Australia
Sandalwood

Fragrant plant: Sandalwood
Growing area: Gibson Desert, Australia
Cultivation partner since: 2021
Special features: Sustainable wild harvest collection and organic plantation timber from a project developed by the indigenous communities of Australia's Central Desert. It prioritizes their recognition as true custodians of the land and its resources.

"Dutjahn" is the Aboriginal word for "sandalwood" in the Martu and Wongi languages. For the indigenous peoples of Australia, it is a sacred tree that has been revered for thousands of years. The long history of the Aboriginal ritual connection to this sandalwood species, endemic to Australia, is incredible: For more than 60,000 years, and thus since their arrival on the continent, the indigenous people of the Gibson Desert are said to have used the wild desert wood – as incense for spiritual rituals and religious ceremonies, to calm the body and mind, and for medicinal purposes. Its wood contains precious essential oil.

The Gibson Desert, with its sand plains, dunes, low rocky ridges, and lateritic highlands, lies in the heart of the state of Western Australia. The climate is characterized by very hot summers. The total annual rainfall (150 to 200 mm) is caused by 20 to 30 thunderstorms per year. The red dune fields and scrub steppes are almost empty of people—but the Martu (Muntiljarra) people have lived deep in their remote areas, literally since time as we know it began. Their heritage includes traditional methods for extracting and using the essential oil from the sandalwood tree.

60,000 years of Aboriginal tradition

"Dutjahn is more than a sacred plant for the Martu and Wongi nations; it is a part of our soul and an important link to our spiritual identity."

Santalum spicatum played a key role in the vision of three Indigenous elders who reclaimed their ancestral land rights and thus access to their sacred species – the sandalwood tree. These men recognized the need for equal and fair representation in the sandalwood supply chain. They turned their visions into reality: a sustainable revival of sandalwood use, the conservation of biodiverse desert forests, the development of Indigenous certification, and the creation of a business based on mutual respect and transparent, ethical supply chains. Although Australian sandalwood had been exploited for export since 1848, the profits rarely flowed back to the indigenous people of Australia.

The Dutjahn Project, a winner of the 2019 Equator Prize of the United Nations Development Programme, is based on access to the world's largest sustainable sandalwood plantation and is linked to direct benefits for Australian Aboriginal communities. In addition to protecting the biodiversity of the Central Desert, it also protects their threatened cultural practices.

Grand Cru

The sandalwood oil from Australia is classified by farfalla with the Grand Cru label: It makes an impact with its outstanding organic quality as well as its social impact. The Grand Cru project originated with the indigenous communities of the Australian Central Desert and emphasizes their recognition as true custodians of the land and its resources.

Focus on social responsibility and sustainability

Using GPS mapping, every wild-harvested tree is replanted in harmony with nature. Reforestation with native species contributes to biodiversity, connects remaining vegetation to protect habitats, and creates buffer zones in fragile, threatened ecosystems. Maintaining traditional landscape management is crucial for biodiversity and the transmission of cultural practices to future generations.
Financial assistance and professional expertise support a foundation with a mission to improve the economic viability of Aboriginal communities in Sandalwood Country. Sandalwood distillation enables the indigenous people to live and work in one of the most remote places on earth.

The quality of this essential oil is unique due to its blend of indigenously harvested wildwood from native areas and sustainably managed organic plantation wood. Native to Australia, the Santalum spicatum species is a drought-tolerant tree that, unlike Indian sandalwood, does not require extensive use of pesticides and water. This is the first sandalwood oil we can offer in organic quality. It is extracted from the wood chips using steam distillation, with a yield between 4 and 6.5%.

The essential oil of Australian sandalwood (Santalum spicatum) enchants with its soft, balsamic, and slightly woody scent, which is somewhat more intense than that of Santalum austrocaledonicum. It is an important base note for the composition of natural perfumes.
Due to its high content of sesquiterpenols, especially santalol, it is very skin-friendly and nourishing. Thanks to these ingredients, sandalwood oil has strengthening properties for the body's immune system and is a useful, soothing companion during the colder seasons. It can also wonderfully enhance hair care formulations, as it is said to have balancing and preventative properties against hair loss.
On a psychological level, it is balancing and mood-enhancing, is good for anxiety and stress symptoms and supports good sleep.