Santalol (α- and β-) has a sweet, sandalwood odor.
The stereochemistry of santalols has been discussed by Brieger (Burdock, 1995); santalols are found among the constituents of various sandalwood species (Santalum album L., S. spicatum, S. autrocaledonicum); the α- and β-isomers are present in varying ratios, with the α-isomer usually more abundant.
Santalol is a naturally occuring sesquiterpene that has antibacterial, anti-hyperglycaemic, anti inflammatory and antioxidant effects with a sweet woody odor making it useful in essential oils.
Santalol is a flavoring agent that is a colorless or pale yellow liquid,
with odor resembling sandalwood. it is soluble in alcohol, fixed oils,
mineral oil, and propylene glycol; and insoluble in water and glyc-
erin. it is obtained from a sandalwood oil source.
Santalol, α- and β-isomers are used as analytical standards for the quantification of the analytes in fragrances using flow-modulation comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (FM GCxGC/MS).
The commercial product is generally a mixture of α- and β-santalol obtained by fractional distillation of sandalwood oil; noncommercial syntheses are known.
