dōTERRA Sandalwood oil: price, uses and what to know

Sandalwood is one of the oldest fragrances in the world, used for centuries in temples, incense and perfumery. The oil smells soft, creamy and woody, and it lingers for hours after everything else in a blend has faded.

In short: sandalwood oil (Santalum album, Indian sandalwood) is steam-distilled from the heartwood of the tree. A 5 ml bottle costs $90 wholesale in the US and £92.26 in the UK. People use it drop by drop in meditation and evening diffuser blends, as a perfume base and in diluted face oils; the point to remember is that it is expensive, so it is best used a drop at a time and always diluted for skin.

What it is and where it comes from

Santalum album is Indian sandalwood, and the fragrance is stored in its heartwood. The oil is steam-distilled from the heartwood. Its main components are alpha-santalol and beta-santalol, which are responsible for the soft, creamy, woody scent.

Sandalwood is among the more costly oils in the range. dōTERRA tests every batch of its oils, and the results for your lot number are published at sourcetoyou.com.

Aroma

Soft, creamy and woody, with a slightly sweet, milky warmth and a smooth, long-lasting base. It is not sharp or dry like some other woods. As a base note it fades slowly and holds lighter oils in place.

How people use it

In the diffuser. One or two drops are enough. Combined with other oils it makes a calm, grounding evening scent:

Blend	Drops	When
Sandalwood + Frankincense	1 + 2	Meditation or quiet time
Sandalwood + Lavender	1 + 3	Evening wind-down
Sandalwood + Cedarwood	1 + 2	Reading by the fire
Sandalwood + Wild Orange	1 + 3	Warm, sweet afternoon scent

In face oil or aftershave. Add a single drop to a teaspoon of a carrier oil for a simple, softly scented face oil or a post-shave oil. Keep it away from the eyes.

As a perfume base. Mix a few drops of sandalwood with citrus and floral oils in a roll-on bottle filled with a carrier oil. Sandalwood anchors the lighter notes so that the scent lasts longer on the skin.

Drop by drop. Because it is expensive, many people keep sandalwood for special occasions or add it as a finishing touch to blends of cheaper woods.

Safety

Sandalwood is a gentle oil, but the usual rules apply:

• Dilute for skin: one to two drops per 10 ml of carrier oil.
• Patch-test on the inner arm and wait 24 hours if your skin is sensitive.
• Keep it away from eyes and mucous membranes.
• In pregnancy, while breastfeeding or with medical conditions, ask a doctor first.
• Keep the bottle out of reach of children, and diffuse only lightly and briefly around small children.
• Pets, especially cats and birds, are sensitive to essential oils; ventilate the room and give animals a way out.
• Buy it sealed from dōTERRA: expensive oils are a common target for adulteration.

Is it worth the price?

A 5 ml bottle holds about 85 drops, so at $90 a drop costs roughly $1.06 (about £1.09 at £92.26). It is one of the most expensive oils per drop in the range. But a single drop is often all a blend needs, and as a base note it makes the other oils last longer.

If you love woody, meditative scents or want to make your own perfume, it can be a deliberate indulgence. If you simply want a woody room scent, Cedarwood costs much less. dōTERRA tests every batch, and the lot number results are at sourcetoyou.com.

What to pair it with

Sandalwood is not in a starter kit. For deep, resinous blends, combine it with Frankincense; for earthy, grounding ones, with Vetiver; and for a clean woody base, with Cedarwood. A drop of Lavender softens the whole blend.

If you are just starting out, the first five oils for your home is a good base before investing in a premium bottle.

Where to buy it

Buy directly from dōTERRA under your market’s terms: you pay the price in the table above, the parcel ships from the regional warehouse under your country’s rules, and the label tells you whether food use is allowed where you live. If your country is not an official dōTERRA market, you order through Global Access: the parcel ships from the US via a forwarding intermediary, with extra shipping and customs costs. Marketplace bottles at half price are a gamble, especially with an oil this expensive; here is how to spot a fake. Pick your country on the home page to open the official form with the wholesale price, or ask us if anything is unclear.

Questions and answers

How much does dōTERRA Sandalwood cost?

In the US a 5 ml bottle is $90.00 wholesale and $120.00 retail; in the UK it is £92.26 wholesale and £123.01 retail. The table above lists nine countries from the official October 2026 price lists.

How many drops are in a 5 ml bottle of Sandalwood?

About 85 drops. Because one or two drops go a long way, a bottle lasts many sessions.

Why is Sandalwood so expensive?

The oil is distilled from the heartwood of the tree, and sandalwood is one of the most expensive oils per bottle in the range.

Can I use Sandalwood in a homemade perfume?

Yes. It is a classic base note that anchors citrus and floral oils and makes a scent last longer. Dilute it in a carrier oil and patch-test before wearing it.

What does Sandalwood blend well with?

Frankincense, Cedarwood and Vetiver for deep woody blends, and Lavender or citrus for a lighter touch.

This information is for general aromatic and household use. dōTERRA products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Follow the label of the product sold in your country; ask a doctor before use during pregnancy, with children or with medical conditions.