Overview
ISO 3518:2025 is the international standard that specifies the quality requirements for the essential oil of sandalwood (Santalum album L.). This fourth edition outlines the characteristics and testing methods essential for assessing the purity and authenticity of sandalwood essential oil derived from the heartwood of Santalum album. Published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), this standard facilitates consistent quality control and ensures compliance with global trade requirements.
The document covers physical and chemical properties such as appearance, colour, odour, relative density, refractive index, optical rotation, miscibility in ethanol, ester value, and chromatographic profile. It also provides guidelines on sampling, packaging, labelling, marking, storage, and safety information including flashpoint data.
Key Topics
Applications
ISO 3518:2025 serves multiple practical applications across industries utilizing sandalwood essential oil, including:
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Quality Control in Manufacturing
Cosmetic, perfumery, and pharmaceutical companies apply these standards to verify oil authenticity and maintain product consistency.
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Regulatory Compliance and Trade
Ensures that sandalwood oil meets internationally recognized criteria, helping exporters, importers, and customs authorities in legal and safe trade practices.
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Product Development and Formulation
R&D teams use the specified chemical profiles and physical parameters to develop new formulations with exact fragrance characteristics and efficacy.
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Supplier and Vendor Assessment
Procurement professionals rely on this standard to evaluate supplier quality certifications and conduct incoming oil analyses.
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Safety Management
Knowledge of flashpoint and proper packaging supports compliance with transportation regulations and workplace safety protocols.
Related Standards
ISO 3518:2025 references and aligns with several other ISO standards to provide comprehensive guidelines:
- ISO 210 - Essential oils: General requirements and guidelines for packaging, conditioning, and storage
- ISO 211 - Essential oils: Labelling and marking of containers
- ISO 212 - Essential oils: Sampling methods
- ISO 279 - Essential oils: Determination of relative density
- ISO 280 - Essential oils: Determination of refractive index
- ISO 592 - Essential oils: Determination of optical rotation
- ISO 709 - Essential oils: Determination of ester value
- ISO 875 - Essential oils: Evaluation of miscibility in ethanol
- ISO 11024 - Essential oils: Guidance on chromatographic profiles
Additionally, technical reports such as ISO/TR 11018 (Flashpoint determination) and ISO/TR 21092 (Oil characterization) provide further supporting information for safe handling and detailed testing methodologies.
By adhering to ISO 3518:2025, businesses ensure optimal quality control, uphold safety standards, and foster trust in the global sandalwood essential oil market. This internationally recognized framework underpins sustainable use and consistent authenticity of one of the most valued essential oils worldwide.
