Quintis Sandalwood has launched Indian Sandalwood Extra Fine Powder, a natural multifunctional ingredient developed by Quintis’ determination to introduce a novel ingredient that aligns with the growing Ayurvedic beauty trend as well as waterless and solid formulations.
Indian sandalwood (Santalum album) has been used as a cosmetic ingredient since antiquity. Cleopatra and Queen Elizabeth I are said to have used sandalwood for its skin healing properties, and over 2,000 years ago it was listed in the Charaka Samhita, an Ayurvedic Sanskrit text.
Today, science has confirmed what our ancestors already knew – that Indian sandalwood is a potent natural ingredient with multi-faceted benefits. It is the perfect ingredient for holistic cosmetic applications, proven to protect the skin and calm the mind.
Sandalwood’s Benefits for Cosmetics Applications
This fragrant powder is created by grinding pure Indian sandalwood heartwood. This process ‘unlocks’ the rich fragrance of the sandalwood tree creating an aromatic powder. It contains three to four percent pure Indian sandalwood oil, which has a multitude of benefits including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It calms the mind and relieves anxiety, and the powder can be used in multiple applications from cosmetics to incense.
In cosmetics particularly, Indian sandalwood powder provides an excellent skin feel on application and a soft powdery non-tacky feeling on drydown due to the spherical nature of the particles. Used in Ayurvedic skincare for centuries to soothe and brighten skin, as well as reduce body heat and diminish body odor, Indian sandalwood powder suits a variety of cosmetic applications and is perfect for liquid and anhydrous products.
Uses and Applications for Santalum Album
An excellent botanical substitute for mineral and plastic powders, Indian sandalwood powder is a 100 percent biodegradable and renewable source.
The highly versatile and sustainably sourced ingredient is hypoallergenic and ideal for sensitive skin. Traditionally used in Ayurveda to soothe and brighten the skin, it provides a powdery, light and soft skin feel and a beautiful texture to formulations due to the extra-fine particle size.
The powder is ideal for inclusion in a range of formulations such as masks, deodorants, lotions and moisturizers. It also provides stability to creams and lotions by acting as a Pickering’s emulsifier.
The current ‘Ayurveda Pharmacopoeia of India’ lists Indian sandalwood in powder form for a number of topical applications, especially for skin calming, body odor, acne, melasma and improved skin brightening.
Quintis’ Goal
According to Quintis, Indian sandalwood grown in the wild was on the cusp of global extinction, plagued by years of over-exploitation, resulting in it being listed as a vulnerable species in 1998 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Quintis took it upon themselves to secure an ethical and sustainable supply of this ancient tree.
For the last 20 years, Quintis has built an enduring commitment to the ethical supply of Indian sandalwood. Quintis cares about creating a brighter, healthier future for this sacred species. Quintis opts for circular agricultural practices, and takes a firm stance on ethical and fully traceable supply. With a strict chain-of-custody protocol, Quintis guarantees a renewable supply of sandalwood into the future.