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vl856 – :
I would have never thought to put this much citrus with sandalwood, but it works.
It’s zingy like holiday orange punch at first, which is jarring to say the least. After a few minutes, the sandalwood comes into harmony and it softens. I prefer this in the cooler months when I tire of wearing heavier perfume and want something more of a pick-me-up.
Рыжий73 – :
Slightly woody citrus- no sandalwood.
karamych – :
This smell fresh and mostly citrusy, but the sandalwood is definitely absent in here.
ara2382 – :
Wow! I love this!!!! It’s perfection! What a little surprise when I sprayed this out and the citrus was the thing I sensed first. But then it becomes that wonderful woody,musk! I am now wanting to explore the rest of the Pacifica fragrances. Love love love!
kirillkamenshik – :
After both reading the other reviews and trying it out, I can proudly say I really love this one and it worked for me.
Now, I’m drawn to sandalwood and musk more than anything else, and it’s hard to find a good sandalwood, as almost everything that claims it is, smells nothing like it.
This was interesting because I did get the initial citrus/ orange note, true to what was stated, but surprisingly, after only about 5 minutes, the nice sandalwood started coming through. After about 10 more, it was absolutely lovely on my skin!
I am so very pleased with this, it might even move up to my signature, and there’s been an existing one there for years.
Add to that, Pacifica’s fragrances are cruelty free, and made with very few ingredients.
andrey1810 – :
This is for the roll on version of this scent. I was confused like some of the other reviewers on here when I first put it on…you expect sandalwood but it opens with the outrageous sweet orangey smell. Luckily that dries down to warm sandalwood eventually. I still catch wafts of the oranges every now and then. I do keep this in my purse for a pick me up. I find the orangey smell wakes me up then I get comforted by the sandalwood later.
вахмурка535 – :
Rec’d in a swap. Smells like dry orange juice. Not for me.
palevo195 – :
Sandalwood is one of my favorite scents. I like many of the Pacifica products. It was on sale. The tester was missing. All good reasons for a blind buy. Imagine my surprise at home when I tried SANDALWOOD and smelled not sandalwood, but tangerine and orange. My first thought was that someone had put the wrong bottle in the box, but this wasn’t the case. I checked the notes and the reviews and realized that the sandalwood here is mostly wishful thinking. Luckily, I like citrus-scented fragrances, especially in warm weather, so it turned out well despite my initial disappointment.
This fragrance starts out with a strong flourish of refreshingly bitter tangerine and orange notes. With dry-down, the bitterness fades and is overtaken by sweet, fresh orange. Eventually, the sandalwood can be detected, but it adds depth more than actual scent. After a couple of hours, a very faint floral note emerges. Sillage is on the soft side of moderate. I find that Pacifica fragrances are highly variable in terms of longevity and this lasts about 3-4 hours on me, although it does linger as a skin-scent and on my clothing. (I have the EDP spray.) All in all, it’s a pleasant, casual citrus fragrance for a warm day, however, it’s not the one to choose if you’re looking for sandalwood. By the way, I’ve written to Pacifica about the name of this fragrance and it will be interesting to see what they have to say.
KoleosAW – :
I like Pacifica stuff but this could of been so much better…Sandalwood is my favorite note but all I get from this (including the lotion) is orange and a tiny whiff of Australian sandalwood and…..
Trix cereal!
Can’t wear this. Gave my stash to a friend who takes anything free.
WOLF_VIP – :
This starts out as a slightly bitter, herbal citrus that is fresh yet spicy and dries down into a soft, warm sandalwood. Most of my perfumes are on the sweet side, so this is completely different than what I’m used to and it’s a welcome departure! Very natural smelling and one of Pacifica’s more sophisticated fragrances.
If you’re looking for a pure sandalwood this isn’t it, but if a herbal citrus sounds intriguing to you, I definitely recommend it! I often get compliments when I wear this.
WinLega – :
The best mandarin perfume I’ve come across is Gap Mandarin Jasmin (surprisingly), but it’s been discontinued for years. This is sort of like it, only the jasmin is replaced with an almost non-existent sandalwood. I wear this during the hot summer months when I want something refreshing, but it should have more sandalwood in it. Pacifica seems to keep the price down by not adding enough essential oils, or in very small amounts.
Neji – :
I wanted to like this scent, I did…but I didn’t. I smelled the oranges, but it came off kinda sour on me, and the sandalwood was in the background, hovering. After 4 hours with repeated use, it fell flat on my skin, but stayed in my clothes. It definitely passes for unisex, so I gave it to my dad, who loves it!
Meescuent – :
If you layer this with the Pacifica Vanilla, it really smells wonderful. It adds a bit of dimension to it. I use the rollerball.
nbw580Diobtetty – :
This review is for the perfume spray.
Warm, fresh, sweet orange top notes that mellow to an amber-y sandalwood. No dusty sandalwood here. My yoga teacher wore this and I had to know what he was wearing. Very subtle, quiet fragrance. Aromatherapy for sure. I’m a sucker for sandalwood. Lovely.
fandswefe – :
i’ll be honest, at first i thought this was lemongrass! settles somewhat and the sandalwood comes out a little. quite citrusey and pleasant. definitely warrants a second try and even more…
revakat – :
I was looking forward to this as I have been on the quest for a good citrus. I get no oranges, no tangerines, no sweetness, I’m not even sure I get sandalwood. On me this just comes up as powder. Linear powder. I do ahve the spray so I’m not sure if the solid might have been a better choice for me… The scent of the solids is just so fleeting that I went with spray. I wish I could like it.
Update- later in the day- This spray lingers longer than the solids, and it has given me a raging headache. This will be up for swap! Jealous of people who get the ctirus and sweetness from it! 🙁
www-Vitruk – :
I’m puzzled by the mentions of Fruit Loops in the reviews below, as there’s not enough sweetness in Pacifica’s Sandalwood to warrant that sugary comparison. It is fair to say, however, that calling this a sandalwood-representative perfume is a stretch.
It opens with a potent, herbal/citrus cacophony. Tangerine and orange are present of course, but there’s a lemon-lime vibe that gives this a very green, fresh air. It’s not cloyingly sweet or reminiscent of juice; rather the fragrance is succulent but close to nature. Like standing in a grove of citrus trees, versus anything gourmand.
Sandalwood does make its presence later, in the dry down, but it’s better to approach Pacifica’s offering as an herbal/citrus perfume with just a kiss of woodiness. It that respect, it was a poor naming decision but still a lovely fragrance overall.
mkz811JeomiWogkig – :
Smells like straight up furniture polish! Pledge Eau de Toilette 🙂
I usually like Pacifica’s fragrances but this one is a deinite dislike… If I want to smell like furniture polish I will just spray it on myself.
sosedov – :
Tried the sample & I agree with some people here–strong cirtus after applying, but the sandalwood barely there–even after the citrus fades.
Addendum: I’ve been using the body butter & am impressed by the lingering sandalwood fragrance. I plan to order the spray & the shower gel soon.
likhanvaa.91 – :
Well, it turns out I really like Pacifica’s Sandalwood, but I have to admit, I was afraid after reading the reviews. Well, maybe I like the smell of furniture polish! So there! (I actually sort of do, at least the un-bitter uber-citrusy kind that smells like oranges, but this isn’t it by a long shot.)
When I smelled this, it instantly sent me back to being a kid and making weird concoctions with whatever I found in the garden. At least in the opening notes, this is EXACTLY the smell you get when you crush a lemon leaf in your fingers, it has that zesty-yet-sweet citrus scent that actually is quite a bit like fruit loops. Really, it’s more that fruit loops smell like a lemon tree and not the other way around, because it’s pretty amazing how realistic this is. It’s a pretty long-lasting for a citrus note too.
I’m not familiar with the smell of real sandalwood, so I can’t vouch for its authenticity, but it definitely does get more woodsy as it dries down, but not in a dark or bitter way. I really enjoy it, it’s sheer and easy to wear, with that dry tingle to it that some wood notes have.
Update: Just tried the spray version, and I definitely get tangerine and orange rinds, the solid perfume version has much more of the lemon-tree-smell. The sandalwood does do a disappearing act, but it works magnificently if it’s warmed up, it would be great for summer. I just love all the citrus, I could bathe in this stuff, it’s so wonderful!
wolfnc555 – :
tried this in the store – thought it tasted, sorry, smelled like vanilla. too sweet for me!
nubenok111 – :
I could do without the top notes. 😛 I expected sandalwood when I sprayed the perfume and I got citronella candle/citrus furniture polish instead. Ick. After an hour or so it smelled okay, but the initial scent ruined it for me.
Aerohoplenerilld – :
I was given the solid as a gift but was a bit disappointed that I smell oranges (actually, I think tangerines) more than sandalwood. I don’t think it’s a well-balanced scent but maybe on someone else it would smell better?
serdyuk.k – :
Pretty gross it, after an hour its somewhat ok but nothing I will ever want to try again
Scorpionroman – :
Starts out smelling too much like a fruity body spray but gets better…just when you think it might have possibilities it has disappeared.
nenormsweek – :
Smells nothing like sandalwood – tried it, and other Pacifica scents at Whole Foods today – they’re just rubbish really. Where’s the sandalwood? It’s not like you can fool anyone who’s smelt the actual oil or wood before this “home-candle” scent.
(Edit Feb 23, 2012) I’ll take back the rubbish thing, but it’s only because their Spanish Amber and Persian Rose are mostly okay.
andre801 – :
I love citrus fragrances but I wish they would’ve left the citrus out of this one. It conflicts with the sandalwood. It absolutely smells like furniture polish or floor cleaner.
vasiliev – :
Lemon zest and bitter, earthy sandalwood on my skin. Definitely unisex. Unfortunately it is also incredibly soapy….something I intensely dislike. A no-go for me.
Shket21kom – :
* Office-safety: 10/10
* “Headache” factor: 2/10
On me, this opens lemon/bergamot – not nearly as strong and pungent as lemon furniture cleaner, but it does bring that smell to mind.
Next, as a couple of others have commented, Froot Loops. Yum yum!
It dries down too quickly to a very soft, creamy sandalwood citrus scent.
I like this, but I’d wish it lasted longer. May have to get a bottle eventually to layer.
Vlad19550 – :
At first this scent reminds me of opening a fresh box of froot loops cereal. A dry sweet lemony orange. Fun, bright, and fizzy – and it definitely puts a smile on my face. But if you give it time to dry down, you nearly forget what you sprayed on at first, because it transforms into a really light creamy sweet sandalwood after an hour or so. I really like how smooth it becomes as it wears on. It’s simple. Easy to wear. Not too heavy on the sillage, or extremely long lasting, but still a very lovely, lighthearted citrus/sandalwood scent. It always puts me in a good mood.
*Layering with Mexican Cocoa creates a deliciously sweet combination.
Deroxfvduv – :
Light, dry and woody. Its sandalwood for sure, but pretty ordinary. I dream of the depth, resinous complexity and sheer beauty of The Body Shop’s late lamented Woody Sandalwood (sigh).
vanlandy – :
Lemon lemon lemon bergamot lemon lemon bergamot….:) and where is sandalwood???? Where????
EnnVal – :
Again, I smell bergamot, but I love citrus anyway so I am still happy. I have the solid also, nice to put in my purse or throw in a bag in the summer. Not catching what I would recognize as sandalwood though.
NCMiller – :
I actually really love the smell of this perfume, but it really doesn’t resemble sandalwood in the least. It’s very sweet and citrusy, and not very woodsy at all.
kosta87 – :
I shockingly light sandalwood fragrance. As others have mentioned its citrusy, but I’m getting more bergamot than lemon. It also seems to be tempered with hint of amber or a light musk (its so faint its hard to tell). The overall effect on me is reminiscent of fine French milled soap, more of a clean unisex smell than anything else. Because it is so soft, this is more suitable for day time wear, you could probably even wear it to work.
breepsype – :
This is not like any sandalwood i smelled before. There is no “woods” in this. As soon as I sprayed it all i got was froot loops. I tried it one more time, even layered with other pacifica scents as they recommend. No woods, no lovely sandalwood. As much as ive enjoyed pacifica scents this one is not for me. The citrus dominates and I also get the detergent smell. Not a keeper!
2/23/11 edit:
Well i had the box sitting on my dresser beckoning to me…try me again. As i always have to give a fragrance second chances, this would be third chance. First spray, once again cheerios. Gave about 30mins settle down and voila there is the sandalwood. There is still a citrus top note that dominates, but it is a pretty sandalwood. I could imagine it being compatible for summer days light fresh and easily layered. So why not…this is now a keeper and something to experiment with layering…
i actually ordered the body butter. I am hooked to this scent. I love a fragrance that takes its time slowly sneaking up on me then taking its place into my senses. Now a winner!
Rebeicca485 – :
citrusy-sandalwood, great unisex fragrance, lasts the longest of all the pacifica perfumes i have tried (i’m referring to the solid perfumes, i have chanel taste on a love’s baby soft budget!)
Dzhulianabub – :
I have the solid of this and it’s a slightly sweet, lemony sandalwood, emphasis on the lemon. It’s not revolutionary in terms of a fragrance, but still nice to wear and use as a layer for other fragrances. The solid itself was great–soft and creamy, but not greasy.
ekzistens – :
I’m not good at reviewing fragrances but I wanted to add that, indeed, it’s not your traditional sandalwood. To me, it’s more like lemon with pepper added. People do seem to like it, probably because it smells different than the average scent.
I’ve had mine for about a year and I’m wondering if it’s turning? Maybe my body chemistry has changed but I feel like it no longer is right for me.
alex13708 – :
Thanks weegee for the sample! In all honesty, when I first applied it, I was sorely confused. Did weegee mislabel the sample vial? It happens sometimes, you know.
I (not unreasonably) expected some sandalwood. But no, instead a wave of pleasant LEMON detergent escaped into the air. It tastes like the salt on the rim of a sour citrus martini. Sharp, sour, and unisex in the way Annick Goutal Eau d’Hadrien is (to compare the two, Sandalwood is higher pitched, sharper, and less rounded). Mr. Clean does develop into faint woody accords, but if not for the name, I would not have thought to look for the woods, so faint are they in the background. The only indication of woods is the pale layer of seriousness that begins the veil the otherwise sparkling lemon. And before you know it, it’s gone. The lasting power and scent may be only appropriate for the hottest muggiest summer day.
Not a bad fragrance, but definitely no departure from the trademark citrusy-fruitiness of the Pacifica line, and a bit of a disappointment for the name. Nothing that hasn’t been done over and over by fragrances like Light Blue and the entire CK series. As far as lemons go, I find the Chanel Chance Eau Fraiche or AG Eau d’Hadrien have much better defined personalities that transcend detergent.
atu336bedyWelty – :
There is more lemon here than sandalwood! actually , I smell lemon balm and then a hint of sandalwood. Probably will be lovely for summer, may be the sandalwood will show itself more in warm weather.Now, it the cold, it feels more masculine!
мандер – :
If you like a “wood” fragrance, you’ll love this one and the price is great. I think I love Pacifica’s soaps most of all!
1,23457E+14 – :
Pacifica’s Sandalwood is a light and lemony sandalwood fragrance…a summer version of sandalwood, perfect for the hottest dog days, but with zero danger of contributing to a forest fire. The wood is dialed way down, the lemon ramped up.
I have the solid perfume version, and as with the others in this line, longevity is not the greatest, but the convenience of the little fragrance pots makes re-applying easy.