Storing sandalwood paste
Freshly ground sandalwood paste has no preservative and should be used the same day. Refrigerated in a sealed container it may last two to three days; paste made with milk spoils within hours. Store the dry powder or billet instead, which keep for years.
The short answer is that you should not store paste. You should store the material it is made from, and grind what you need.
Keeping times
| Form | Keeps | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Paste, water-based | Same day | Up to 2–3 days sealed and refrigerated, with aroma loss |
| Paste, rose water | 1–2 days | Refrigerated. Rose water’s preservatives help slightly |
| Paste, milk-based | Hours | Do not keep. Discard the same session |
| Powder | 1–2 years | Airtight, cool, dark |
| Billet | Decades | Dry, shaded, not sealed while damp |
The aroma compounds are volatile. Every day of storage costs some of what you ground the wood for in the first place.
Storing the wood
Keep billets dry and out of direct sun, ideally in a cloth bag or an unsealed box. Airtight plastic traps residual moisture against the wood and can encourage mould on the surface. Wood stored properly does not deteriorate; long-seasoned sandalwood is generally considered better than fresh.
Related
- How to make sandalwood paste
- Making paste from powder — grind small, fresh quantities instead of storing
Common questions
- How long does homemade sandalwood paste last?
- Treat it as same-day. Refrigerated and sealed, water-based paste may be usable for two or three days, but it loses aroma quickly and provides a good medium for microbial growth. Milk-based paste should never be kept.
- How should I store the wood itself?
- Dry, out of direct sunlight, and not sealed in plastic while damp. A billet stored sensibly is good for decades and its aroma improves rather than fades.
- Does sandalwood powder expire?
- It does not spoil, but it does fade. Kept airtight and away from heat and light, good powder holds usable aroma for a year or two. Warmth and air are what cost you.
Sources
- Whispers of the sacred wood: a comprehensive review of Santalum albumdzarc.comCited for: Volatile constituents and their behaviour on storage.