalwood tree takes decades to mature, so we'd rather not take from the oldest ones
sandalwood vs cedarwood
- sandalwood: creamy, soft and round
- cedarwood: dry and sharp, a bit like pencil shavings
- together: cedar adds lift and sandalwood adds depth, which is why santal woods uses both
kirri scents with sandalwood
- santal woods: australian sandalwood, cedar, cardamom, papyrus, violet, iris and amber. woody, strength 3/5
- country linen: sandalwood, honey and tonka bean under lemon, peach, rose and jasmine. floral, strength 4/5
where to use it
- living room: a reed diffuser, or an element on low, keeps a soft warmth in the background
- study: woody scents give a calm, grounded feel to a room you work in
- cooler months: sandalwood suits autumn and winter, when you want something warmer
- not sure yet: try a 2ml sample before you choose a full size
read next
- meet rené morgenthaler: the swiss master perfumer behind kirri's scents
- fragrance families explained: where woody sits next to floral, fresh and amber
not sure which scent? the discovery kit has a 2ml sample of each iconic scent, so you can try them all at home.
