What it is

• Species & origin: Indian sandalwood is Santalum album (native to peninsular India). It yields fine-grained aromatic heartwood for carving and a high-value essential oil used in perfumery/rituals. Trade in the species is monitored internationally under CITES Appendix II (permits required for international trade in parts/derivatives).
  
• GI protection: “Mysore Sandalwood Oil” is a registered Indian Geographical Indication (GI #29), led by Karnataka Soaps & Detergents Ltd. (KSDL).

HS codes & export policy (India)

• Carvings (finished handicrafts): typically HS 4420 (wood ornaments etc.). India’s export policy explicitly lists finished sandalwood handicrafts as “Free” to export.
  
• Machine-finished sandalwood products: Free.
  
• Sandalwood oil: Indian national subheading HS 33012937 (Sandalwood oil) is “Restricted – export permitted under licence.” (i.e., not prohibited, but a DGFT export licence is required—CITES paperwork also applies).
  
• Raw wood/most other forms: Prohibited (with narrow, licensed exceptions for wastes/by-products).
  

Export data

• Sandalwood oil (HS 33012937) — India (financial years; ICFRE–IWST official dataset):
  
  • 2023–24: 0.91 thousand kg exported, ₹6.60 crore value.
    
  • 2024–25 (provisional): 2.68 thousand kg, ₹15.89 crore.
    
  • 9-year total (2016–25): 17.20 thousand kg, ₹81.47 crore.
    
• Finished wooden ornaments (HS 4420.10) — benchmark for wood statuettes/ornaments (where many sandalwood carvings are classified):
  
  • India 2023 exports: US$4.60 million, 743 tonnes; top buyer USA (~US$3.17m). (UN Comtrade via World Bank WITS).
    Note: This 6-digit HS line covers all wood species; sandalwood-only breakouts are not separately published in global HS-6 data.
    

Quality & specifications

Sandalwood oil (Santalum album)

• Standards:
  
  • BIS IS 329:2004 (India) and ISO 3518 (latest 2025 edition) specify quality parameters. Typical key markers: (Z)-α-santalol ~41–55% and (Z)-β-santalol ~16–24%, with defined ranges for density, refractive index, optical rotation, etc.
    
• Why India stands out: S. album oil from southern India is prized for high α/β-santalol and a profile that perfumers use as a long-lasting fixative. Competing oils (e.g., Australian S. spicatum ) typically have lower combined santalols and higher farnesol (a label-listed allergen in EU), which affects odour and usage limits under IFRA.
  
• Verification: Routine quality control uses GC-MS fingerprinting against IS/ISO ranges (plus classical physico-chem tests like RI, density, optical rotation).
  

Sandalwood carvings

• Material traits: Fine, even grain and natural oil make S. album ideal for intricate, stable carving with a distinctive aroma. Karnataka’s craft lineage (Mysuru/ Bengaluru/ Shivamogga/ Uttara Kannada) is noted by state/heritage bodies.
  
• Classification & compliance: Export as finished handicrafts (HS 4420 etc., Free), but CITES documentation still applies internationally because S. album is Appendix II.
  

Regional/context specifics (India)

• Karnataka is the historic hub for both carving and oil (Mysuru distillery; KSDL). The state adopted a Sandalwood Policy (2022) removing earlier restrictions and allowing private cultivation & sale of sandalwood grown on private land—part of a broader effort to expand legal supply.
  
• Tamil Nadu also recognizes private ownership of sandalwood on patta lands, with regulated extraction/sale under state rules and the amended Tamil Nadu Forest Act.
  
• GI advantage: “Mysore Sandalwood Oil” GI status allows clear origin-based branding and traceability—useful for premium positioning in perfumery and wellness.
  

Strengths for buyers (why India/this region)

• Premium chemistry (high α/β-santalol in album oil) meeting IS/ISO specs, favoured by fine fragrance houses.
  
• Heritage & authenticity signals: GI-tagged Mysore Sandalwood Oil and a living carving tradition centered in Karnataka.
  
• Clear policy lanes: Finished carvings are freely exportable; oil exports are licensable rather than banned—practical if you plan licensed sourcing.
  
• Verification infrastructure: Public R&D bodies (e.g., IWST, Bengaluru) publish market/analytical data and support authenticity testing.

Compliance & practical checklist

• Before you buy/export:
  
  • Confirm HS classification per product (4420 for carvings; 33012937 for oil).
  • Arrange CITES permits (export + import/re-export as applicable) for any S. album parts/derivatives (including oil & carvings).
  • For oil: ensure supplier can meet IS 329 / ISO 3518 certificate with recent GC-MS report (check α/β-santalol).
  • If exporting oil from India: obtain/verify DGFT export licence for 33012937.