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apokins – :
I sampled this yesterday and it’s beautiful. Don’t let others’ reviews put you off if you like sweet leather perfumes. It’s like sniffing brand new soft supple leather. Fabulous. MOre leathery than SL Daim Blond but it’s in that genre. It lasts for hours and hours! Stunning! I’ve just ‘found’ Le Labo and I’m impressed. Great website, service, free postage and lots of choice. Yes it’s expensive but they do tiny bottles or really big beautiful bottles! Excellent!
zartan – :
I wish I don’t like this scent so much..
JHAG’s Sunny Side Up smells similar, but Santal 33 is just slightly better, more effortless, with more clarity. The longevity and projection is not the greatest and definitely does not justify the price tag. Also, never a fan of the pretentiousness of the house.
baren19499 – :
Smells like cucumbers or pickles…
While I’m a fan of them as a food, I don’t particularly want to smell like em. Pretty gross IMO. Not at all what I would have expected from the notes here.
demaTeams11 – :
Not a review, but just want to report that the roll-on perfume oil by Imperial Barber Grade Products ($32 – 9ml) smells EXACTLY like Santal 33. I just sampled it and, wow. I own Santal 33 and usually don’t care for the so-called “dupes” but that oil nailed the top and mid notes (and let’s be honest there’s not much of a base note stage in Santal 33) so perfectly I’m in shock. If I were to ever buy a bottle I will just opt for the oil. It’s that same sophisticated scent (5 notches above the Zara and Commodity) with performance, but cost much less money. Crazy!
frontruntex – :
This became a classic more or less instantly upon release, and rightly so. A really nice modern approach to a woodsy scent. Woodsy scents are a dime a dozen out there, but Santal 33 is far from bland and boring with its quirky, edgy pungent notes which so beautifully balance out the soft woods and musk. This is what a modern masculine classic smells like. And the soft, musky drydown which goes on forever! Heaven. Ovepriced, yes, but yet I wouldn’t want to do without this in my collection. A clear 9 / 10.
A note on the sandalwood: Anyone lookng for sandalwood all by itself, in all its Mysore-like glory, need look no further than By Kilian’s Sacred Wood; unadulterated sandalwood perfection. But if it‘s something edgier, more interesting you‘re after, then Santal 33 or Tom Ford‘s sweaty Santal Blush are the top recommendations.
agraiss – :
I wanted to know what the fuss was about so ordered a sample. Sprayed once.
Opens with pickles..Which i did not like. But that fades away in a few minuted. Left with a powdery sandalwood now.
Not sure if its for me. I prefer a more floral perfume. Gonna use the sample and see if i change my mind
Update: an hour after it dried down i started to enjoy this. But not enough for the price.
unosehownor – :
Sweet, smoky, sandalwood & pine.
I was hoping I would not like this one. Oh well
kyzyahiha789 – :
Santal 33 is surely one of the woodsiest scent that I’ve ever tried. The quality of the ingredients is great as with every Le Labo but you get the impression that you are into a new built log cabin.
The woods are overwhelming and I don’t wanna smell like furniture.
5/10
sydradysmug – :
Det händer inte så ofta att jag frågar någon vad den bär för parfym. Med denna har det hänt två gånger, en gång på enföreläsning och en gång på bussen. Den doftade så fantastiskt på dessa personer, jag blev som besatt av doften! Väntade ivrigt på att butiken skulle öppna i Stockholm. Tyvärr besvikelse på min hud! Doftade billigt och utan komplexitet. Den påminde faktiskt om en body spray jag har från & Other stories, Bonbon tree. (1,5 ml sample).
BanderosForeva – :
This starts off as the brine (pickle juice) that everyone is talking about. Then it turns into a light, pleasant leather scent. There’s a third stage, and that’s when the sandalwood comes out.
I can see why people like it, it goes through changes and that makes it interesting.
However, it is overhyped, especially at that price point.
Wineworld – :
A nice masculine scent!
Tierioutmet – :
This smells like a warm late December evening at the Hotel Saint Cecilia in Austin’s very hip South Congress neighborhood (where Santal 33 ancillary products are included with the room) after a lazy, sake-soaked sushi dinner at Uchi amongst unbearably cool people. Or at least that’s how it smells to me because those were the circumstances under which I first tried it. That tells you nothing about how this perfume smells but an awful lot about how it makes you feel. I can’t wear it often because it DEFINITELY wears me, but it undeniably smells cool.
I love the candle, actually, and find the quality and throw to be excellent. Santal 33 smells very nice on my chemistry and it always gets noticed, but it seems to work better as a room scent for me.
beloysov81 – :
On me, this is a strong, dry and slightly bitter sandalwood scent that slowly gets more powder, musk, violet and leather. I definitely get the dill note – I recognized it and was pleased to see that I’m not the only one who smelled it! I like the sandalwood here, but there are plenty of sandalwood scents I like without that dill note. Pass.
I sprayed some on my (male) friend before we hung out with our group of friends (I was not wearing it). On him it smelled like soft, dry sandalwood and leather, very nice. Our friends loved it on him and one said “I can’t stop sniffing you!”. So it sounds like I just have unlucky chemistry for this scent. I wonder what causes the pickle note.
olegkanushin – :
All I smell is papyrus. It’s unique, but I dislike it.
alexeybbc – :
I’ve delved deeply into houses like Clive Christian, Creed, By Killian, MiN NY, Annick Goutal and found gems, but to me personally, Le Labo has reached a pinnacle of luxury with the wondrous Santal 33. I wont give a lovely detailed description other than, it’s a luxurious, spiritual experience wearing this perfectly compounded fragrance. Cheers
Broonyrek – :
Two words: Beautiful masterpiece.
One of Le Labo’s best selling fragrances and its easy to see why. I’ve always loved this beautiful creamy but dry sandalwood medley. One of my students wears this and I always look forward to those days when she’s attending class. It’s a major compliment getter. And if she never wore it this would be mine, right behind The Noir 29 and Vetiver 46. My bank account thanks her!
I do like Le Labos branding and packaging. The no frills apothecary approach helps them stand out in a crowded market. My only suggestion would be to take off the expiration date. If perfume is handled correctly, it can have a long life. That part does seem gimmicky and a ploy to get their consumers to buy more.
tishinatishina – :
Perhaps the dryest,most aromatic and hardest to wear santal fragrance I have smelled
Overall you get a very dry ,somewhat spicy, dusty, a hint of sweetness kind of aromatic
This fragrance is not smooth and transitions rather abruptly
I find this unisex, but do not like it for myself or women
It is nice this is not waxy or not too sweet like some santals, but this seems to incomplete to me, even if it was meant to be airy.
For those who love this, just ignore this and love what you love.
I do not recommend you blind buy niche fragrances
mishenko_134 – :
Quite stunning. Get ready for the compliments and turn on your confidence and swag. This was a pleasant surprise for me. Smells very natural to me without trying too hard. There are a couple of stages with this settling into a very nice Powdery, woody, semi-sweet drydown that lasts. A unisex scent for sure.
Drog_96 – :
This isnt santal. Its Papyrus. For days. Get Fancy Nights its cheaper than this acidic chemical wonderfest of pungant delight. Overpriced pickle juice
Trollka85 – :
Okay, this one is quite difficult for me. So, to start off with, my husband immediately deemed this to be my “pickles” scent. I can spray this on myself in the bedroom, he will get home from being out, open the door and say “I smell pickles!” That being said, the sillage and longevity is amazing and everything that I want from every scent I ever wear (it’s actually one of the only ones I have found to have that type of projection on my skin). At first, this was something I wore proudly. I felt high class and rare when wearing this, although always keeping in mind that it could strike people either very positively or the opposite. One day I was at an invisalign appt and my dentist was like “Okay, I have to know what scent you’re wearing” I didn’t know if this was because he was hating it or loving it. I told him and he said it smelled like this super bougie resort he stayed at for a conference out west and he wanted it or himself. THAT was exactly the reaction I could ever hope for. However, I’ve had a super sad turn with this fragrance. For some reason, one day I was wearing this and started feeling so nauseated by the smell. I tried scrubbing it off, but I could still smell it. This has happened a couple times since then. It’s super saddening, especially since it has so much of what I want in a fragrance. Luckily I only had a sample and not a whole bottle. I 100% think this is worth a shot though, it could be your new fav.
AlexZarg – :
Fragrance – Santal 33 Le Labo
Bottle from – 2015
This fragrance reminds me of a lonely and magical cottage in the misty Serbian forest at sunset.
Santal 33 opens on my skin with a mystical,clean,green, creamy and a bit milky flowers with dominant iris and with an astonishing touch of papyrus laying on top of a comforting sandalwood.I can detect a hint of fig,water notes and cucumber,but it’s not listed in the notes.
During mid development,warm pepper with a hint of romantic violet,starts to emerge.
This all leads into a sensual,woody,musky and a bit leathery base with the tender trace of vetiver.
Santal 33 doesn’t really change very much.This is a bit linear scent but in a good way.
Longevity – 10/10(12+ hours)
Silage/Projection – 9/10(heavy projection and silage for the first 3-4 hours)
Weather – For more or less any time of year.I personally wouldn’t wear this on a really hot summer days.
Versatility – 9/10
Age – 23+
Compliments – 8/10
Scent – 9,5/10
Main notes according to me – sandalwood,papyrus,cedar,iris,
violet,musk,water notes,pepper.
The drydown is a sensual,woody,musky and a bit leathery and I get some -sandalwood,green notes,cedar,vetiver and musk.
Emotions -misty Serbian forest,magical,clean,mystical, comforting,calming.
Occasion -for more or less any ocasion.
Try before you buy.
sbkor – :
Despite Le Labo being known for misleading titles, there really isn’t any curve ball here. Opening with a cold, almost sterile sandalwood and crunchy cedar, Santal 33 takes some time before it warms up to you. It’s a little aggressive, but there’s something that keeps me coming back. It’s almost nutty like, amidst arid carpenter’s wood, wet cardboard, and a touch of new car smell.
Thankfully I do not get any of the infamous dill/pickle juice note, but a very enjoyable dash of violet cucumber water instead. It’s refreshing, and does a good job of taming the beast. Again, the opening sterile funk is clearly too much for some, but give it a half hour and something quite creamy and comforting begins to emerge. If you can approach Santal 33 without any politics or bias, it’s actually a lovely, versatile fragrance. It’s also atomic, so don’t be an idiotic oversprayer.
Rom-79 – :
Woody, and somehow (not really, but really) animalic in the dirty leather sense of animalic. Very woody indeed.
As to the pickle part? Mayyyybe a little bit of dill, not fresh green dill but that dry stuff smells very different.
An interesting scent, and not unlikeable in principle, but nothing to fall in love with for me,
Oh, and there is some sandalwood, but it’s not a sandalwood fragrance (but this, being le Labo, is kinda expected, isn’t it?).
rammx – :
How much should I say I am totally in love with this scent. This is for the past, the renaissence, the comfy and definitely worth spending. This is for the mass but not for all, and this kind of mass has nothing in common. This scent differs a person from each other, because I do not see the common when I and my friend were wearing Santal 33 at the same time. To me, this one lasts very long, especially you spray a bit into your hair. This scent will not change as time passes, it stays right where the first spray was. I feel relaxing when I wear this, and this is my signature scent and I am happy everybody notices that.
Evdokim82 – :
Santal 33 is intriguing. I tried it out on a test strip first, and on paper, I definitely smelled the dill pickle blast straight up; not unpleasant, but not a fragrance I could imagine wearing. Next, I tried it out on my skin. What a difference! On my skin, the dill pretty much disappears. I’m sure if my first sniff hadn’t been on paper, I would be completely baffled by the reviews that mention pickles. On my skin, the leather is very pronounced. It has an almost new car smell, but woodier. I don’t usually enjoy leather in fragrances, but I cannot deny there is something very pleasant and comforting about this scent. I want to keep breathing it in. It’s definitely not pretty. It’s hard to imagine getting compliments on this one. It reminds me of a new car, the inside of a cedar chest of drawers, and the woodsy smell of an attic in winter. Not quite dusty, but the cozy scent of wood in a forgotten place. I definitely understand the hype.
Gamer3000000 – :
This smells like California… Northern California, NOT Southern California. No palm trees or beaches here… more like dark redwood forests, dense fog, and fresh, cold air. Greenery and fresh cut lumber in a yard warmed by mild sun. It’s bold but definitely not ostentatious, and attention-grabbing but quiet at the same time.
zzz_560 – :
While in Chicago I visited the Le Labo store just so I could smell Santal 33. I wanted to know if it smells like pickles. It does. It’s a weird smell. Imagine gallons and gallons of cucumber water being dumped on a pile of wood and then lighting that same pile of wood on fire once it’s dried out. Santal 33 is sour and dank. There are elements about it that smell very natural, which is always nice. However, the sourness of it and spiciness of it create the smell of niche pickle juice. I’ve read on here that “it smells like niche Dior Fahrenheit.” No. Just no. Dior Fahrenheit is never ever sour smelling. Santal lacks the floral, honeysuckle opening of Fahrenheit and the violet leaf note isn’t as prominent. Where Fahrenheit is medicinal smelling, Santal 33 is sour smelling. Where Fahrenheit can be said smells like gasoline and leather, Santal 33 smells like pickles and leather. Justin Bieber can keep this as his signature scent. Pass on this one you guys. It’s not worth the hype or the $250+. Let the rich and the pretentious hipster types have their weird pickle juice. You don’t need it. I left the Le Labo store with a sample of Noir 29. Now that one was nice, but who can afford it?!
sasha09091971 – :
My most complimented fragrance. Especially in spring time for some reason.
wowazel – :
Long lasting bright sandalwood scent that last a long time (Book by Commodity to me doesn’t come close and it’s stinky to my nose go for Maison Louis Marie No. 04 instead the dry down is very close just softer than the Santal). I fall in and out of love with it (currently in love again keep these bottles out of the light into a drawer they will turn). I use it for awhile give it a break then come back to it. Definitely not a blind buy and also do yourself a favor for sandalwood lovers check out Maison Louis Marie No. 04 the oil, Tam Dao the “EDP” only, so good.
janineengberg – :
Smells similar to the original Fahrenheit love the smell though
floris64 – :
Sandalwood is my favorite note and had hopes for this fragrance. Unfortunately santal33 was not for me. In fact I tried to like it, but I had to scratch it off. There is a note in there which transform the beatyful sandalwood into an harsh, old basement type of smell. It gets better in the drydown, but still not anything I would like to wear at all.
I would recommend By kilian’s Sacred wood instead if you like sandalwood.
Dislike from me.
chtixel164 – :
You’re a rabbit. You live in a dead garden. Your entire diet consists of unremarkable weeds, poison ivy/oak/sumac, and the occasional poisonous flower blossom. But, this isn’t just any garden, because its owner decided to plant a bunch of cucumbers this year. So, you’re a rabbit. You live in a mostly dead garden. Your entire diet consists of raw cucumbers, unremarkable weeds, poison ivy/oak/sumac, and the occasional poisonous flower blossom. The best part is that every so often you get to munch on all of these things after they’ve been spritzed with an insecticide. Santal 33 by Le Labo.
Gusqpfjc – :
This reminds me of good old American West Cowboy in his leather boots, leather jacket riding a horse leaning on the worn leather saddle, alone with the desert wind. This is a dirty, leathery but at the same time kind of fresh and damp spicy fragrance. I think the fresh/dampness comes from ambrox. I barely smell the violet or iris in here, it must be very much in the background just to give it a balsamic feel to it. Even though I like to associate this more with saddles, leather jackets and boots. I also do get a very spicy, peppery, fresh cucumber and at times dill pickle smell from it. I must say the opening is the cowboy man and the dry down is the cucumber/peppery smell.
It is an interesting and natural smelling fragrance but nothing to die for.
lexa40 – :
Who do i picture wearing this?
A young man, between 20 and 30. Wearing Raw APC Petit Standard, Common Project sneakers, and a casual shirt (not tucked in).
That who’s immediately crossed my mind.
As about me, i wear it and i love it. Got mixed feedbacks though. A lot of random dudes asked me about it in the street, yet a lot of my female friends didn’t like it (found it too agressive)
goodwin15 – :
This is a niche Dior Fahrenheit but better!
Doesn’t smell the same, but the edgy, muskiness with great projection, longevity and sillage really makes Santal 33 a standout in the Le Labo line!
hatalia-kovalevch – :
Finally got a chance to pick Santal 33 up, and so far I’m definitely lovin the purchase. Not sure where people are getting a pickle smell from, but I do get hints of fresh cucumber mixed with leather and of course the sandalwood. This frag also reminds me of an older cologne is used to have from gap, the original. Its been awhile since I’ve smelled it, but it definitely takes me back.
Kur48 – :
Very intriguing fragrance. The first few times I smelled Santal, I really didn’t “get” the appeal. From the testers that I tried, it was very woodsy and dry, and definitely leaned masculine. But, I decided to give it another try and purchased a small 15 ml bottle at the boutique.
Opening on me is vetiver and fig, and sort of reminds me of a home fragrance. (I guess that makes sense since its predecessor, Santal 26, was a home scent.) Wearing throughout the day, I get more of the iris and amber, mixed in with the fig, except the fig becomes milkier and warmer. I don’t get much sandalwood except when the scent has nearly worn off, and that is when it comes through. My mom used to have a beautiful sandalwood Chinese fan (the ones you can keep in your purse and open up as needed), and the sandalwood base in Santal reminds me exactly of if.
I find Santal very dynamic – it really develops and changes throughout the day. Luckily, I never get the “dill” note that others have experienced. Lasting power and projection are superb – I sprayed 2 spritzes – one at the nape of the neck and the other near my belly button, and I got pleasant whiffs all throughout the day.
As for it being “basic” or overexposed, I have smelt it on people in the metro-NYC area before, but I wouldn’t say it is as prominent or commercial as, say, Chanel Coco Mademoiselle.
Santal will definitely be getting its fair share of rotations in my collection! Very pleased with my purchase.
soft4dle – :
@maureen.mccab
I couldn’t agree more, on everything!
I am from Northern CA too, and just last week did the Highway 84 drive from 1 to Redwood City. You’re absolutely right.
The ad copy on the Nordstrom site says something about the American west, which also resonates with me too. Really, I could care less who else wears this or doesn’t or what either side thinks of each other. It’s all very juvenile. Perfume transcends!
Sanredokop – :
Driving down Highway 1 near the Pacific Ocean, through redwood and eucalyptus trees, a dense fog carrying a woody, salty, electric sea air – a very distinct smell that anyone who has driven in northern California would know. That is all I can think of when wearing this perfume, and so for me it’s a winner.
Everyone’s chemistry is different, so not everyone will like it. And who cares if it’s trendy, or hated, or polarizing. It’s sad to see people talking ignorantly and judging those who enjoy this perfume. I am anything but vapid or a follower of trends, I recently came across this brand by walking through a department store and nobody told me to try it, I just sampled all the Le Labo on my skin and kept coming back to this one.
Not everyone will like this perfume, not everyone will smell the redwood trees and fog like I do, but for some of us I think Santal 33 is comforting and memory-inducing in a fantastic way.
masterman470 – :
*You, walking into an exotic spice market.*
“This smells fantastic!
Then someone drops a huge jar of pickles, which smashes into a thousand pieces and splashes pickle juice onto your shoes.
That’s what this smells like.
SOL-MAX – :
I 100% echo the sentiments from hedward’s review down below. Everything about this perfume is awful from its insipid, screechy aroma to its hilariously misguided cult-following amongst the most vapid of consumers. Don’t apologize for what you’ve written; you hit the nail on the head, and anyone offended by your review can come back when they’ve learned that they’re not that special either 😉
Hoffman_ufa – :
I can acknowledge others’ complaints about coldness and sterility in this scent, it certainly isn’t what one immediately thinks of when envisioning sandalwood… but to me this an advantage.
Instead of cold or sterile, I would say it is fresh and seasonless, dry and invigorating. Unexpected. Lately I’ve personally kind of had it with the big, bold, warm and opulent scents because no one knows how to do them anymore. They used to be my favorite, most personal scents. Now, I can’t remember the last time I met a “rich” or “wintery” scent that wasn’t mostly impotent. They are all weak or too sugary or both. Probably hard to do.
So on that note, I’m embracing the “colder” end of the spectrum, in hopes of finding some well made newer potions that hold up well. Santal 33 fits the bill well. I can see myself wearing this in December and in July. Knowing that this is such a popular scent with urban millenials, I’m not going to lie, for the first time in my life kind of turned me off because I don’t want to end up smelling like 1000 people who look like me and hang out at the same places I do. On the other hand, I actually have yet to smell it on anyone, and it isn’t as if I’m looking towards adopting this as a signature scent.
As for the “pretentious” perspective on this… I guess I can see what the accusation is getting at in terms of the visual aesthetic here. On the other hand, I see nothing offensive about the cleanness.. it seems to signal to me an adaptiveness. The type face makes me think of a screenplay, a page with words that can do anything the writer wants it to. I think perhaps that “blank slate” idea is what attracts so many people. It can fit many, can be made to match their personality.
Edit:
I have to add though, I’m not really sure where the practice of judging the character of people who like a certain perfume you do not came from (especially when the number of those people exceeds a certain level), but it is puzzling. How does popularity ( or alternately, the search for unknnown scents) offend? Who are we to stay if any individual’s devotion to a scent is genuine, or generated by need for approval or rebellion? And does it really matter? What one does and doesn’t wear will never really touch us. Isn’t it better to keep a review strictly personal? The very nature of perfume is that it is something that we wear for ourselves, but it makes us as individuals feel a certain way. At the end of the day, reviews are for curiousity or literal reference. No one else really cares what you or I think, not truly. People will follow their own noses.
sergei-sypalo – :
@a.iioana
I see your point and I apologize if I make it sound too harsh or condescending. I use alot of sarcasm and self-irony in my reviews, which don’t always translate because I can’t include body language to my texts. That’s what I get for being an amateur writer. Anyway, I think it’s a great thing that we have individuate opinions because it always broadens our world view as long as it doesn’t become too personal. With all respect.
pbg924InsuffBooni – :
@hedward
I’m sure many fragrances, including this one, have excessive praise through instragram and other social media platforms, although that doesn’t mean that, if someone posts an aesthetically pleasing photo of a perfume, he or she is superficial and has no clue about fragrances.
Still, the message I got from your review was that Santal 33 is for the superficial masses. To me, that observation didn’t sound as objective as you would have wanted it to be.
I know it’s not a conspiracy theory. That’s what the quotes were for.
HelloThere – :
@a.iioana
It’s not a conspiracy theory of any sort at all. I simply wrote about observations I’ve made regarding this specific fragrance and expressed my personal objective view of the scent itself. I’m not saying using this fragrance makes you a pretentious hipster – I’m pointing out that the audience that this fragrance garners tends to lean into aforementioned territory. Go to Instagram and see for yourself if you want proof. I have no interest what you like or do not like personally because this was a review based on general approach in social media’s frame of reference. This wasn’t about me or about you – this wasn’t about a single person but a mass of consumers. I can see why you take my review to the heart because it’s a matter of taste we argue about, but I believe it’s rather cheap to attack me personally. After all we are talking about scents, relax.
zubikkkkki – :
Below, you have proof that many fragrances, including this one, are not made for everyone. The “conspiracy theories” some come up with, because of a perfume…it’s pretty hilarious.
Yes, I adore this one, despite the harsh opening, and I wear designer (mostly) also.
No, I did not find out about this perfume through instagram/hashtags.
I also believe I tested enough fragrances by now, niche and designer, in order to have a clear judgement over a fragrance, although I don’t have the same belief that you need to know much about fragrances to figure if a certain one works. This works.
PS: Yes, @hedward, your comment is actually offensive and I’m usually pretty open-minded. You are not that special.
mennds – :
– Untitled 7708 – ★☆☆☆☆
I’m not going to blame Le Labo for creating a concept that perfectly represents a certain part of the young adults of today’s world. From the package to the bottle and the scent, they absolutely nailed it and it totally sells out. Cold and sterile. Devoid of empathy and humbleness. Sharp and minimal.
Santal 33 is the perfume equivalent to Dunning-Kruger effect – the less you know, the more confident you are. A niche fragrance, tailored for pretentious individuals who believe regular designer fragrances are not worth their skin. Cleverly sold to them in a sleek industrial packaging that ironically tries to convey unpretentious and discreet. They are made to believe that their exquisite and unique taste had led them to the REAL world of perfumes, when in fact it was all just another marketing trap. I’ve studied this on social media with hashtags such as #lelabo or #santal33 and it’s quite interesting. Some claim that Le Labo “liberated” them from the synthetic headache inducing designer market with their natural (???) flavours. For most, it’s a sign of modern luxury to make a scene about your trip to Le Labo store where the perfume is made in front of you. Thousands of filtered photos of Santal 33 sitting in some completely artifical setting such as on the kitchen table or next to a houseplant in livingroom. They think Le Labo is the real quality deal and brag about it bashing Escada, while in reality most of them know very little about perfumes. Analogous to the “hipsters” that loudly glorify Oneohtrix Point Never and Arca as some electronic music pioneers.
Now onto the scent. I’ve written shortly about it before. Contrary to the name, sandalwood here is actually quite thin and weak. It’s not the creamy quality sandalwood but a synthetic one overloaded with extremely bitter dill-like papyrus and harsh leather. There is a weird coconut (propably methyl laitone) that tries to enhance the milkiness of sandalwood but it contradicts with the bitterness. It’s quite unpleasant to be honest. When I wore it, most seemed to actually complain about it. I don’t mind pervasive or difficult perfumes but this one I fail to see the point. It’s just loud, sharp and herbal-woody – I personally fail to see any emotion in it. You might argue Shalimar is strong or “cocky” too but the depth, emotional quality and complexity justifies it. Based on social media, many try to make a statement with Santal 33 but ironically there is no statement whatsoever – it’s just a concept of vogue one delusionally buys as their own style.
*edit*
Don’t take this too seriously. Believe your own nose and your own style.
Soundtrack: Arca – Vanity
glittebug – :
I get mostly leather. Like the smell of new shoes. It’s a delicate leather. After a couple of minutes the sandalwood becomes noticeable and afterwards the violet.
if you are inclined towards soft leather, creamy scents then Le Labo Santal 33 might be a good choice for you.
snkjznuyouj – :
Not on the creamy side of sandalwood. It’s more like paper-pulp with a hint of Chinese herbal edge.
Perhaps due to the leather, it also has indistinctive powdery-skin undertone, which gradually surfaced later.
Deroxzstgh – :
Santal 33 is modern, urban, and cold. Reminds me of a musty book…or concrete. Interesting work of perfumery, but I wouldn’t wear it and I can’t imagine anybody really being attracted to it. Perfect for the pretentious artist who lives in an industrial-chic New York studio, but probably not your average Joe.
oxinizk – :
Hi, having just found Santal 33,falling in love with it but not the price tag….. I was overwhelmed to discover the exact replica, which I’m wearing now. I read about Zara Tiveden on this site and decided to go and test it out. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO DIFFERENCE. Even the longevity is the same. It’s most bizarre. I’ve literally never smelt such a perfect fragrance match before. For £15.50 for 100ml its a steal.
SAHSA27091987 – :
Smells terrible… very synthetic smelling & just plain horrible. Very surprised a frag like this is coming from Le Labo. Definitely sample this before you blind buy!
kasur_2010 – :
One of my favorites from the Le Labo collection. This is a love or hate fragrance and it is a love for me. It works great on my skin and I love smelling the scent when I am wearing it. It lasts a good 8 hours on my skin.
vlad201203 – :
The Urban Outfitters alternative to this has been renamed Cypress Wood, but the notes listed are the same. It now comes in a black bottle.
ermolov – :
There’s an alternative to this in Urban Outfitters called “wood”. I haven’t smelled Santal 33, but I’ve smelled both Book and Zara Tiveden, definitely the latter two and Wood are on the same realm, real close tbh. My girlfriend adores the urban outfitters cologne.
KlimzA – :
Santal 33 was my very first fragrance I expe