How long does a sandalwood tree take to mature?

Meaningful heartwood takes roughly fifteen to thirty years to form, and the finest material comes from older trees still. This is the fundamental economic fact about sandalwood — supply cannot respond quickly to demand.

Why is sandalwood so expensive?

Decades to maturity, a harvest that kills the tree because the roots are part of the yield, sustained overharvesting that depleted wild stands, and tight legal controls on what can be cut and exported.

Is sandalwood endangered?

Status varies by species. Wild Santalum album populations have been heavily depleted and are legally protected in India. Red sandalwood, a different genus, is listed on CITES Appendix II. Plantation-grown sandalwood is an increasing share of legal supply.

The wood itself

True sandalwoods are trees of the genus Santalum, of which Santalum album is the most prized. The aromatic compounds sit in the heartwood and roots of mature trees, take decades to accumulate, and are dominated by α- and β-santalol. Scarcity, slow growth and regulation explain the price.

By Ramin FakherUpdated 18 August 2026

Sandalwood is not one tree. The genus Santalum contains more than a dozen species with meaningfully different chemistry, and several unrelated trees are sold under the same name.

The species that matter

Species	Common name	Origin	Character
Santalum album	Indian / white sandalwood	Southern India, Indonesia, northern Australia	The reference standard. Highest santalol content, creamy and complex.
Santalum spicatum	Australian sandalwood	Western and southern Australia	Genuine Santalum, lower santalol. Drier and more linear.
Santalum austrocaledonicum	Pacific sandalwood	Vanuatu, New Caledonia	Close to Indian in character; warm and buttery.
Pterocarpus santalinus	Red sandalwood, rakta chandana	Eastern Ghats, India	Not a sandalwood. Dense red timber, essentially odourless, CITES listed.

Only the first three are true sandalwoods. The fourth is a genuine and valued material sold under a name that causes endless confusion.

Where the fragrance sits

Only the heartwood and roots carry the aromatic compounds. The pale sapwood surrounding them carries almost none, which is why a billet’s colour and density tell you so much, and why sandalwood is harvested by uprooting rather than felling — the roots are among the richest material on the tree.

In this section

How to tell real sandalwood from what is sold as it

Common questions

How long does a sandalwood tree take to mature?: Meaningful heartwood takes roughly fifteen to thirty years to form, and the finest material comes from older trees still. This is the fundamental economic fact about sandalwood — supply cannot respond quickly to demand.
Why is sandalwood so expensive?: Decades to maturity, a harvest that kills the tree because the roots are part of the yield, sustained overharvesting that depleted wild stands, and tight legal controls on what can be cut and exported.
Is sandalwood endangered?: Status varies by species. Wild Santalum album populations have been heavily depleted and are legally protected in India. Red sandalwood, a different genus, is listed on CITES Appendix II. Plantation-grown sandalwood is an increasing share of legal supply.

Sources

Australian vs Indian Sandalwood: What's the Difference?quintis.com.auCited for: Comparison of Santalum album and Santalum spicatum.
Whispers of the sacred wood: a comprehensive review of Santalum albumdzarc.comCited for: Botany, heartwood formation and constituents.