Glossary

Botanical

Santalum — The genus of true sandalwoods. Around fifteen species, of which three are commercially significant.

Santalum album — Indian or white sandalwood. The most prized species and the reference standard for quality.

Santalum spicatum — Australian sandalwood. A genuine Santalum with lower santalol content and a drier character.

Pterocarpus santalinus — Red sandalwood or red sanders. A different genus entirely, valued for dense red timber rather than aroma.

Amyris balsamifera — A Caribbean tree marketed as “West Indian sandalwood”. Contains no santalols. The most common substitute.

Heartwood — The dense inner wood of a mature tree, where the aromatic compounds accumulate. The only part worth grinding.

Sapwood — The pale outer wood. Nearly free of aromatics.

Chemical

Santalol — The sesquiterpene alcohol that defines sandalwood aroma, present as α-santalol and β-santalol. Its presence is the working test of authenticity.

GC-MS — Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The laboratory method that identifies and quantifies constituents, and the only definitive authenticity test.

Sesquiterpene — A class of plant compound built from three isoprene units. The sandalwood odorants belong to it.

Ritual and traditional

Chandana — Sanskrit for sandalwood, and the root of most Indian names for it.

Srigandha — “Fragrant one.” A Sanskrit name for the tree.

Sweta chandana — White sandalwood; true sandalwood.

Rakta chandana — Red sandalwood; Pterocarpus santalinus.

Gandham — Telugu for the fragrant paste specifically, as distinct from the wood.

Sana stone — Also sahan. The flat abrasive stone on which paste is ground. See choosing a grinding stone.

Tilak — The mark applied to the forehead in worship.

Abhishek — Ceremonial bathing and anointment of an image of a deity.

Śīta vīrya — “Cold in potency.” The Ayurvedic classification that places sandalwood among cooling substances.