Sandalwood: Scented, Soothing and Suave
Sandalwood is a type of scented wood from a certain tree family and is well-known for its ability to retain its smell for decades. The second most expensive wood in the world, sandalwood oil has numerous beneficial properties for humans and is used in a whole range of skincare, grooming and essential oil products. When you understand the science behind it all, you’ll soon understand why.
Sandalwood oil is extracted from trees using a steaming process on matured trees that are between 40-80 years’ old. The richness of both the smell and the properties of the oil is down to this maturity – like a fine wine, it just gets better with age.
Despite the popular misconception that antiseptics need to smell sharp and unwelcoming (think medicine cupboard), sandalwood is a natural antiseptic and can be used internally and externally when pure. This is ideal for skin, particularly on the face, that can be prone to small wounds and pimples; protecting the skin from developing them in the first place as well as blocking any infection. As an anti-inflammatory, it also helps soothe redness and soreness, making it perfect to include as an ingredient in shaving products.
Alongside this, sandalwood is also a naturally occurring gentle antispasmodic (helping ease spasms, aches and cramps), cicatrisant (soothing to scars and spots) and mild expectorant (encouraging the immune system to fight infections). All this, and it smells fantastic… it really is no surprise that so many companies are choosing to include it within their skincare, medicine and fragrance products.
Here at The Grooming Clinic we have a whole host of sandalwood products and we review the best right here.
Plant Apothecary’s Get It On Body Wash - £20.00
Combining sandalwood with cedar and gingers oils, this body wash from Plant Apothecary is perfect for both waking you up first thing in the morning and for preparing you for any evening occasion. The ginger oil included gives aphrodisiac qualities as it warms the body and improves circulation. Some countries and cultures around the world apply ginger topically to boost ‘performance’… but whether or not you choose to do that with this body wash is, of course, completely up to you!
Get It On Body Wash packs a punch but is minimalist on the ingredients list with just 9 listed and no sulphates, parabens or silicones – making it ideal for even the most sensitive of skin. To benefit best from this body wash, you should massage it into the skin and then wait 60 seconds until rinsing; to best be sure that the oils have entered through your skin and that you feel the full benefits as a result.
Geo F Trumper’s Sandalwood Cologne - £78.00
The ultimate sandalwood cologne, Geo F Trumper have really pulled it out of the bag with this one. A masterpiece, this fragrance is long-lasting and keeps its rich woody scent for hours. Mixed with notes of jasmine, leather, lemon, musk, amber and bergamot, this cologne is completely unique and almost spiced in its aroma. There’s nothing quite like it and cheap imitations aren’t a patch on it.
The smell matures throughout the day as your skin warms up and won’t budge until you wash it off. It’s not too overpowering and so works for both daytime every-day wear and evening events. Your £78 buys you a 100ml bottle so there’s great bang for your buck because it lasts so long.
D R Harris’ Sandalwood Alcohol-Free Deodorant - £13.50
For a more wearable all-day sandalwood scent, D R Harris’ Sandalwood Alcohol-Free Deodorant is the perfect product. An anti-perspirant in a clear, glide-on stick, it won’t leave any marks on your clothes and so can be applied in a hurry as and when required. The masculine, woody scent sticks around all day for the ultimate in freshness.
Many deodorants contain alcohol as standard now (in the form of ethanol), as it acts as a preservative for the other ingredients, but it can be bad news for your underarm skin: drying it out causing further harsh irritation if its already sensitive. D R Harris have done away with the alcohol and instead rely on the oil’s naturally occurring properties to freshen the armpits, block and fragrance perspiration, and preserve the product.
Castle Forbes’ Cedarwood and Sandalwood Essential Oil Shave Cream - £22.50
This Essential Oil Shave Cream is exceptionally concentrated, so only a tiny amount is required for a creamy and smooth shaving experience. Manufacturer in the Private Perfumery of the Castle Forbes estate in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, this is a luxurious shave cream that staves off all other competition.
Cedarwood and sandalwood make for a great blend as both are masculine, woody scents and both have a whole host of benefits for the skin. Cedarwood oil is fantastic at soothing and, in some cases, soothing, eczema and other skin irritations, and acts as a back-up for sandalwood’s anti-inflammatory properties, easing redness and swelling. Cedarwood is also an insect repellent; so even in warm weather, you can rest assured that you won’t be ‘bugged’ by pests (in-laws not included).
Geo F Trumper’s Sandalwood Skin Food - £23.00
Skin Food is a multi-functional product that nourishes the skin and can be used pre or post shave. Rich in glycerine (which seals in water and moisture), it forces the hairs to stand on end pre-shave to allow a really close, comfortable shave with no irritation – with the sandalwood soothing and treating the skin as it happens. Post-shave, the sandalwood eases and relieves any irritation alongside helping to prevent any ingrowing hairs and staving off razor rash.
For the best way to soothe your shaved skin, keep your Sandalwood Skin Food somewhere cold… maybe even in the fridge. This will help calm and soften as it’s applied, truly nourishing your face for the perfect shave.
