Sandalwood Oil: Dangers, Side Effects and Precautions

The danger of sandalwood oil stays limited when properly diluted, but as a concentrated essential oil it calls for stricter precautions than the wood-powder paste. The main points of vigilance are undiluted skin application, diffusing around sensitive people, and precaution by principle during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Undiluted use and the oral route: the real risks

Situation	Precaution
Undiluted application	Risk of skin irritation; always dilute in a carrier oil
Oral route	Excluded without supervision from a professional trained in essential oils
First skin use	Patch test on the inner elbow before any diluted application

An oil that activates more than it soothes: what the reference study shows

The Heuberger, Hongratanaworakit and Buchbauer study, published in 2006 in Planta Medica, measured an increase in pulse, skin conductance and systolic blood pressure in healthy volunteers after inhaling sandalwood oil, compared with an odorless placebo (see the study on Google Scholar). This result does not point to a particular danger for a healthy person, but it does justify extra caution for people with unstable blood pressure or a particular cardiac sensitivity, who should ask a doctor before repeated diffusion.

Diffusion: a precaution often overlooked

Diffusing essential oils, sandalwood included, should stay occasional and take place in a ventilated room. It is not recommended around people with asthma or sensitive airways, in whom inhaling concentrated aromatic compounds can trigger breathing discomfort.

Pregnancy, breastfeeding and young children

As with most concentrated essential oils, safety data is lacking for these groups. As a precaution, vetiver/">sandalwood oil use is not recommended without medical advice during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and extra caution applies to young children.

How to limit risk in practice

• Never apply it undiluted on skin;
• Avoid the oral route without professional supervision;
• Diffuse in short sessions, in a ventilated room, away from people with asthma;
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women, unstable blood pressure: ask a doctor before using;
• Choose an authentic oil rather than a cheap, potentially cut one, an issue detailed in our buying guide.

For the full set of general precautions on essential oils, see our safety and precautions guide.

Precautions

Sandalwood oil, properly diluted and diffused in moderation, has an acceptable safety profile for most healthy adults. Its ability to slightly activate certain physiological markers justifies particular vigilance in cases of unstable blood pressure, pregnancy or breastfeeding.