Must have sandalwood!
August 3, 2014 12:33 PM Subscribe
I've always loved sandalwood and would like to make my home smell of it but don't know how. Simmering sandalwood chips in a Little Dipper (aka tiny crockpot) had meh results. An Etsy seller has some nice potpourri that's great for small spaces but isn't strong enough for the whole house. What has worked best, so far, is the sandalwood fragrance oil for my Lampe Berger but, sadly, not even the sketchy seller in Singapore still carries it and the replacement fragrance (Winterwood) just doesn't cut it for me. So, can I make my own Lampe Berger oil, or is there another method I can use to suffuse my house with the lovely smell of sandalwood?
Are there any Indian stores nearby? You can get Mysore sandalwood soap and sandalwood incense there. A bar of the soap left in a clothing drawer will have everything in that drawer smelling of sandalwood in a week or so.
posted by Runes at 1:01 PM on August 3, 2014 [5 favorites]
posted by Runes at 1:01 PM on August 3, 2014 [5 favorites]
Some sandalwood essential oil and an oil aromatherapy diffuser would do this well. My entire house smells like cloves right now thanks to mine.
posted by sockermom at 1:06 PM on August 3, 2014
posted by sockermom at 1:06 PM on August 3, 2014
High quality Japanese incense is amazing. I love Nippon Kodo's sandalwood and it really diffuses through the house.
As an aside, thank you so much for reminding me of it. My wife dislikes incense generally, but she's out of town, so I can fog up the kitchen all I want. ^_^
posted by mindsound at 1:15 PM on August 3, 2014 [4 favorites]
As an aside, thank you so much for reminding me of it. My wife dislikes incense generally, but she's out of town, so I can fog up the kitchen all I want. ^_^
posted by mindsound at 1:15 PM on August 3, 2014 [4 favorites]
Came here to suggest the Nippon Kodo sandalwood incenses. They're truly lovely.
posted by Lemmy Caution at 1:17 PM on August 3, 2014
posted by Lemmy Caution at 1:17 PM on August 3, 2014
I know I'm going to sound like a scold, but do bear in mind that sandalwood is under pressure right now. Maybe not quite elephant ivory or rhino tusk pressure, and there is mixed news from Australia, but by and large, it may be better karma to leave it alone for the time being. Until supply catches up with demand.
posted by IndigoJones at 1:35 PM on August 3, 2014 [8 favorites]
posted by IndigoJones at 1:35 PM on August 3, 2014 [8 favorites]
Another amazing sandalwood incense is Fred Soll. Don't skimp and get cheap incense, you'll be sad.
posted by Specklet at 1:36 PM on August 3, 2014
posted by Specklet at 1:36 PM on August 3, 2014
Natural: essential oil (expensive!) Synthetic: fragrance oil.
Both are great options.
Try cosmetic supply stores online like Natures Garden Candles, Bulk Apothecary, etc. I wouldn't bother with Young Living or DoTerra, super expensive and the quality isn't what they claim it to be - they made up their own certifications.
posted by Neekee at 4:51 PM on August 3, 2014
Both are great options.
Try cosmetic supply stores online like Natures Garden Candles, Bulk Apothecary, etc. I wouldn't bother with Young Living or DoTerra, super expensive and the quality isn't what they claim it to be - they made up their own certifications.
posted by Neekee at 4:51 PM on August 3, 2014
If you're willing to get something this pricey, buy a bottle of Le Labo Santal 33 laundry detergent from Luckyscent and wash your undies and PJs in it. Pure luxury for the sandalwood lover.
posted by matildaben at 7:01 PM on August 3, 2014
posted by matildaben at 7:01 PM on August 3, 2014
I adore sandalwood too and have some essential oil and perfume leftover from when it wasn't quite so critically endangered. I feel quite conflicted about continuing to use sandalwood products of unclear origin.
Seems like there's been a lot of success with synthetic sandalwood fragrances, and it's not clear how much widely-available sandalwood-flavoured things are from the real stuff and how much is synthetic. But if it matters to you, it seems likely that anything listing santalum album as an ingredient is the endangered sort. Not everything will list ingredients though!
I find sandalwood incense works pretty well for making the house smell nice. If you can find any scented candles, they work even better and are less irritating if you are prone to being irritated by smoke. Sandalwood soap is also lovely. But I find that the more sandalwood I use, the less I notice it because I just get used to the smell. Might be better to keep it as a special thing rather than a constant.
posted by Athanassiel at 7:46 PM on August 3, 2014 [1 favorite]
Seems like there's been a lot of success with synthetic sandalwood fragrances, and it's not clear how much widely-available sandalwood-flavoured things are from the real stuff and how much is synthetic. But if it matters to you, it seems likely that anything listing santalum album as an ingredient is the endangered sort. Not everything will list ingredients though!
I find sandalwood incense works pretty well for making the house smell nice. If you can find any scented candles, they work even better and are less irritating if you are prone to being irritated by smoke. Sandalwood soap is also lovely. But I find that the more sandalwood I use, the less I notice it because I just get used to the smell. Might be better to keep it as a special thing rather than a constant.
posted by Athanassiel at 7:46 PM on August 3, 2014 [1 favorite]
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