The name applied to any species of the genus Santalum of the sandalwood family (Santalaceae). However, the true sandalwood is the hard, close-grained, aromatic heartwood of a parasitic tree, S. album, of the Indo-Malayan region. This fragrant wood is used in ornamental carving, cabinet work, and as a source of certain perfumes. The odor of the wood is an insect repellent, and on this account the wood is much used in making boxes and chests. The fragrant wood of a number of species in other families bears the same name, but none of these is the real sandalwood.