Sandalwood
/ˈsæn.dəl.wʊd/noun
A fragrant, fine-grained wood from trees of the genus Santalum, used in incense, carving, and perfumery.
Did you know?Sandalwood’s name ultimately comes from Sanskrit and passed through Arabic and medieval trade languages, showing how a sacred fragrance traveled across empires long before modern perfumery.
Etymological Timeline
Sanskrit
Skt
candana
“sandalwood; fragrant sandal paste”
Middle Persian
MPers
sandal
“sandalwood”
Arabic
Ar
ṣandal
“sandalwood”
Old French
OF
sandal
“sandalwood”
Middle English
ME
sandelwode
“sandalwood”
Modern English
En
sandalwood
“the aromatic wood of sandal trees”