Pure Sandalwood Powder (Chandan)

White sandalwood powder — chandan — milled from genuine heartwood to a fine, smooth consistency. Smooth enough for the face, pure enough for the altar. No talc, no starch, no fillers, no artificial fragrance or colour.

What you are buying

• Milled from the same heartwood as our chandan sticks
• Fine enough to make a non-gritty paste in seconds
• No talc, no starch, no chalk, no added fragrance
• Every batch third-party tested for purity and adulteration

Choosing a pack size

• 50 g — around 12–15 face packs, or a few months of daily tilak. A good first order
• 100–200 g — regular household use across pooja and skincare
• 250–500 g — heavy household use, or a small temple
• 750 g–1 kg — temples, Ayurvedic makers, incense and dhoop production, wholesale

Used for

• Tilak and daily pooja — mix with water or rose water
• Face packs — traditionally used to cool and soothe the skin
• Ubtan and bridal preparation
• Havan and religious ceremonies
• Incense and dhoop making
• Traditional Ayurvedic home preparations

How to use

For tilak: mix a pinch with a few drops of water into a thick paste.

For a face pack: one spoon of powder with rose water (or milk) to a smooth consistency. Apply, leave 15–20 minutes, rinse with cool water. Two or three times a week.

For ubtan: combine with besan, a pinch of turmeric and milk or curd. Let it semi-dry, then rub off gently.

Patch-test before the first use. These are traditional uses rather than medical claims — consult a doctor for any skin condition.

Powder or stick?

Powder is faster and mixes evenly, which makes it the better choice for face packs and ubtan. A chandan stick gives a fresher, more fragrant paste and works out cheaper per use, but needs a grinding stone and a couple of minutes. Plenty of households keep both — stick for pooja, powder for skin.

Natural characteristics

Colour ranges from pale cream to soft beige and varies between batches, as natural wood does. The aroma is soft rather than sharp. A powder that smells strongly of perfume the moment it is opened has usually been scented artificially.

Storage

Keep sealed and dry, away from soap and perfume — sandalwood absorbs surrounding odours. Damp powder clumps and loses its smooth texture.

Frequently asked questions

Does this contain talc?
No. There is no talc, starch or chalk in it — it is milled sandalwood heartwood and nothing else.

Is it safe for sensitive skin?
Pure chandan is generally gentle, but patch-test on your inner arm first and stop if there is any irritation.

Can I use it for incense?
Yes — it is commonly used in dhoop and incense preparation. The larger packs are priced for that.

How is it different from red sandalwood powder?
This one is fragrant; lal chandan powder is not, and is used for colour instead. See our comparison guide.

You may also need

For fresh-ground paste, a chandan stick. For aarti and meditation, pure sandalwood oil. For red tilak and face packs, lal chandan powder.