This was published recently, but n women wth telogen effluvium, and at 1%
Topical Sandalore, a specific OR2AT4-stimulating odorant, ameliorates
female telogen effluvium: Randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled
clinical trial
Human hair follicles (HFs) express the olfactory receptor OR2AT4, whose specific stimulation
by the synthetic sandalwood-like odorant, Sandalore, prolongs anagen ex vivo. To study
whether this effect of Sandalore is clinically relevant, we conducted a randomized, doubleblinded,
placebo-controlled, prospective clinical trial involving 60 female volunteers affected
by telogen effluvium with a defined, substantial degree of hair shedding. Patients were treated
topically with a solution containing either 1% Sandalore (verum) or natural sandalwood oil
(placebo), which has the same odor as Sandalore but does not stimulate OR2AT4, over a
period of 24 weeks. Sandalore 1% ameliorated clinical signs of telogen effluvium, namely it
reduced hair shedding, increased hair volume and increased the percentage of anagen HFs
over time significantly more than placebo, and showed a trend towards increasing the ratio of
terminal/vellus hairs. Hair shaft thickness and density were not affected. Most of the anti-hair
shedding effects were seen already after 8 weeks and maintained at week 24. Subjectively,
individuals in the treatment group were “more satisfied” than in the placebo group regarding
hair appearance and overall results. This clinical trial confirmed the anagen-maintaining effects
of Sandalore seen ex vivo and provides the first evidence that a cosmetic odorant can
positively impact on human hair growth in vivo, encouraging the use of topical “olfactotherapy”
with Sandalore as adjunct therapy of hair disorders characterized by excessive hair
shedding.