Mysore Sandalwood

Pure Mysore Sandalwood, so finally we meet. I’d read about the sad decline of sandalwood, so knew this to be a rare gem. Sandalwood trees now an endangered species, it’s illegal to fell trees without government clearance - a necessary law to control the excessive cutting of trees. A good yield of essential oil, comes from a tree that’s at least 30 years old. So this is why non-synthetic sandalwood oil has become expensive and rare. It also means that Mysore Sandalwood is not what it used to be, the oil now comes from cultivated trees, (as opposed to the wild) which makes laboratory made sandalwood a much easier option. Most sandalwood (or ‘sandal’) scents contain synthetic ingredients.

So what does this smell like? It reminds me of the woven straw tatami floor mats found in Japan, with wooden bamboo furniture, with a gentle bitter fruitiness of banana skin.

It’s calming, smooth and therapeutic. For this premium Mysore Sandalwood it’s £60 for a 3ml attar.