Sandalwood Terpene Profiles

Sandalwood aroma profiles in cannabis are often associated with woody, creamy, and slightly sweet undertones, commonly linked to sesquiterpenes such as alpha-santalol and beta-santalol. These compounds occur naturally in sandalwood trees and occasionally appear in cannabis cultivars, contributing to complex aroma complexity. Breeders working in this category typically identify sandalwood-like notes through selective crossing of parent lines that express complementary terpene combinations. The sandalwood profile is frequently found alongside floral and incense-like characteristics. Documentation of these aromatic phenotypes remains limited compared to more common terpene families, making sandalwood-dominant strains relatively rare in commercial breeding programs.

Breeders pursuing sandalwood aromatic expression typically cross cultivars known for sesquiterpene-rich profiles and woody terpene backgrounds. Stability of sandalwood notes across generations remains challenging, as these compounds are often secondary terpenes requiring specific environmental and genetic conditions to express prominently.