Making sandalwood paste from powder
Mix sandalwood powder with liquid at roughly two parts powder to one part liquid by volume, adding the liquid gradually. Let it stand two to three minutes, because the powder keeps absorbing after it looks mixed. Use water for ritual work, rose water or milk for skin.
Paste made from powder is not the same material as paste ground on a stone — it is drier, grainier and less aromatic — but it takes two minutes instead of twenty, and for a face mask the difference rarely matters.
Starting ratios
| Use | Powder : liquid | Per 10 g powder | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spot application | 2.5 : 1 | 4 ml | Thick, holds its shape |
| Face mask | 2 : 1 | 5 ml | Spreadable, does not run |
| Tilak | 1.5 : 1 | 6.5 ml | Smooth and fluid |
By volume. Milk needs slightly more than water for the same consistency; rose water behaves almost identically to water.
Work out your liquid
Ratios are a starting point. Sandalwood powder keeps absorbing for two or three minutes after it looks mixed, so under-add and wait.
Method
- Put the powder in the bowl first. Adding powder to liquid produces lumps that are difficult to break up.
- Add about two thirds of the liquid and work it against the side of the bowl with the back of a spoon, pressing rather than stirring.
- Wait two to three minutes. This is the step everyone skips. Sandalwood powder continues absorbing well after it looks combined, and paste that seemed right will often have stiffened noticeably.
- Bring it to consistency with the remaining liquid, a few drops at a time.
Choosing the liquid
Water is traditional, neutral, and the only correct choice for ritual use.
Rose water is a common substitution for skin use. It smells good and is mildly astringent. Note that it introduces preservatives and a second possible allergen, which matters if you are patch testing.
Milk is used in some ritual and skin traditions. It makes a softer, richer paste that spoils within hours and should never be kept.
Related
- Grinding from a stick or billet — the traditional method
- How to make sandalwood paste — both methods compared
Common questions
- What is the ratio of sandalwood powder to water?
- About two parts powder to one part water by volume as a starting point, which is roughly 0.5 ml of liquid per gram of powder. Thicker for spot application, looser for tilak. Add liquid gradually rather than all at once.
- Rose water or plain water?
- Plain water is traditional and is what ritual use calls for. Rose water is a reasonable substitution for skin use and many people prefer the smell, but it adds preservatives and a second potential allergen. Neither makes the paste work better.
- Why does my paste go watery after a few minutes?
- It usually goes the other way. If it is thinning, the powder is likely heavily cut with a filler that does not absorb. Real sandalwood powder stiffens as it stands.
Sources
- Whispers of the sacred wood: a comprehensive review of Santalum albumdzarc.comCited for: Composition and behaviour of milled sandalwood heartwood.