The main benefits of sandalwood (chandan) for skin are a more even tone, calmer skin and fewer acne bacteria. Lab studies back each one: alpha-santalol, the main compound in sandalwood oil, inhibits tyrosinase, the enzyme skin uses to make melanin, according to a 2017 dermatology review. Sandalwood oil has been used on the skin for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine, the same review notes, and modern research now supports several of those traditional uses.
1. Natural glow and brightness
Sandalwood is traditionally credited with brightening dull skin and evening out complexion; the ENVIS medicinal plants record maintained by FRLHT lists sandalwood heartwood powder for improving skin complexion. Its key active compound, alpha-santalol, inhibits tyrosinase, the enzyme behind melanin production, as the 2017 review in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology reports. That is why regular use is associated with a gradual fading of dark spots and uneven tone rather than an overall lightening.
2. Soothes and calms skin
Ayurveda classifies sandalwood (Chandan) as a cooling, Pitta-pacifying substance, used for redness, heat and irritation. The same ENVIS record lists the heartwood for itching and burning sensation. Lab research supports the calming effect: in cultures of human skin cells, sandalwood oil suppressed many of the chemical signals that drive inflammation, and it reduced irritant dermatitis in mouse skin, according to the 2017 review.
3. Fights acne and blemishes
Sandalwood oil acts against Propionibacterium acnes, the bacterium linked to acne, along with several other skin microbes, the 2017 review notes. Its anti-inflammatory effect calms the redness and swelling that come with breakouts. In a small eight-week pilot study, a blend of 0.5% salicylic acid and up to 2% sandalwood oil improved mild to moderate facial acne in about 89% of participants.
4. Controls oil and tightens pores
Sandalwood's astringent feel is why traditional skincare uses it on combination and oily skin, often as a paste with rose water. No clinical study has yet measured its effect on sebum or pore size, so treat this benefit as traditional use rather than a proven result.
5. Anti-ageing and skin healing
Sandalwood oil shows antioxidant activity in lab studies, which is why it is linked with protecting skin from the free radicals behind fine lines and sun damage. The 2017 review describes sandalwood oil as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and anti-proliferative, and reports clinical trials in acne, psoriasis, eczema and common warts. Its antiseptic reputation has also made it a traditional choice for scars and blemishes across generations of Ayurvedic skincare.
How to use sandalwood for skin
Mix pure sandalwood powder with rose water (or milk, for drier skin) into a smooth paste. Apply an even layer to clean skin, leave it on for 15–20 minutes, and rinse with lukewarm water. Traditional practice is 2–3 times a week rather than daily, since sandalwood can feel drying on its own.
Patch test first. Apply a little paste on the inner arm and wait a day, because a small share of people, 0.1% to 2.4% in routine testing, are allergic to sandalwood oil, according to the 2017 review. Stop if the skin turns red or itchy.
More health and wellness guides are on the Omace blog.
