Chandan (Sandalwood) Tree (Santalum album): Where It Grows in India and How to Plant It
Santalum album
Chandan, or Indian sandalwood (Santalum album), is a hemi-parasitic tree that cannot grow without a host plant beside it. How to plant it with the right host, where it grows in India including Rajasthan, how to recognise it and tell it from red sandalwood, care for the first three years, and the legal and theft cautions.
Benefits
Benefits
Chandan's main value is its scented heartwood and oil, but a growing tree also feeds birds, shelters crops and returns leaves to the soil.
Fragrance and carving. ICRAF notes that sandalwood oil, distilled from the heartwood, is used in perfumery and soap, that heartwood powder goes into incense and paste, and that the close-grained heartwood is prized for carving.
Birds, shelter and soil. According to ICRAF, birds eat the fruit and spread the seed, the dense branches break the wind for crops, and the leaves make good green manure.
Farm income, with caution. ICFRE-IWST's technology package presents sandalwood with amla as host as financially viable over a 15-year rotation. These are model projections, not a promise: theft, disease, uncertain heartwood yield and state rules on cutting and selling all affect what a grower earns.
Traditional use. Sandalwood paste and oil have a long traditional use in India, and ICRAF notes the oil is also used in medicines. Traditional use is not proof that it treats any illness or is safe for everyone. Do not swallow sandalwood oil, and talk to a qualified doctor before using any preparation.
- Other: Scented heartwood and oil: ICRAF notes the oil is used in perfumery and soap making, and heartwood powder in incense sticks and paste; ICFRE-IWST says the oil is richest in the root, then in the stem at ground level.
- Timber: Close-grained, durable and strong heartwood used for ornamental and carving work (ICRAF).
- Biodiversity: Birds eat the fleshy fruit and spread the seed (ICRAF).
- Soil health: The leaves make good green manure (ICRAF).
- Other: Dense branches break the wind and protect nearby crops (ICRAF).
- Fodder: Trees are sometimes lopped for fodder; goats, sheep, cattle and camels eat the leaves, which is also why young plants need a guard (ICRAF).
- Medicinal: Sandalwood paste and oil have a long traditional use in India, and ICRAF notes the oil is also used in medicines. Traditional use is not proof that it treats any illness or is safe for everyone; do not swallow the oil, and talk to a qualified doctor before using any preparation.
- Cultural: ICFRE-IWST says sandalwood plays an important role in the religious life of Indians; ICRAF notes its powder is burnt as incense in homes and temples.
Sources: Vikaspedia (Govt of India / C-DAC): Sandalwood (source: Sandalwood Information System, ICFRE-IWST Bengaluru); Viswanath S., Joshi G., Rathore T.S. Technology Package for Raising Sandal Plantations from Quality Planting Material (QPM) Stock of Sandalwood Seedlings. ICFRE-IWST, Bangalore (undated); Orwa C. et al. (2009). Agroforestree Database 4.0: Santalum album (ICRAF / World Agroforestry); ICFRE-IWST Sandalwood Information System: Silviculture (heartwood from about 10-13 years; oil highest in root)
This article was prepared with AI assistance and checked by the GreenEye team against the sources shown in each section.
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