Chandan is the Hindi name for sandalwood, the fragrant heartwood of the Santalum album tree. In India it's ground with water or rose water into a cool, fragrant paste used for forehead marks in worship, offered at temples, and mixed into traditional face packs. Indian sandalwood is now a threatened species, so where it comes from matters.
Few scents are as tied to India as sandalwood. It drifts out of temples, perfumes incense and soap, and turns up in kitchens and bridal preparations. In the south, especially Karnataka and Kerala, sandalwood has been part of daily and religious life for centuries.
This guide covers what sandalwood is, how chandan paste is used, how to choose a genuine product, and what to know before putting it on your skin.
Sandalwood paste is used to mark the forehead and to anoint images of deities. In many South Indian temples, devotees receive a little chandan as prasad, a blessed offering.
Traditionally, a piece of sandalwood is rubbed on a flat, wet stone, called a sandalwood stone or chandan sil, to make fresh paste.
Sandalwood powder is mixed with rose water, milk, or other ingredients like turmeric and gram flour in homemade face packs and bridal ubtan.
Sandalwood scents incense, attars, and soap. Mysore, in Karnataka, has long been famous for its sandalwood oil and soap.
In a South Indian temple, a smear of cool sandalwood paste on the forehead is part of the visit.
Many "sandalwood" products contain synthetic sandalwood fragrance rather than the wood itself. A genuine product names the species, usually Santalum album (Indian sandalwood) or Santalum spicatum (Australian sandalwood), in the ingredient list. Read more in Wikipedia's entry on Santalum album.
A note on sustainability: wild Indian sandalwood has been heavily over-harvested and is listed as a threatened species, and its trade in India is regulated. When you buy, look for sellers who state where the wood comes from, plantation-grown or legally sourced, or consider Australian sandalwood, which is commercially plantation-grown.
Ground sandalwood for mixing into a paste or face pack. Check the label for the species name and the seller's sourcing.
Find on Amazon →A flat stone for rubbing a sandalwood stick with water into fresh paste, the traditional way.
Find on Amazon →A pre-made chandan face paste for convenience. Read the full ingredient list before buying.
Find on Amazon →The traditional liquid for mixing sandalwood powder into a paste. See our rose water guide.
Find on Amazon →These are Amazon affiliate links. Javier Discovers may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. A product mention is not a promise of any result.
Chandan is the Hindi name for sandalwood, the fragrant heartwood of the Santalum album tree. Ground with water or rose water, it becomes the cool paste used in Indian worship and face packs.
To mark the forehead in worship, as a temple offering, and in traditional face packs mixed with rose water, milk, turmeric, or gram flour.
Look for the species name, Santalum album or Santalum spicatum, on the ingredient list. Products that list only "sandalwood fragrance" or "parfum" usually contain synthetic scent.
Wild Indian sandalwood has been heavily over-harvested and is listed as a threatened species, and its trade in India is regulated. Choose sellers who state their sourcing, or consider plantation-grown Australian sandalwood.
Many people use sandalwood paste without problems, but it can irritate or cause allergic reactions in some people. Patch test first, and never apply undiluted essential oil to skin.
Each new tradition as it's published: where it comes from, how it's used, and where to find it.
| About Javier | Javier is the storytelling voice of Javier Discovers, a persona rather than a real traveler. This post is built from research into India and its traditions. Images on this site are AI-generated illustrations. |
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| Health Note | This post is for general information and cultural interest only. It is not medical advice. Patch test new products, and talk to a dermatologist before changing your skincare if you have a skin condition. |