What are essential oils? Oils which are extracted from flowers, leaves or barks of trees or plants are called essential oils. These oils are used not only for their aroma, but also because they have many medicinal properties. Each essential oil may have its own specific properties such as being anti-spasmodic, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-depressive or aiding in digestion.

Moreover, these essential oils are very concentrated, since they have been distilled, and need to be blended with another carrier oil, for example olive oil, or with a cream or lotion, before they can be used. Essential oils can be applied on the skin (in a cream, oil or lotion base), or you can use a few drops in your bath water, or they can be put in a vaporizer and inhaled aromatherapy.

Another point to be noted is that some essential oils can be blended together to give maximum benefits.

Uses of sandalwood essential oil: Sandalwood essential oil is used in many ways. It is obtained from the bark and wood of the Sandalwood tree which is mostly found in the Asian countries of India and Sri Lanka. The oil is rich, thick and sweetly scented. It is used to make sandalwood soap, bath salts and skin lotions, since its medicinal properties help to treat both dry and oily skin problems. It is especially beneficial in reducing skin irritants such as acne, pimples, rashes and prickly heat.

The sandalwood fragrance oil is also a great favorite for sandalwood aromatherapy. It is not only considered an aphrodisiac, it is also used during meditation. Sandalwood oil is thick and viscous and just a few drops in a vaporizer have remarkable and long-lasting effect. Whether in a vaporizer or applied as a perfume on the skin, it is considered a great mood-lifter, and has been effectively used in treating depression.

It soothes and calms the mind, and releases stress. It also strengthens the immune system. It has also been credited with relieving symptoms and curing urinary tract infections and strep throat.

Sandalwood essential oils can be blended with rose essential oil, vanilla essential oil, patchouli essential oil, and is used with them to relieve menstrual cramps, aid the flow of bile and other digestive juices, to speed up clotting of blood after an injury or surgery, to reduce scars of pimples and acne, and to reduce inflammation and fever.

But it does not blend so well with rosewood essential oil or jasmine essential oil.

Sandalwood essential oil may be quite expensive, but a good quality oil will last a long time and only keep on improving with age. However, watch out for cheap imitations.