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Fish914 – :
This was a blind buy for me which I try to do rarely but this scent just fit exactly into what I was looking for. Its good. Woody spicy warm. I’m not in love though like I was hoping to be. I think the clove is a bit overpowering on the drydown…in this line of scent embers by rouge bunny rouge still takes the cake.
I have 100+ niche samples for swap within Europe – get in touch! Updated spreadsheet of samples on my profile.
dram1234 – :
I am such a perfume/cologne/scent addict that at times I cannot rest until I own the fragrance that has captured my attention. I hugged a handsome friend of mine upon seeing him. For a brief moment I smelled his neck. He had something on that made me say “you smell good, what’s that you’re wearing”? He said Woody Sandalwood. I said, Body Shop? Yes, he said. That was about a month ago. Since then I have been on a quest to obtain some of this perfume oil which I used to buy in the early 90’s. Body Shop had several scents that came in small bottles (dewberry was my second favorite), I think all were oil based perfumes. I found Woody Sandalwood on Ebay. I procured a sample and applied it behind my ears, wrists and dabs on chest. It’s heaven! Sometimes I think I’ve become this insane fragrance collector who’s apartment looks like a discount cologne store. But at other times I’m happy that I have this wealth of scent that makes my life more interesting. I don’t know. I try not to question it too much. Woody Sandalwood is not a complicated scent, kind of the opposite. But there is something to it that hypnotizes and speaks to me. I love sandalwood, and it’s becoming rare and harder to get. I have tried a few sandalwood frags, but nothing grabbed me like Woody Sandalwood. It’s another scent that makes me happy and I suppose that’s just enough.
MIkS_ – :
Beautiful fragrance which is woody and spicy. A great combination between cedarwood and sandalwood, amber spices and patchouli.
I love wearing it as it is long lasting and projects well. A great fragrance and one which blends with skin in a beautiful way. Highly recommended.
OpittigHirm – :
I have the little frosted glass bottle with the black cap. Very smokey and cloves are everywhere. Blends well with other ethereal scents and very concentrated. Had compliments from wearing this! If you have this one, explore your possibilities and create a masterpiece!
polis1995 – :
A very clean, brisk sandalwood with a slightly artificial edge. In time (like after years of maturation) the artificial sharpness ceases and what you are left is quite a chocolate/whiskey accented, balmy, woody scent. I believe that’s one of the successfully done perfume oils from the past, namely the past of the TBS.
895138883 – :
I love love love layering this with other fragrances – my favorite being this combination: Woody Sandalwood, Night Jasmine (TBS), and Skin Musk oil. These three together make one amazing scent. I use this with others too like Samsara to give it that extra boost of sandalwood/spicy goodness. Since this is discontinued, I had to pay a bit more than I wanted to but it was well worth it IMO.
kulibin_dk – :
Got this back when I was around 18 or 19 at a Body Shop location where one could sample the fragrance oil offerings at a black circular counter in the middle of the store. Loved the deep, rich warmth of the oil, and it didn’t give me an instant headache/sinus attack like most of the popular loud, heavy commercial scents of that era. I wore this to work at one of the various office temp jobs I found myself stuck in back then, until one evening when my mom took me aside very kindly and let me know that I smelled like cheese. Yikes! As a (more than mildly-OCD) hygiene fanatic, I was appalled. I showered at least once a day back then, so I knew that the off-putting, “cheesy” note that Mom was detecting had to be the sandalwood melding horribly with my skin chemistry. I immediately stopped wearing it and threw it away, mortified that I’d thought myself sexy and bohemian while wearing the oil, while my co-workers were probably gagging in their cubicles. Urff. To this day, I’m terrified of wearing *any* fragrance that’s got a sandalwood note (which seems to be most of them!), for fear of reeking of B.O. 🙁
chopot – :
I just managed to get a small decant of this online and it is really such an amazing sandalwood scent. The decant I have is the pre-reformulated version.
Definitely unisex, this is spiced sandalwood with the slightest sweet whiff of vanilla/tonka rounded nicely with musk and patchouli.
Warming, comforting, and alluring. This smooth and confident sandalwood fragrance should still be made! It is perfume oil only, so longevity is only ~ 5 hours, but projection is very good (~3 feet).
katiufa18 – :
I used to like this in my teens – I used to apply a drop to pulse points before layering with the old Crabtree & Evelyn Extract of Mysore Sandalwood. In retrospect I simply don’t understand how it was possible to think that sandalwood smelled like this foul concoction.
I recently came across a bottle of this stuff and now I simply cannot understand the appeal.
For one thing it smells absolutely nothing like sandalwood, nor is it even very woody.
Did it always smell vile or is my memory playing tricks on me?
Ick. It is utterly revolting.
Mistakes, however, are essential on the road to experience, if not wisdom.
kalan4a – :
Putting aside the issue whether it actually smells like real sandalwood or not (it doesn’t, let’s get over it and move on) it’s great on its own, especially in winter by the fire when applied sparely. But the best part is that it layers great with almost anything, adding oomph and depth, smoothing the edges. Layered with Estee Lauder Beautiful Love I get something akin to Ormond Jayne Woman. Baseless and screeching Rumeur develops a smooth and rich substantiality with it. Prissy goody-two-shoes Chloe EDP gets her hair loose and face tanned with it. It even makes Red Door wearable by taking the sourness out of it. And try it with any of the Prada d’Iris lot (and no, lnfusion lovers, it’s not a sacrilege), you’d be surprised how generally aloof fragrance can get down to earth and give you a hug.
De Shu – :
Few years ago I was able to buy this little bottle again. It has been of the market before. I’m half way my bottle now, not using it much….scared at some day the bottle will be empty. They should bring it back. Don’t know why they ever stopped producing it in the first place. Lovely scent, very long lasting, authentic, warm.
hamlet30 – :
I add just a hint of the Body Shop’s Patchouli to this to make a scent I have been wearing for 20 years.
mo-37 – :
I just tried this with Samsara as Ce11estion suggested. Okay, so all I can say is “wow”. Thanks for the post – this is fabulous! Adds a little heaviness to the mix if that makes any sense! 🙂
Thorusoo7 – :
Patchouli from the body shop is a signature scent for me . I truly love it and have never had such possitive rsponse or attention from both sexes when I am out. I use to get for $15 bottle from the body shop but they no longer carry this. I’ve used perfume at $300 to 350 a pop which reminded me of my grandma and never had any compliments from these. Why is it the good scents for me die young.
gargar – :
Sandalwood with a real pencil shaving woodiness to the top note – that’ll be the cedar no doubt.. nice retro warm snuggly safe feel, think it’s gonna be a great base for my Samsara to give it some more kick, as if it needs it!
Sangartigunny – :
I like this, and it makes me nostalgic, also, as it’s something my older sister used to wear. But for me there’s something kind of synthetic/chemical about it which gives me a headache. I get the feeling it is not true sandalwood oil, but a fragrance oil? I would prefer to just use genuine sandalwood essential oil and mix it with some carrier oil, I think. But that’s kind of awkward and sticky, and I never end up doing it. I have rose essential oil and intended on doing the same thing, but I never end up doing it.
I stashed this somewhere and was going to send it to my sister, but I don’t know where I put it now. It does smell good, but I think it did smell like a reformulation of the one from the 90s. For me, like drinking coffee without sugar in it – there’s a certain spot it just doesn’t quite hit.
Funnily enough, the Body Shop fragrance oil I miss is the peach scented one! Normally I’m not one for girly scents OR artificial fruitiness, but there’s something about peach which I really love. >.< They totally don’t make it any more. I guess it would be really dated, almost 80s probably! But I would love some of that.
Only other complaint is the oil/applicator style. At first the oil has considerable power and sillage, but I don’t think it’s very longlasting. You never want the bottle to leak in your bag, trust me – but with this kind of product, spills are a possibility. The applicator used to be a sort of flexible plastic wand which was very inefficient in my opinion, and awkward. I always just dabbed directly from the bottle opening. The bottle itself is pleasing to me, squat, rotund and minimal, utilitarian but cool. I’ll always associate it with a certain kind of boho early 90s coolness – wide leg jeans, indie bands, henna and so on.
dobeeerman – :
Excellent Perfume, lasts very long. Its very sad that they dont make it anymore. Woody, Amber, Balmy, Powdery, just like how its described above. Reminds me of my childhood when my mum used to wear it. Great memories!
oz45 – :
I really love this one depending on the season. When it’s not too hot out, I find it a really warm, comfy and unique scent. The sandalwood is obviously strong, the patchouli is balanced and the cloves add an interesting spiciness to the scent. I find, though, when it’s too warm, that the sandalwood, amber and patchouli tend to take on a bit of a stale smell and that’s when it crosses over into more of a masculine scent to me.
DymnkikeHem – :
BRING IT BACK….I LOVE THIS PERFUME.
bokss – :
I miss this. Please bring it back, Body Shop! Wonderful and easy (for days you feel like giving your nose a break from, often for me, difficult perfumes.)
demonvideo – :
this is a sweet, warm and woody perfume oil. this scent once applied in the morning lasts all day on me. i just keep smelling this warm goodness. very sensual and great for cool days.
denwerok – :
I love it but I’m very sure that in my country it is defined only as a men’s oil. Besides it is way too strong for a woman, IMO.
alena_h – :
A little too woody for me. In the 1970’s I bought a Body Shop “Sandalwood” that smells more delicate, less woody. I prefer it to Woody Sandalwood.
extesanonse – :
Tantalizingly sweet and warm scent. Very comforting. I’m layering it over a patchouli bath oil. I smell like a hippy and I’m happy!
Lopeploktoozy – :
a very good sandlewood oil. lasts all day. i get a lovely woody, amber, sweet jasmine bouquet. a couple of dabs on pulse points and behind ears goes a long way.
Dmitry_VZ – :
Beautiful! I love how “woody” it is. It is warm and puts me in a creative zone. They no longer make it:(
one of my favs!!
opf5854 – :
agree with other reviewers. A very woody and atmospheric scent, which is undoubtedly unisex. More a spiritual scent than a sensual one, I think.
PS my husband has pinched this one off me and it smells really sexy on him!
Mistik_blossom – :
I miss the old formulation.The new mix is thinner somehow and as other reviewers found, it doesn’t last as long. The old mix is a gorgeous rich woody scent with a touch of spice, ending in that glorious labdanum note. It’s a perfect autumn fragrance, rich with resin notes. I would consider it 100% unisex, though it lacks floral or sweet notes if that’s your idea of feminine. A favorite. I wish they’d bring the old forumla back.
nlo8383 – :
Totally lives up to the name ! I really loved this when I was a teenager, it was a great antidote to all the ultra – girly, sickly sweet fragrances my contemporaries were wearing.
Dry and woody but with a definate warmth to it. There is something almost ‘Opium’ about it but without the aggresively sexual oriental notes.Could probably be described as more of a masculine than a feminine scent but I would reccommend it to women who dislike the cloying sweetness of some fragarances and prefer the dry notes of mens.