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YOURWELLNESSSPA © GETTY IMAGES HERBAL HEALTH 64 DAYSPA | MARCH 2015 Into the Sandalwoods By Andrea Renskoff Whether mixed with more fl owery notes or left on its own, the sweet, woodsy scent of sandal- wood is a familiar one. Extracted from the timber of the sandalwood tree—an evergreen with tough leaves and purple fl owers—it carries a distinctive scent, call- ing to mind images of rugged forests. For this reason, sandalwood is often thought to possess a "mascu- line" aroma. There are more than 25 species of the sandalwood tree. The older the wood, the higher the quality of san- dalwood oil; a mature tree will yield the most fragrant, potent oil as well as the greatest quantity. A steam distillation process is used for extraction. Trees from Eastern India have traditionally harvested the fi nest oil, but sadly, they're on the verge of extinction there. Not surprisingly, their oil is extremely expensive. The san- dalwood oils harvested in some South Pacifi c Islands, Australia and Hawaii are also thought to be benefi cial, if somewhat inferior. Used extensively in Hindu social and religious ritu- als, and for centuries in Chinese, Tibetan and ayurvedic medicine, sandalwood can function as an aromatic, a topical or even an ingestible treatment. Present in many of today's skincare and aromatherapy products, it's prized for its ability to calm and focus the mind as well as deliver antiseptic and anti-infl ammatory benefi ts. EARTHLY POWER Studies on the effects of sandalwood show how its aro- ma transmits signals to the limbic system, the part of the brain that controls emotions. "Medicinally, sandalwood is used as a sedative for panic attacks, anxiety and stress," notes Tracy Whynot, L.Ac., owner of PLACE360 Health + Spa (place360healthspa.com) in Del Mar, California.