Sandalwood vs. Cedarwood — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 14, 2024
Sandalwood, known for its rich, sweet scent, is often used in perfumes and incense, while cedarwood, with its sharp, woody aroma, is favored in furniture and construction due to its durability and insect-repellent properties.
Difference Between Sandalwood and Cedarwood
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Sandalwood is prized for its complex, creamy, and exotic scent and is predominantly used in high-end perfumery and religious incense. This wood originates mainly from India and Australia and is notable for its essential oil, which is extracted from the wood's heartwood. On the other hand, cedarwood comes from several types of cedar trees and is recognized for its fresh, woody fragrance. It is widely used in construction, particularly for outdoor furniture, shingles, and closets, due to its natural resistance to decay and pests.
Sandalwood's oil is highly valued in aromatherapy and traditional medicine for its potential health benefits, including anti-inflammatory and calming properties. Conversely, cedarwood oil is also used in aromatherapy but is touted for different properties, such as its ability to repel insects and soothe skin conditions.
The cost of sandalwood is considerably higher than that of cedarwood, mainly due to the slow growth and high demand for sandalwood, which also raises sustainability concerns. Cedarwood, while also popular, is more abundantly available and grows more rapidly, making it less costly and generally more sustainable.
In terms of texture and color, sandalwood typically has a fine grain and a light tan to golden color, which darkens with age. Cedarwood, in contrast, can range from a light straw color to deep reddish-brown hues and generally has a straight grain, though it can also be knotty, adding character to the wood.
Both woods are used in spiritual practices; sandalwood is integral to many Eastern rituals and is believed to bring one closer to the divine, whereas cedarwood is often used in Native American ceremonies to cleanse and purify spaces.
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Comparison Chart
Primary Use
Perfumery, incense
Construction, furniture
Aroma
Rich, sweet, creamy
Sharp, fresh, woody
Cost
High, due to scarcity and demand
Lower, more readily available
Growth Rate
Slow, contributing to rarity
Faster, more sustainable
Typical Color
Light tan to golden
Ranges from light straw to reddish-brown
Texture
Fine grain
Straight grain, can be knotty
Medicinal Uses
Anti-inflammatory, calming
Insect repellent, skin soothing
Spiritual Significance
Used in Eastern religious rituals
Used in Native American ceremonies
Compare with Definitions
Sandalwood
The wood is soft and easy to carve, making it ideal for intricate decorative items.
The artisan crafted a delicate sandalwood box that featured intricate floral patterns.
Cedarwood
Derived from several types of cedar trees, valued for its durability and scent.
They chose cedarwood for their outdoor decking because of its natural resistance to rot.
Sandalwood
High value and demand have led to concerns over sustainability.
Due to overharvesting, true sandalwood is now protected and cultivated under strict regulations.
Cedarwood
Cedar oil is popular in aromatherapy and as a natural insect repellent.
Cedarwood oil is often used in natural pest repellents for its strong aromatic properties.
Sandalwood
A type of wood from trees in the genus Santalum, known for its fragrant heartwood.
The room was filled with the distinctive, soothing aroma of sandalwood incense.
Cedarwood
It's more affordable and accessible than sandalwood.
Cedarwood products are popular for those seeking quality wood at a more affordable price.
Sandalwood
Often associated with religious and spiritual practices in Eastern traditions.
Sandalwood paste is traditionally applied during worship in many Hindu ceremonies.
Cedarwood
Commonly used in the construction of furniture, shingles, and closets.
The cedarwood closet kept the clothes fresh and moth-free.
Sandalwood
Sandalwood is a class of woods from trees in the genus Santalum. The woods are heavy, yellow, and fine-grained, and, unlike many other aromatic woods, they retain their fragrance for decades.
Cedarwood
Features a distinctive, pleasant woody smell that enhances its use in indoor environments.
The cedarwood panels gave the room a warm, inviting scent.
Sandalwood
Any of several tropical Asian hemiparasitic trees of the genus Santalum, especially S. album, having aromatic yellowish heartwood used in cabinetmaking and wood carving and yielding an oil used in perfumery.
Cedarwood
The wood of the cedar tree.
Sandalwood
Any of several other tropical Asian trees, especially those of the genera Adenanthera and Pterocarpus that yield a hard wood and a red dye.
Cedarwood
The durable aromatic wood of any of numerous cedar and cedarlike trees; especially the wood of the red cedar, often used for cedar chests.
Sandalwood
The wood of any of these trees.
Cedarwood
Durable aromatic wood of any of numerous cedar trees; especially wood of the red cedar often used for cedar chests
Sandalwood
A light to moderate or grayish brown.
Sandalwood
Any of various tropical trees of the genus Santalum, native or long naturalized in India, Australia, Hawaii, and many south Pacific islands.
Sandalwood
The aromatic heartwood of these trees used in ornamental carving, in the construction of insect-repellent boxes and chests, and as a source of certain perfumes.
Sandalwood
The highly perfumed yellowish heartwood of an East Indian and Polynesian tree (Santalum album), and of several other trees of the same genus, as the Hawaiian Santalum Freycinetianum and S. pyrularium, the Australian S. latifolium, etc. The name is extended to several other kinds of fragrant wood.
Sandalwood
Close-grained fragrant yellowish heartwood of the true sandalwood; has insect-repelling properties and is used for carving and cabinetwork
Sandalwood
Used extensively in perfumery and aromatherapy for its calming effects.
She added a few drops of sandalwood oil to her evening bath for relaxation.
Common Curiosities
What are the primary uses of sandalwood and cedarwood?
Sandalwood is mainly used in perfumery and religious incense, while cedarwood is favored in construction and furniture due to its durability.
How do the spiritual uses of sandalwood and cedarwood differ?
Sandalwood is used in Eastern rituals to enhance meditation and spiritual practice, while cedarwood is used in Native American ceremonies for purification.
Can both sandalwood and cedarwood be used in aromatherapy?
Yes, both are used in aromatherapy; sandalwood for its calming properties and cedarwood for its soothing and insect-repelling properties.
What are the typical colors and textures of these woods?
Sandalwood has a fine grain and ranges from light tan to golden, while cedarwood can vary from light straw to deep reddish-brown and may have a straight or knotty grain.
What makes cedarwood suitable for outdoor furniture?
Cedarwood is naturally resistant to decay, moisture, and insect damage, making it ideal for outdoor use.
Why is sandalwood more expensive than cedarwood?
Sandalwood is more expensive due to its slow growth rate, high demand, and sustainability issues.
What are the environmental concerns associated with sandalwood?
Overharvesting and slow growth rates have led to sustainability concerns, making it necessary to regulate sandalwood harvesting and trade.
Are there any health benefits associated with these woods?
Yes, both woods offer health benefits: sandalwood is noted for anti-inflammatory and calming effects, and cedarwood is known for its skin-soothing and insect-repellent properties.
Is cedarwood more sustainable than sandalwood?
Yes, cedarwood is generally more sustainable due to its faster growth rate and wider availability.
How do the aromas of sandalwood and cedarwood differ?
Sandalwood has a rich, sweet, and creamy aroma, whereas cedarwood offers a sharp, fresh, and distinctly woody scent.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
