In history, Sandalwood is referred to as aloes or almug wood and sometimes as cedars. Through studying this oil, I found it fascinating how this tree lives and at which point of it’s life it is harvested and distilled. It is also interesting to learn it’s fragrant influences and the body systems it supports and then take that knowledge to the Bible and study the scripture passages where aloe or sandalwood was mentioned.
Sandalwood is a “parasitic tree”, meaning that it lives off the roots of other plants. For it to thrive, it has to have other plants near it so that it can receive the majority of nutrients it needs. It is a struggle for it to live which can lead to a life of distress. Now you would think that this would be a bad thing, given most of us avoid distress; however, a sandalwood tree in distress produces the highest quality oil. That’s right, the hardwood root is more strong and the oil is more therapeutic when the tree is dying after a full life. So a tree that has undergone trials produces the best oil…Just let that one sink in… Young Living will wait until the end of the tree’s natural life to harvest the oil to give us the BEST sandalwood essential oil!
So what is Sandalwood good for? Well, it is very high in sesquiterpenes, which is the chemical component that stimulates the pineal gland in the brain. This can create deep relaxation of the nervous system and can help with focus as well. It can be used to support healthy skin and as an aphrodisiac. It has a warm and woody aroma and is almost a sweet smell.
Using our knowledge about how this oil is produced and how it can be used, let’s take a look at a few bible verses where aloes are mentioned.
Numbers 24:6 – “Like palm trees spread out, like gardens beside a river, Like aloes the LORD planted, like cedars beside water”
Psalms 45:8 – “With myrrh, aloes, and cassia your robes are fragrant. From ivory- paneled palaces* stringed instruments bring you joy.
Proverbs 7:17 – “I have sprinkled my bed* with myrrh, with aloes, and with cinnamon”
Song of Songs 1:17 “the beams of our house are cedars, our rafters, cypresses”
John 19:39 “Nicodemus, the one who had first come to him at night, also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing about one hundred pounds”
1 Kings 10:11-12 “Hiram’s fleet, which used to bring gold from Ophir, also brought from there a very large quantity of almug* wood and precious stones. With this wood the king made supports for the house of the LORD and for the house of the king, and harps and lyres for the singers. Never again was any such almug wood brought or seen to the present day”
Reading the Bible and knowing what we now know about the the strength and fragrant influence of the sandalwood tree, I find it so fascinating how and when this tree was used. It is a fragrant oil that is referenced in the Bible along with Frankincense, Myrrh, and Cedarwood as oils of joy or gladness. Taking what we know about the fragrant influence of Sandalwood, it makes perfect sense that it is used this way in the bible. It is also a very valuable oil, considering how it’s distilled at the end of it’s life to get the most therapeutic oil. When Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea brought aloes and myrrh to bury Jesus, as was custom, the estimated amount of oils (75 – 100 lb.) would have been worth $150,000-$200,000 in today’s market. The amazing value of these oils shows their respect and reverence for their Lord must have been great.
I encourage you to do your own Bible study on this essential oil. Take what you know about the oil itself and apply that in your scripture reading. I have found myself listening to the readings and reading the Bible more intently and with a greater understanding since learning what essential oils are and how they support the body. It truly gives me more insight into my faith and has deepened my connection to God thru His word.
Megan Harrouff from St. Louis, Missouri
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